Some time after a fresh installation, the system still begins to slow down. This period can vary from several months to several years - depending on how hard they work on their systems. Some users put up with it, others try to do something about the brakes and, I’m sure, achieve some success with this. But I won’t be wrong if I say that no one likes it.
What is the matter, why does the system eventually stop working as quickly as at the beginning? What needs to be done to fix this? Today we will try to figure this out.
1. Cluttered desktop
A large number of files and folders on the desktop can greatly slow down your work. It is advisable to place them somewhere deeper, in the home directory, for example, and add an alias of only the necessary files to the desktop. I found a photo here from the “how not to do it” category:
Terrible, isn't it? 🙂
2. “Broken” settings of various applications
In general, it is quite easy to damage a file with the settings of a certain program :) As a result, this program may not work correctly. If you notice that this is exactly the case for you, then you can try to exit the slowing program, delete the file with its settings and start it again. Typically, the application re-creates the settings file if it cannot find the saved ones.
But first, before deleting “broken” settings, I strongly recommend making a backup of this file before deleting it.
Undoubtedly, smart playlists are a very convenient thing. However, if there are a lot of them, and each one has “Live Updating” enabled, the resources begin to melt before our eyes. This setting can be easily disabled in the File-Edit Smart Playlist settings. True, this will have to be done for each playlist separately.
In addition, I think most users have one way or another encountered very slow operation of iTunes with a large media library. The latter, before version 8.1, was aimed, in particular, at optimizing performance. And judging by the reviews, there is already progress in this direction.
4. Dashboard has a large number of widgets
It is a very convenient application, provided that it contains a small number of widgets. And although they are not visible in a hidden state, this does not mean that they do not occupy RAM and do not slow down the system. Therefore, from time to time you can either “nail” the Dashboard from the Terminal or delete what is unnecessary. Here's a great example of widget armageddon 😀
5. Cache, logs, temporary files
It sounds almost like “Lock, Stock, 2 Smoking Barrels” :) There is absolutely no need to store these files like the apple of your eye, and therefore you can use the help and carry out “prevention” on yours - I’m sure he will really like it. If you prefer to “settle” with the system Cache yourself, in the best traditions of the Italian mafia, welcome to the Home/Library/Cache folder.
Don't forget that running out of space on your hard drive can also be the cause of a slow computer. Usually, for correct operation, it is recommended that at least 10% of its capacity remain free on the partition. Although in reality it may happen that there won’t be even 20 megabytes left - I think I’m not the only one :)
And last week I wrote about this very free space (since Mac OS X copes very well with defragmenting files).
6. Timely update of Mac OS X.
From time to time it releases updates to its software, including, in which it corrects previous errors, improves stability and optimizes system performance. Therefore, do not be lazy to check for updates regularly - it is not at all difficult. And in System Preferences you can configure automatic update checking and select the frequency of these checks.
However, there are situations that can be described with the following phrase: “There was no sadness - the updates were pumped up.” True, Apple usually doesn’t joke like that, so you shouldn’t be afraid of the update process. Although it happens, I won’t hide it :)
But don't update unless you know how to "fix" it after updating - it could cost you your system functionality!
7. Not enough RAM.
One of our readers was very guilty of this in the comments to one seemingly completely, calling Mac bad words :) In general, I agree that large software packages like Adobe Creative Suite or Final Cut Studio after a certain time of their work can “eat up” all the RAM ( despite the fact that there is already a lot of it) and working at the computer will become extremely difficult. Therefore, on your Mac or replacing it may solve this problem.
In addition to this, you can suggest closing unnecessary but running applications - like Dashboard widgets, they take up space in RAM and try to slow down the computer as much as possible :) After all, I don’t think that opening the necessary programs as needed will be so difficult?
They promised to work very seriously on the performance of Apple applications. Therefore, I hope that the next versions of iTunes will work much faster with large volumes of music and letters. I hope that other developers will also care about the quality of the code.
8. Many programs start when you log in
Agree, it’s quite convenient to launch, for example, Adium when loading - you don’t even need to click anything. True, if upon login not only Adium is launched, but also an RSS reader, iTunes, Mail, all kinds of clients (Twitter, irc, etc.) and so on, the computer may faint :)
Therefore, set up auto-start really necessary programs in System Preference-Accounts-Login Items.
