How to Optimize Your Mac

PDF download Download Article
A simple guide to speeding up your sluggish Mac
PDF download Download Article

It is not uncommon for Mac computers to slow down over time. The cause of diminished speed can be malicious, such as viruses and spyware on the hard drive, or can result from application overload and out-of-date software updates. This wikiHow will teach you how to optimize a Mac.

Steps

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3a\/Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3a\/Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-1.jpg\/aid1492708-v4-728px-Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":343,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":543,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The latest security patches make everything run well, so make sure your operating system is up to date with your software.
    • In the Apple menu, open App Store > Updates > Update All .
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/80\/Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/80\/Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-2.jpg\/aid1492708-v4-728px-Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":348,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":551,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    With macOS Sierra, Apple introduced a feature that will optimize storage to clear space and improve the speed of your Mac. To enable this, go to your Apple menu, click About This Mac > Storage > Manage > Optimize Storage . [1]
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/20\/Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/20\/Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-3.jpg\/aid1492708-v4-728px-Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":343,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":543,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Look at your Dock, which might be located at the bottom, left or right side of your screen, and look for icons with light blue circles beneath them.
    • To quit these apps, click and hold the icon until three options appear, then click Quit .If that method isn't working , press Opt + Cmd + Esc on your keyboard at the same time until the "Force Quit" window appears. Click to select an application that won't close from the Dock and click Force Quit .
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/65\/Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/65\/Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-4.jpg\/aid1492708-v4-728px-Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":343,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":543,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    From the Apple menu choose Restart. This simple step can solve basic slowness issues.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/5a\/Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5a\/Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-5.jpg\/aid1492708-v4-728px-Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":545,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Go to the Apple menu, select System Preferences > Accounts > Login Items . From here, you can view items that begin automatically when you start up your system, which often increases your Mac's boot time and takes up memory. Select the item you wish to remove from startup and click the minus sign at the top.
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/38\/Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/38\/Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-6.jpg\/aid1492708-v4-728px-Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":347,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":549,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Uninstall unused applications . Drag the application to the trash, then manually remove its related files, or use uninstall tools to easily uninstall applications. Remember to delete related files that are most likely hidden in the Library folder or the application might prompt to be reinstalled.
  7. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/82\/Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/82\/Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-7.jpg\/aid1492708-v4-728px-Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Store and use your computer in a cool, dry environment. To be more specific, try to keep the environment temperature for your Mac at 60–75 °F (16–24 °C).
    • Utilize a feature called Fan Control. This utility automatically adjusts your fan speed according to the temperature of your system.
  8. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f6\/Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f6\/Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-8.jpg\/aid1492708-v4-728px-Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":547,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Evaluate your widgets, which are various tools that report data like the weather, movie times, and calculate numbers, in the Notification Center. Delete the widgets you don't regularly use by opening the Notification Center, holding the Opt key, and pressing the circle with a minus symbol inside it. Even when you don't have the Notification Center open, these widgets are running and taking up space.
  9. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ea\/Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ea\/Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-9.jpg\/aid1492708-v4-728px-Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":340,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":538,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Check the activity monitor . Go to the Utilities folder and find Activity Monitor. This tool details your CPU usage, your virtual memory usage, and your RAM requirements. The activity monitor will identify if a program is using up a large amount of RAM, which will show you the applications you could close to free up space.
  10. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/26\/Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-10.jpg\/v4-460px-Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-10.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/26\/Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-10.jpg\/aid1492708-v4-728px-Optimize-Your-Mac-Step-10.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":343,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":543,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Go through your documents, photos, and music, and remove anything you don't need. For example, pictures you have uploaded from your camera that are near-duplicates or mistakes can take up many gigabytes of space on your hard drive, slowing down your system considerably.
    • Empty your trash if you haven't recently. Right-click the trash icon and select Empty Trash .
    • You can also perform a quick malware scan, like Malwarebytes for Mac, to find and remove most common malware.
    11. Advertisement


Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    What are some suggestions on good maintenance application software?
    Community Answer
    Cleanmymac3 is great for storage management, but you have to pay for it. Try Dr. Cleaner on the Mac App Store for free as well.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 14
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      • Perform a few of these optimization tips regularly to keep your Mac running smoothly between hard cleans.
        Thanks
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • Do not remove any items or system components from your computer whose function you aren't sure of. You do not want to delete important features.
        Thanks
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to Force Shut Down or Restart a Frozen Mac
      Can You Change Your Apple ID Without Losing Everything? Learn How to Keep What You Need
      How to Install MacOS on a Virtual Machine Using VirtualBox
      How to
      Automatically Shut Down Your Computer at a Specified Time
      How to
      Tell if Your Mac Is Too Old to Update
      Your Guide to Apple’s True Tone Display Technology & How to Use It
      How to Open Executable Files on Mac: Wine, Parallels, and Boot Camp
      How to Change the Scroll Direction on a Mac
      How to
      Create a TXT File on Mac
      How to
      Turn On a Mac Computer
      How to Find Your Internal & External IP Address on a Mac
      4 Ways to Change Screen Resolution on a Mac
      How to
      Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
      How to
      Invert Scrolling on a Mac
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-to-speed-up-your-mac/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Update your Mac and applications.
      2. Use the Optimize function.
      3. Close any applications you don't need.
      4. Restart your Mac.
      5. Clear out your startup items.
      6. Uninstall unused applications.
      7. Keep your Mac cool.
      8. Pare down your widgets.
      9. Check the activity monitor.
      10. Remove items from your hard drive.

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 284,832 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement