7 Tips to Improve MacBook Performance (Speed up Mac)

If your MacBook is starting to feel sluggish, here are a few simple adjustments and maintenance practices, significantly enhance your MacBook's speed and responsiveness.

Macbooks are quite reliable as far as performance goes. However, some people do not invest enough time to take proper care of their computer and have to pay for it later. If you feel like your Mac has been running slower than usual, or you encounter frame drops or random crashes playing video games or using applications, do not expect the issue to solve itself.

Instead, create a maintenance routine and get in the habit of sticking to it. You will find multiple methods in this article that will help you optimize Macbook performance or Speed Up Your Mac.

How to Speed up Mac?

Here are some effective tips that help Improve Macbook Performance and keep the Macbook in good shape.

Scan for Potential Viruses

Even minor malware or viruses could lead to significant performance problems. Even though Macs are not as prone to cybersecurity threats as other computers, you should still not underestimate the effect of malware.

Use reliable antivirus software and scan the system regularly to find corrupted files. When a scan locates such files, do not hesitate and remove them from the system. Also, be sure to keep the antivirus software running in the background all the time.

Besides antivirus, you can fortify the Macbook’s cybersecurity by introducing additional security layers, such as the firewall and virtual private networks. The latter is particularly useful when you connect to public Wi-Fi.

Disable Visual Effects

Disable Visual Effects

Limiting visual gimmicks is a good way to save computer resources. You do not really need something like a backlit keyboard or various app animations.

Disabling visual effects improves the computer’s performance. In addition, the battery’s lifespan should increase as well, meaning that you will not have to keep the MacBook plugged in to charge as much.

Keep Enough Free Space on the Drive

If you have a solid-state drive, you will likely run out of free space quite fast. Having only a few gigabytes of free storage space will spell trouble. Aim for at least 10 percent of total drive storage to be free on the MacBook’s drive. In case you struggle to come up with ways to free the disk’s space, consider:

  • using streaming platforms to consume media
  • deleting old applications, downloads, and temporary junk data
  • transferring data to Dropbox, iCloud, and external hard drives

Stop Overheating and Loud Fan Noise

Do not let dust accumulate inside the Macbook. Clean the filth inside the laptop regularly so that your Mac is not overheating. And if you are afraid to take the laptop apart yourself because you are afraid to damage the hardware, pay someone to do the job for you. There should be a computer service store nearby.

Besides cleaning the dust inside, getting a cooling pad would help with this problem as well. An accessory is a source that provides the Macbook with cool air.

Install OS Updates

MacBook

Some people are reluctant to bother with operating system updates because downloading and installing them takes too long, especially if you have a poor internet connection and a Macbook that is already slow.

Nevertheless, these updates should still take priority. The OS developers take time to come up with defenses for the latest threats that pose problems for the computer. Also, let us not forget about the overall performance improvements and the latest features.

Close Redundant Background Apps

Background applications are another reason why your Macbook has fewer resources and cannot run optimally. Check the Activity Monitor to find out what the active processes are. Using the tool will also allow you to sort apps by CPU, memory, and GPU usage. You will know which applications consume the most resources. Perhaps it is possible to make some changes. For instance, your current internet browser may require a lot of memory, but replacing it with an alternative would improve the situation.

Some of the active apps may be the result of startup items. It is easy to forget about an app after restarting the Macbook. If you do forget, trim up the startup item list.

Closing redundant background apps are another effective way to optimize macbook performance.

Update Hardware

Update hardware

Updating hardware is not possible for every Mac model, but if it is for yours, and you have some money to spare, then you should do it. Some of the most common hardware upgrades include additional RAM, external graphics processing units, and replacing a hard drive with a solid-state drive. In case you are in no hurry and want to save money, wait for the holiday season when computer components, including mentioned options for a Macbook, go on sale.

Declutter the Desktop

A cluttered desktop is quite common given how many people prefer to keep app shortcuts and important documents on their computer desktop. However, this convenience means performance problems because every desktop icon needs rendering when you switch back and forth between the MacBook’s desktop and other tabs. Aim for a clutter-free desktop and keep your files in another location. And if you struggle to locate data, use the search function.

There are some of the best suggestions that probably help optimize Macbook performance or Speed Up Your Mac.

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