9. Incorrect permissions
As you know, all files in Mac OS X can be configured with separate permissions, giving different users different permissions. It happens that these rights “fly away” and this is not at all what the system expects :) Disk Utility will help us put things in order: on the first tab First Aid there is a button “Repair Disk Permissions”.
10. Other reasons
It is clear that it is impossible to list all without exception reasons for slow work, but they also include the following:
In general, if I missed something, write in the comments! Finally, I can wish you successful cleaning of the system, but this is just one of those cases when it is better not to overdo it 😉
Fair, not overpriced and not underestimated. There should be prices on the Service website. Necessarily! without asterisks, clear and detailed, where technically possible - as accurate and conclusive as possible.
If spare parts are available, up to 85% of complex repairs can be completed in 1-2 days. Modular repairs require much less time. The website indicates the approximate duration of any repair.
Warranty and responsibility
A guarantee must be given for any repairs. Everything is described on the website and in the documents. The guarantee is self-confidence and respect for you. A 3-6 month warranty is good and sufficient. It is needed to check quality and hidden defects that cannot be detected immediately. You see honest and realistic terms (not 3 years), you can be sure that they will help you.
Half the success in Apple repair is the quality and reliability of spare parts, so a good service works with suppliers directly, there are always several reliable channels and your own warehouse with proven spare parts for current models, so you don’t have to waste extra time.
Free diagnostics
This is very important and has already become a rule of good manners for the service center. Diagnostics is the most difficult and important part of the repair, but you don't have to pay a penny for it, even if you don't repair the device based on its results.
Service repairs and delivery
A good service values your time, so it offers free delivery. And for the same reason, repairs are carried out only in the workshop of a service center: correctly and according to technology can only be done in a prepared place.
Convenient schedule
If the Service works for you, and not for yourself, then it is always open! absolutely. The schedule should be convenient to fit in before and after work. Good service works on weekends and holidays. We are waiting for you and working on your devices every day: 9:00 - 21:00
The reputation of professionals consists of several points
Company age and experience
Reliable and experienced service has been known for a long time.
If a company has been on the market for many years and has managed to establish itself as an expert, people turn to it, write about it, and recommend it. We know what we are talking about, since 98% of incoming devices in the service center are restored.
Other service centers trust us and refer complex cases to us.
How many masters in areas
If there are always several engineers waiting for you for each type of equipment, you can be sure:
1. there will be no queue (or it will be minimal) - your device will be taken care of right away.
2. you give your Macbook for repair to an expert in the field of Mac repairs. He knows all the secrets of these devices
Technical literacy
If you ask a question, a specialist should answer it as accurately as possible.
So that you can imagine what exactly you need.
They will try to solve the problem. In most cases, from the description you can understand what happened and how to fix the problem.
Fair, not overpriced and not underestimated. There should be prices on the Service website. Necessarily! without asterisks, clear and detailed, where technically possible - as accurate and conclusive as possible.
If spare parts are available, up to 85% of complex repairs can be completed in 1-2 days. Modular repairs require much less time. The website indicates the approximate duration of any repair.
Warranty and responsibility
A guarantee must be given for any repairs. Everything is described on the website and in the documents. The guarantee is self-confidence and respect for you. A 3-6 month warranty is good and sufficient. It is needed to check quality and hidden defects that cannot be detected immediately. You see honest and realistic terms (not 3 years), you can be sure that they will help you.
Half the success in Apple repair is the quality and reliability of spare parts, so a good service works with suppliers directly, there are always several reliable channels and your own warehouse with proven spare parts for current models, so you don’t have to waste extra time.
Free diagnostics
This is very important and has already become a rule of good manners for the service center. Diagnostics is the most difficult and important part of the repair, but you don't have to pay a penny for it, even if you don't repair the device based on its results.
Service repairs and delivery
A good service values your time, so it offers free delivery. And for the same reason, repairs are carried out only in the workshop of a service center: correctly and according to technology can only be done in a prepared place.
