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Mac Is Running Slow: Why Is Your Mac So Slow with Plenty of Storage and How to Fix?

Christopher Nolan
Christopher NolanOriginal
2025-02-26 11:21:09411browse

Mac is running slow? Experts can help you quickly diagnose and solve it!

Mac users often experience performance degradation problems, such as slow application startup, lag in browsers, and unexpected freezing. Have you also wondered why your Mac sometimes runs so slowly? Many factors can cause your Mac to run slowly, so our team of experts is ready to help you figure out why. With our help, you will be able to fix your slow Mac and immediately restore your work.

Why is your Mac so slow?

Your Mac used to be famous for its fast performance, but now it may be difficult to keep up with your mission pace. The slowdown can be frustrating, especially if delays or freezes interrupt your workflow. While the problem is easy to notice, understanding the cause or how to solve the problem is not always easy.

This is why we will share the best solutions for the most common reasons why Macs run slower below:

  1. Too many resource-intensive programs run
  2. Sensible visual effects
  3. Malware infection
  4. The remaining space of the hard drive is insufficient
  5. Mac has not restarted for a long time
  6. Cache overload
  7. Too many login items loaded at startup
  8. Insufficient memory
  9. Software or application has expired
  10. Your Mac is older
  11. Your Mac may be overheated

1. Too many resource-intensive programs were run

If you need to speed up your Mac, it's worth checking how many programs you run at the same time, as running too many programs can slow down your Mac.

Solution: Use Activity Monitor to exit the background process

To solve the slow Mac problem, you can use the built-in Activity Monitor app to stop unnecessary background processes. For a step-by-step guide, check out our article on how to find and terminate background processes on your Mac.

2. Visual effects that consume resources

Most of us are used to using Macs, so we often ignore visual effects in the user interface such as transparency, animation, and other enhancements. While these effects add to the aesthetic, they are the main factor consuming system resources and significantly slow down the speed of your Mac.

Solution: Reduce the visual effect of Mac

The following are ways to reduce or disable resource-consuming visuals that may reduce Mac speed:

  1. Open System settings.
  2. Click Accessive function > to display .
  3. Tick Reduce transparency and Reduce dynamic effects to reduce resource-consuming visual effects.

Mac Is Running Slow: Why Is Your Mac So Slow with Plenty of Storage and How to Fix?

Mac Is Running Slow: Why Is Your Mac So Slow with Plenty of Storage and How to Fix?

Mac Is Running Slow: Why Is Your Mac So Slow with Plenty of Storage and How to Fix?

3. Malware infection

While Macs are usually safe, they are not immune to viruses and malware. Infection can severely slow down your Mac because malware consumes resources and causes performance issues.

Solution: Install antivirus software on your Mac

To protect your Mac and improve performance, we recommend that you install reliable antivirus software. MacKeeper's antivirus software detects threats and protects your browsing with real-time protection. Ready to protect your device with the best Mac antivirus software? Please check out our related blog posts for installation guides.

4. There is insufficient space left in the hard drive

Your Mac needs to have enough storage on its main disk to ensure smooth operation. This can cause severe slowdown and delays when the hard disk approaches its capacity, as your system struggles to effectively manage tasks and allocate resources.

Solution: Delete unnecessary files

To resolve this issue, it is crucial to free up space on your Mac. We recommend deleting unnecessary files, managing large files, or using cleaning tools to help optimize storage. Our detailed guide on how to free up space on your Mac provides step-by-step instructions to get you started.

5. Mac has not restarted for a long time

If you skip restarting your Mac, this can cause memory leaks, system resource overloads, and performance degradation.

Solution: Restart your Mac regularly

Restarting your Mac regularly can help keep it running efficiently and is easier to operate than it sounds. You can follow the steps in the article titled "How to Restart Your MacBook" in our blog. Sometimes, your computer needs a simple restart to speed up again.

6. Cache overload

If you want to clean up your Mac to help it run faster, we recommend deleting unnecessary cache and log files. Cleaning these files is a great way to free up disk space and can make your Mac run faster. But doing this manually can be very laborious.

Solution: Use MacKeeper's "Safe Cleanup" function

MacKeeper's "Safe Cleanup" feature can scan junk files in your device in seconds, as follows:

  1. After installationOpen MacKeeper and go to Safe Cleanup.
  2. Click to start scanning and let our app search for your Mac.
  3. After the scan is complete, check the cache and log you want to delete, and then press to clean up the junk file.
  4. Last press
  5. to confirm .

Mac Is Running Slow: Why Is Your Mac So Slow with Plenty of Storage and How to Fix?

Mac Is Running Slow: Why Is Your Mac So Slow with Plenty of Storage and How to Fix?

Mac Is Running Slow: Why Is Your Mac So Slow with Plenty of Storage and How to Fix?

7. Too many login items loaded at startup

When you open your Mac, some applications can automatically launch in the background to help you get started quickly. However, if too many apps are opened at startup, they can slow down the startup time of your Mac.

