4 tips and hidden settings that will speed up macOS

Even high-performance Macs can slow down over time. Fortunately, a few simple tweaks can revitalize your MacBook, iMac, or Mac Mini's performance. These often-overlooked adjustments can significantly improve macOS responsiveness.

1. Reduce Visual Effects for Enhanced Speed:

macOS boasts stunning visuals, but animations and transparency consume valuable system resources. Disabling these effects is particularly beneficial for users with many open applications and browser tabs.

To minimize visual effects, access System Settings (from the Apple menu), navigate to Accessibility, then Display. Enable the Reduce motion and Reduce transparency toggles for a faster, albeit simpler, interface. (On pre-macOS Ventura systems, these options are found in System Preferences).

While in System Settings, further optimize visuals. In the Desktop & Dock tab (Dock & Menu Bar in older versions), disable application opening animations and enable Automatically hide and show the Dock for a smoother desktop experience.

For even finer control, consider using TinkerTool. This free application provides access to additional settings, including disabling Finder animations and Launchpad fade effects. Experiment with different settings to find the optimal balance.

2. Monitor System Resource Usage with Activity Monitor:

To pinpoint performance bottlenecks, utilize Activity Monitor. Open Spotlight (Cmd Space or the menu bar magnifying glass), type "activity monitor," and select the application.

Activity Monitor displays CPU and memory usage for all running processes. The CPU tab shows processor usage per application, while the Memory tab displays RAM consumption. High memory usage (near your system's RAM limit) often indicates the source of slowdowns or crashes.

Unfamiliar processes can be investigated by selecting them and clicking the "i" button. To terminate a process (use caution!), click the "x" button. Once you've identified resource-intensive applications, close unnecessary ones or adjust their settings for improved efficiency (e.g., disabling browser extensions).

3. Optimize Storage Space for Better Performance:

Sufficient free hard drive space is crucial for macOS performance, especially for storing temporary files and handling RAM overflow.

Access storage management via the Apple menu, then System Settings, General, and Storage. Review disk space usage by file type. Click the "i" icon next to categories, select files for deletion, and click Delete (ensure backups are made first). Pre-macOS Ventura users find these options under Apple menu > About This Mac > Storage > Manage.

Utilize Store in iCloud to offload photos and videos to the cloud, or click Optimize under Optimize Storage to automatically remove unnecessary files (e.g., watched movies) from iTunes and Mail.

4. Manage Startup Items for Faster Boot Times:

Many applications automatically launch at startup, impacting boot time and resource availability. Controlling startup items improves overall performance.

In System Settings (Apple menu > System Settings > General > Login Items), manage applications launching at login using the toggle switches. Research unfamiliar applications before disabling them. (In older macOS versions, use System Preferences > Users & Groups, select your account, and access the Login Items tab).

Remember, disabling startup items doesn't uninstall them; you can always launch them manually. Experiment to find the optimal balance between convenient application access and fast boot times.

This article has been updated from its original publication date of August 22, 2017.

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