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If your 2019 MacBook Pro is running slower than usual, you're probably thinking about adding more RAM. Because the RAM in all 2019 MacBook Pros is permanently attached to the motherboard, there's no way to replace or add more RAM. But don't worry—you don't have to buy a new computer just yet! This wikiHow article will teach you how to speed up your unupgradable MacBook Pro so it feels brand new.
Can You Upgrade RAM in a 2019 MacBook Pro?
No. Unfortunately, 2019 MacBook Pro models are not designed to be upgradeable. However, you can use workarounds, such as freeing up RAM on your computer or using an external GPU.
Steps
How can I speed up my MacBook Pro?
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Close apps you aren't using. If you tend to leave a lot of apps open when you're not using them, they may be consuming RAM in the background. Get into the habit of closing apps when you're finished with them to keep RAM available for other processes.
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Use fewer browser tabs. If you have many tabs open in Safari or Chrome, you probably noticed them each using a lot of RAM in the Activity Monitor. If you don't have enough memory to support all of the tabs you have open, your Mac will slow down significantly. Closing browser tabs you're no longer using should noticeably improve the speed of your Mac.
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Free up some disk space. If you don't have a solid-state hard drive (SSD), a nearly-full hard drive can cause major performance issues. [3] X Research source Free up space using the Optimize Storage feature , or by moving files to an external hard drive or cloud storage. You'll also want to delete the apps you're no longer using , as apps can take up a lot of space.
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Turn off Dock animations. Open the Apple menu, select System Settings , and click Desktop & Dock to open your Dock settings, and then remove the checkmarks from "Animate opening applications" and "Automatically hide and show the Dock." If your Mac is struggling, this is a quick way to free up some resources.
- You can also use a third-party app to turn off other animations to save RAM, such as Onyx or TinkerTool .
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Turn off startup apps. If your Mac is automatically launching certain apps every time it starts up, you may have some RAM hogs running in the background. In System Settings, click General , and then click Login items to see which apps are set to start automatically. To remove an app from automatic startup, select it and click the minus sign.
- You can also use this menu to toggle off apps that are currently set to run in the background.
- In older versions of macOS, find this setting under System Preferences > Users & Groups instead.
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Get an external GPU. If you're creating VR content, editing video, or even playing 3D games, using an external GPU (graphics processing unit) will drastically improve your Mac's performance. [4] X Research source As long as you're running High Sierra (macOS 10.13.4) or later, your MacBook Pro supports using an external GPU for graphics processing.
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Replace the motherboard with one that has more RAM. If you're willing to spend $700 or more, you can purchase a motherboard that has more RAM than your current model. Replacing the motherboard is not a simple process, and it will also void your warranty. If you do replace your motherboard, make sure your new motherboard comes with a paired Touch ID sensor, or else you'll lose Touch ID functionality. [5] X Research source
Expert Q&A
Tips
- If you’re extremely tech-savvy, you may be able to add more RAM yourself with a BGA soldering kit. However, this is a very complex and difficult process and you could end up damaging your MacBook if you aren’t careful. [7] X Research sourceThanks
References
- ↑ https://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/upgrade-ram-mac-3484328/
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/if-your-mac-runs-slowly-mchlp1731/mac
- ↑ https://www.crucial.com/articles/mac-users/how-to-speed-up-your-mac-system
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208544
- ↑ https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Air+13-Inch+Retina+Display+2019+Logic+Board+Replacement/135253
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201165
- ↑ https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/m1-m2-m3-macs-user-memory-upgrades-by-soldering-blocked-by-apple.2410451/
About This Article
Instead of having RAM slots, your MacBook's RAM is permanently soldered and glued onto the motherboard. Although you can't replace the RAM, you can speed up your Mac by closing the apps that consume a lot of memory, clearing off your startup disk, turning off Dock animations, disabling startup apps, and using fewer browser tabs. If you need to use graphics-intensive software, you can purchase an external GPU, which has its own RAM that will offset your MacBook's load.
