10 steps to speed up a sluggish Mac

10 steps to speed up a sluggish Mac

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SALT LAKE CITY — Most buy an Apple Computer, also known as a Mac, for the inherent benefits —higher resilience against viruses and malware, customer service from a representative that is easily understood, local stores that provide technical support, and ultimately, according to data collected by Apple Matters, a higher trade-in or resale value.

Unfortunately, according to Business Insider, over time Macs are susceptible to decreased performance. Users may notice programs begin to load slowly, the Mac takes longer to start-up, and overall the computer is more sluggish.

Why does a Mac slow down over time?

Problems with operating speed generally arise when anything other than the active program reduces available RAM or Random Access Memory, or when the hard drive is at or near maximum capacity.

Malware or adware can also dramatically decrease a Mac's performance. Despite popular belief, Digital Trends confirms that Macs are susceptible to viruses and malware. These steps also explain how to check for malware and how to maximize settings to free up RAM and hard drive space. As a result, the Mac will run more efficiently and respond more quickly.

So, before a visit to a Genius at the Apple Store, take a few minutes and try these 10 steps that can dramatically speed up your Mac. Best of all, these steps do not cost any money, take relatively little time, and require no technical ability.

How to speed up your Mac

1. Download apps that keep your Mac organized and efficient

Most people are familiar with the catch phrase "there’s an app for that," yet forget that apps’ usefulness extend beyond mobile devices. The utilities application category in the Apple App Store has useful, free apps which will help speed up a slow Mac. For now, download these two free apps to use in the steps below. In the future, be sure to browse the utilities section for other great apps.

"App Manager" and "Dr. Safety": Click on the Apple logo at the top left corner of the screen, then click on App Store, search for the applications, and install them.

2. Update the OS and other software

The quickest way to a slow Mac is failure to update the operating system, or OS, and other software. Updates address program issues, vulnerabilities and efficiencies. Luckily, this step is a quick fix which only requires adjustment of a couple of settings.

Turn on automatic updates: Open system preferences, then select App Store and check "automatically check for updates," "install app updates," "install OS X updates," and "install system data files and security updates."

3. Manage startup items

The computer opens and starts a number of programs every time a user logs in, or when the computer turns on. These programs run in the background ready for the user to open them and use them. When too many programs run in the background, they dramatically slow down the Mac’s performance. Limit startup items to only programs used on a regular basis.

Remove startup items: Open system preferences, select "users and groups," and then click on "login items." After that, click on the item, then click on the minus button to remove startup items. This doesn’t remove the programs from your computer, only from the startup list.

4. Adjust system settings and preferences

The number of settings found in the systems settings menu can overwhelm users, but there are only a few that need changes to increase performance. The following are a few that can help:

Disable transparency: Open system preferences, select "accessibility," check "reduce transparency."

Change dock settings: Open system preferences, select "dock," uncheck "magnification," "animate opening applications," "automatically hide and show the dock," and change "minimize windows" using option from genie effect to scale effect.

Disable dashboard: Open system preferences, select "mission control" and change the dashboard option to off.

Turn off file vault: Open system preferences, select "security & privacy," and select "turn off file vault."

5. Uninstall unused applications and large unused files

This is the first step that uses one of the new downloaded applications. The "App Manager: Uninstaller and Remove Associated Files" application does exactly what the name implies. This app is much more effective than deleting applications out of the "applications folder" or placing apps in the trash.

After running "App Manager," be sure to review folders that hold videos, movies and pictures. Media files are usually very large files and can dominate a hard drive's available space if left unchecked. Delete files that are unnecessary or move them to a cloud storage site.

6. Clean up the desktop

Cluttered desktops pose more of a problem than just a difficult time to find the right document. Each item on the desktop uses RAM, which means less is available for active programs. Eliminate the clutter on the desktop to free up more RAM and as a result speed up the computer.

7. Close applications when not in use

As mentioned before, applications running in the background use up available RAM. Look for running applications in the dock. There will be a dot below all active applications. Simply right-click on the application you wish to close and click on "quit" or "force quit."

8. Clean out the downloads folder

The download folder is the place where the Mac places anything downloaded from the internet. Even if a downloaded file is later stored to the desktop or another folder, a copy remains in the download folder and takes up hard drive space. Emptying the download folder is part of regular maintenance.

Empty the downloads folder: Open the finder window, select the user account, double-click the downloads folder, click "Command + A" to select all, right-click on the highlighted area, and choose "move to trash."

9. Scan for malware and viruses

There is a myth that Macs are not susceptible to malware and viruses. The Huffington Post reported in 2012 that Apple withdrew all claims that Macs were immune from PC viruses from their marketing materials.

Ultimately, an application that tackles viruses and malware is a good idea for any Mac. "Dr. Safety" is a free application designed to scan for problems. Users need to buy the program to automatically fix issues found, so run the program to check for issues first. "Dr. Safety" costs $1.99 per month or $19.99 per year. Users can pay for a month and then cancel their subscription to fix any issues found. For other options, PC magazine reviewed 11 antivirus apps to help users pick a good one.

10. Reset the SMC

The SMC, or System Management Controller, may sometimes need a reset. It is not difficult to do, and is sometimes as easy as removing a batter from a laptop or completely unplugging a desktop. Apple has a set of instructions on its support page that details how to easily get this done, along with indicators that an SMC needs a reset.

For advanced users: Upgrade hardware

Upgrading the RAM and hard drive on many Mac devices is a relatively simple do-it-yourself job. Obviously, there is a cost involved to buy the new hardware, and in some cases it requires specialty torx screwdrivers to complete the job. Laptop magazine has a nice guide on upgrading a hard drive to a SSD. MacWorld has a very good set of detailed instructions for upgrading RAM on a Mac.


Dave Palmer is an Army combat veteran, tech nerd, and voracious writer, who when not writing works as a regional manager for a local staffing company. Contact him at: dave@palmerfreelance.com

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