Like any machine, your once quick and reliable MacBook is slowing down. It’s taking longer to boot, run apps, surf the Internet, or watch videos on your computer. Fear not; there may be a few ways to juice some life out of your old warhorse yet.
Step #1 Remove Malware
Over time, your computer may have accumulated its share of malware that’s putting a strain on the hardware and hurting performance. Your MacBook’s default security software can only do so much. Malware comes in many forms, including viruses, adware, spyware, Trojans, and other potentially unwanted programs (PUPs).
Even malware that appears as innocuous as adware can slow down your computer and your Internet connection. The trick is to download a good antivirus for Mac that has leading anti-malware removal technology. In addition, the antivirus should be light, quick, and complement Apple’s proprietary security tools.
Step #2 Update the Software
The latest operating system often has the best performance enhancements. But before you update the software, check the Internet for reviews of the patch. Some older computers tend to crash and slow down after operating system updates due to MacBook compatibility issues.
Step #3 Upgrade the Hardware
Upgrading some essential components can be a cost-effective way to gain a significant performance boost. For example, if your MacBook’s RAM is only 4GB, upgrading to 8GB or more could yield excellent results. Similarly, upgrading your MacBook’s hard drive to a Solid State Drive (SSD) can enhance performance. Invest in some hardware upgrades if your MacBook has upgradeable RAM or if you can upgrade your hard drive.
Step #4 Disable Heavy Processes
Idle apps that use up your CPU power can slow down your machine. Open the CPU tab in Activity Monitor and find apps with high CPU usage and aren’t necessary. For example, the video streaming app you barely use might be slowing down your computer. Double-click the app name and then press Quit. Repeat this process for other unnecessary programs running in the background and consuming memory.
Step #5 Clean Your Mac
When we say clean, we don’t want you to fetch a cloth and a pail of water. But you should remove unwanted programs that load when your MacBook starts up—Visit System Preferences in the Apple Menu and open Users & Groups. Next, go to Login Items and remove unnecessary applications from opening when you log in.
To go a step further, go to Storage and click Manage. Next, click Optimize storage to finetune your storage. Next, click Review Files in Reduce Clutter and delete unneeded files to give your MacBook some breathing room.
Step #6 Stop Visual Effects
While the visual effects on your MacBook look great, some consume priceless processing power. Visit System Preferences and click Dock. Uncheck the animation and autohide clock options. While in System Preferences, find the Reduce Transparency option in Accessibility to reduce visual effects.
You may need to upgrade your computer if these six options don’t boost your MacBook’s performance to your satisfaction. Ensure that your next laptop has an SSD and enough RAM and processing power to last you several years.