Solution: Delete unnecessary login items

Here is how to manage login projects on your MacBook:

  1. Open System settings.
  2. Go to General tab and press to log in to the project.
  3. View the apps set to open on startup.
  4. To delete the application, highlight it in the list and click the minus sign (-) button .

Mac Is Running Slow: Why Is Your Mac So Slow with Plenty of Storage and How to Fix?

Mac Is Running Slow: Why Is Your Mac So Slow with Plenty of Storage and How to Fix?

8. Insufficient memory

If your Mac is running slow, it may be due to insufficient memory. The more content you store in RAM, the higher the risk of slower your Mac running.

Solution: Exit resource-intensive process in Activity Monitor

To free up RAM and improve performance, try to terminate a background process that consumes too much memory. In our blog on how to free up RAM on Mac, we include all the tips you need to leverage your activity monitor to speed up your Mac’s processing power.

9. Software or application has expired

Outdated software is another common reason why Macs run slow. Older versions of macOS or applications may have bugs, compatibility issues, or outdated security issues that both slow the system down and make it vulnerable to attacks. For more suggestions on how to update your Mac, check out our support guide.

Solution: Check macOS and application updates

To see if your macOS needs update, follow these steps:

  1. In System Settings, click General > Software Update.
  2. If updates are available, you can click Update now.

Mac Is Running Slow: Why Is Your Mac So Slow with Plenty of Storage and How to Fix?

Mac Is Running Slow: Why Is Your Mac So Slow with Plenty of Storage and How to Fix?

You can also use the App Store to see if you have any app updates, as follows:

  1. Open App Store.
  2. Click Update tab.
  3. If updates are available, you can press the Update button next to the application.

Mac Is Running Slow: Why Is Your Mac So Slow with Plenty of Storage and How to Fix?

Mac Is Running Slow: Why Is Your Mac So Slow with Plenty of Storage and How to Fix?

10. Your Mac is older

Older Macs tend to struggle with modern software, especially when newer software becomes more resource-intensive – more difficult to handle for older Macs. As your Mac struggles to run optimally, this can lead to inevitable slowdowns.

Solution: Upgrade to SSD drive, clear RAM, or install Mac cleaning software

To upgrade your Mac, here are some of our top tips:

  • Upgrade from HDD to SSD: If your Mac still uses a hard drive (HDD), consider upgrading to SSD. SSDs provide faster read and write speeds, improving startup time and response speed.
  • Clear RAM: Release RAM can help your Mac run smoother. Close any unnecessary applications and restart your Mac to refresh its memory.
  • Use Mac Cleaning Software: Installing Mac Cleaning Tools (such as MacKeeper) can help you delete junk files, clear caches, and optimize your system for better performance.

11. Your Mac may be overheated

When your Mac gets too hot, it speeds up the internal fan to prevent overheating, which can damage critical components like the processor. While this is a necessary troubleshooting step, it can cause a Mac performance to decline.

Solution: Monitor the temperature of your Mac

Regular monitoring of the temperature of your Mac can help prevent overheating. If you think your Mac is running too hot, our ultimate guide on overheating of MacBooks offers easy tips to cool it down and keep it performing at its best.

Conclusion

Now that you are familiar with the most common reasons why MacBooks run slow (from cache accumulation to overheating), you should be more clear about what steps to take next. One of the best ways to improve your Mac performance is to use MacKeeper, especially its "Safe Cleanup" feature. The latter will help you eliminate redundant files and optimize your system. Therefore, your Mac will run faster.

For more tips for improving your Mac performance, check out the FAQ section below.

FAQ

How to test computer speed on Mac?

You can use convenient pre-installed tools such as Activity Monitor to test your Mac's speed. This default application provides Mac users with in-depth insights into the CPU, memory, energy, disk, and network usage of their laptops. Additionally, you can search for third-party apps and websites on your browser to help you evaluate overall performance speed on your Mac.

Can Apple Store make your MacBook faster?

The Apple Store provides important services such as hardware upgrades, software optimizations, and diagnostics that can help identify any issues that need to be fixed to speed up MacBook performance.

Where can I get more help to speed up my Mac?

You can describe your issue in a few sentences through our chat support and you will immediately contact members of our expert team. MacKeeper's advanced services always provide advice and solutions for computer problems. We can walk you through simple fixes so you can immediately recover to something important.

Will Macs slow down over time?

While Macs are designed for long-term performance, factors such as outdated hardware, unavailable software or cluttered systems can cause speed to drop over time. Regular maintenance, updating and optimizing Mac storage space can offset this gradual decline. An automatic cleaning tool like MacKeeper's "Safe Cleanup" does everything, freeing junk files from your device in seconds.

Why is your Mac so slow when you have a lot of storage space?

Even with enough storage space, slow Macs can be caused by other factors, such as running too many background processes, outdated software, or lack of important RAM. Investigating these aspects, as well as optimizing your storage space and any external accessories, can help resolve and repair a slow Mac.

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