Whether you are looking for productivity tips for your new Mac or searching for ways to speed up your old Apple computer, this article is for you. In fact, the age of your laptop may not necessarily affect your laptop’s performance. The device must perform seamlessly at all times, even after a couple of years of purchase. Ways to Improve Mac Performance
The article explains some easy optimization tips that will keep your Mac in good health.
Free Up Storage
Cleaning your Mac’s hard drive regularly will allow you to make space for system files. You will feel a boost in productivity when you work on a clean computer that has no junk or clutter. As a rule of thumb, never use all the available disk space as it will slow down your computer. Try to keep 20 gigabytes of free space at all times.
Install the Latest macOS Version
Ensure that all the security features are performing smoothly by updating the operating system whenever a new version is available. Any kind of delay can make your system susceptible to online threats and security vulnerabilities. The latest macos ventura features better security, digital login to websites, advanced Shared Photo Library in iCloud, and more.
Optimize Your RAM
Before you take any action to free up system memory, analyze how much memory your system is consuming. To check this, you need to navigate to the Applications, click Utilities, tap on Activity Monitor, and then Memory. If the window named Memory Pressure looks green, you may not need to act; however, if it’s mostly red, you might need to upgrade RAM. Ways to Improve Mac Performance
Stop Spotlight Indexing
Set your macOS settings appropriately to avoid unnecessary indexing in Spotlight, which is done to track the location of files and applications. Indexing consumes considerable CPU power, so disabling it will help improve system speed. macOS performs indexing only after a major software update. You may tweak the settings to avoid indexing unnecessary items.
Reset SMC & NVRAM
SMC controls major power functions on Mac, such as the boot-up process or sleep mode. On the other hand, NVRAM is responsible for handling basic configuration information such as timezone and language. If something goes wrong, the system will not perform as usual, and you will encounter issues. Resetting SMC and NVRAM helps settle common Mac issues.
Reduce Desktop Clutter
One of the most effective and quick ways to improve your Mac’s performance is by decluttering the desktop. Removing unnecessary files, folders, and apps from the desktop will make your system more productive. You may use Stacks to organize files and folders on the desktop. Once enabled, the feature automatically groups files based on their size, date, or category.
Uninstall Apps & Extensions
Apps, extensions, and plugins are meant to simplify various tasks, but they also slow down your computer. Usually, the apps or extensions we download are required for a short duration, and we normally won’t use them often. Once downloaded, they consume a large storage space even when idle. Remove unnecessary apps to make your Mac faster.
Empty Cache Files
Cache files are meant to improve your browsing experience. Browsers, apps, or operating systems accumulate cache files which allow the system to provide quick access to websites and apps on subsequent use. However, a lot of cache files hamper system performance in the long run. So, delete them regularly to free up the hard drive and speed up your Mac.
Switch HDD With SSD
SSDs are storage devices that are faster, power-efficient, and thereby offer better performance. Although solid-state drives are costly, they write data faster than hard drives. Not just that, SSDs produce less sound, vibration, or heat during the process. Before you make any investment, make sure the model of your Mac allows for upgrades.
Reduce Visual Effects
Users often get so used to the default visual effects that they don’t even bother weakening any UI settings. Changing dock animation or adjusting transparency and brightness can make a huge impact on the system’s performance and battery consumption. By disabling transparency and tweaking dock settings, you can control resources and speed up Mac.
Manage Startup Items
The startup apps or login items activate and launch automatically each time when your system boots. All these apps and programs consume their share of resources which affects system performance and slows down other programs. Go to the Activity Monitor to check the unnecessary programs and stop them immediately for better system output. Ways to Improve Mac Performance
The Conclusion
Cleaning your computer by managing storage, memory, and processing power is the best way to ensure better performance. Resource optimization on Mac is not a one-time task, and you need to repeat it every few weeks. Regular cleanup of the hard drive and deletion of unnecessary apps will ensure the availability of sufficient resources for important programs