How to Speed Up a Slow Mac – Beginner’s Guide
If your Mac has been running slow lately, don’t worry — you’re not alone. Over time, all computers collect unnecessary files, outdated settings, and background processes that eat up performance. The good news is you can get your Mac running like new with a few beginner-friendly steps.
📌 How to Restart:
📌 Empty Trash:
📌 How to Remove Login Items: Click Apple Menu → System Settings. Go to General → Login Items. Review the list and remove apps you don’t need at startup.
💡 Common apps you can remove: Spotify, Zoom, Dropbox (unless you want it syncing immediately).
📌 How to Update macOS:
📌 How to Use: Download from the official MacPaw website. Install and open the app. Run a Smart Scan to clean up junk and free up space.
Quick Maintenance Checklist
✅ Restart weekly.
✅ Empty Trash regularly.
✅ Clear caches monthly.
✅ Remove unnecessary login items.
✅ Keep macOS & apps updated.
✅ Use CleanMyMac X for deep cleaning.
If this guide helped you, share it with a Mac user who’s tired of waiting for their computer to load. And don’t forget to bookmark this page for future use!
If you are in Fairfield, Vacaville, Napa and any other nearby community in Solano County, we are here for you!
Step 1: Restart Your Mac
It may seem too simple, but restarting your Mac can solve a lot of speed problems. When you restart, macOS clears temporary memory (RAM), stops background tasks, and refreshes the system.📌 How to Restart:
- Click the Apple Menu in the top-left corner.
- Select Restart.
- Wait for the Mac to reboot fully before opening apps again.
Step 2: Empty Trash & Clear Cache
Your Mac keeps temporary files called cache to speed things up, but over time, old or corrupted cache files can slow your system down.📌 Empty Trash:
- Click the Trash icon in your Dock.
- Select Empty Trash.
- Open Finder.
- In the menu bar, click Go → Go to Folder.
- Type ~/Library/Caches and press Enter.
- Open each folder and delete its contents (not the folders themselves).
Step 3: Manage Login Items
Some apps start running the moment you log in, even if you don’t use them right away. This slows down your startup time and overall performance.📌 How to Remove Login Items: Click Apple Menu → System Settings. Go to General → Login Items. Review the list and remove apps you don’t need at startup.
💡 Common apps you can remove: Spotify, Zoom, Dropbox (unless you want it syncing immediately).
Step 4: Keep macOS & Apps Updated
Apple regularly releases updates that fix bugs, improve performance, and enhance security. Running an outdated macOS can cause slowdowns.📌 How to Update macOS:
- Click Apple Menu → System Settings.
- Select Software Update.
- Install any available updates.
- Open the App Store.
- Click Updates in the sidebar.
- Click Update All.
Bonus Hack: Use CleanMyMac X
CleanMyMac X is a safe and user-friendly tool that scans your system for junk files, system clutter, and hidden items that can slow your Mac.📌 How to Use: Download from the official MacPaw website. Install and open the app. Run a Smart Scan to clean up junk and free up space.
Quick Maintenance Checklist
✅ Restart weekly.✅ Empty Trash regularly.
✅ Clear caches monthly.
✅ Remove unnecessary login items.
✅ Keep macOS & apps updated.
✅ Use CleanMyMac X for deep cleaning.
If this guide helped you, share it with a Mac user who’s tired of waiting for their computer to load. And don’t forget to bookmark this page for future use!
If you are in Fairfield, Vacaville, Napa and any other nearby community in Solano County, we are here for you!