Convenient schedule
If the Service works for you, and not for yourself, then it is always open! absolutely. The schedule should be convenient to fit in before and after work. Good service works on weekends and holidays. We are waiting for you and working on your devices every day: 9:00 - 21:00
The reputation of professionals consists of several points
Company age and experience
Reliable and experienced service has been known for a long time.
If a company has been on the market for many years and has managed to establish itself as an expert, people turn to it, write about it, and recommend it. We know what we are talking about, since 98% of incoming devices in the service center are restored.
Other service centers trust us and refer complex cases to us.
How many masters in areas
If there are always several engineers waiting for you for each type of equipment, you can be sure:
1. there will be no queue (or it will be minimal) - your device will be taken care of right away.
2. you give your Macbook for repair to an expert in the field of Mac repairs. He knows all the secrets of these devices
Technical literacy
If you ask a question, a specialist should answer it as accurately as possible.
So that you can imagine what exactly you need.
They will try to solve the problem. In most cases, from the description you can understand what happened and how to fix the problem.
On Apple forums, someone always complains that their MacBook “slows down” without being connected to a charger (that is, when running on the built-in battery). And this is really a problem! But the problem can be solved, and without additional investments. We’ll tell you exactly how now.
First, we need to make sure that your MacBook's battery is to blame for performance problems. How to do it? Very simple:
1. Connect the MacBook to the charger and open the proprietary application . You can find it through the Spotlight search in the upper right corner of the screen or in the Finder tab under the name Programs, or through (the rocket icon in the Dock) in the folder Other.
2. We look at the processor performance in %.
3. Disconnect the charger and again look at the processor performance. If it noticeably falls, everything is clear, the battery is to blame for the “brakes”.
The first thing to do is remove one of the system files with a .plist extension, which tells your Mac to slow down when running on battery in order to last longer on battery power. Although in practice, with this setup you spend more time launching applications and performing operations, not to mention lost nerves, so there is no big benefit here.
To remove a “harmful” .plist file:
1. Find your Mac's model number. To do this, click on the Apple menu (in the upper left corner), select About This Mas → System report. The information we need is in the line .
2. Now you can proceed directly to removal.
Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) and System Configuration Memory (PRAM) can help resolve many Mac issues, and poor MacBook performance when running on battery is one of them.
Important: First read the instructions to the end, then proceed.
How to reset SMC on Macbook
How to reset PRAM
Please note that after resetting PRAM, some system settings will be reset - time, volume, mouse and keyboard settings, etc.
If the first two methods did not help you, try fixing the disk permissions. Some users reported that this fix helped them.
To do this, open Disk Utility and select the main hard drive of your MacBook, and then click on the button that says First aid.
The program will check your disk for errors and, if necessary, restore the necessary parameters.
... Then it makes sense to contact Apple technical support or an authorized service center. Be prepared for the fact that you will eventually have to replace the “problematic” battery with a new one.
No matter how powerful your Mac is, one day it will start to slow down wildly. This will be due to overheating, crooked software, a clogged disk, errors and simply discharge.
Since I live near the sea and often work literally on the beach, I encounter overheating of my MacBook very often.
Without additional software, you can determine overheating in two ways:
But it is better to use a small free utility Macs Fan Control. It shows the temperature of the battery, processor, graphics chip and other components of the Mac, and also allows you to manually control the speed of the computer's fans.
If these values and the overall ambient temperature do not meet recommendations, the Mac will use throttling. It will lower the clock speed of the processor and other components to achieve a normal °C number.
- Use your Mac in temperatures between 10°C and 35°C (0-95% humidity)
- The temperature of the processor and video chip should not exceed 95°C
- HDD should not heat above 50°C, SSD - 70°C
Ideally, the temperature should never reach critical values.
To do this, try to use your Mac on flat surfaces that do not interfere with cooling, remove it from direct sunlight, do not place anything on the MacBook keyboard, do not block the ventilation openings, and use only Apple branded power adapters.
Macs can also become clogged with dust. For normal cleaning, it is better to contact specialists, and a special screwdriver from AliExpress for 270 rubles, a vacuum cleaner and a little patience will help you do it yourself.
If the temperature is okay, look into the processes in the System Monitoring application.
Here you are interested two tabs:"CPU" and "Memory". The first shows the processor load by applications, and the second shows RAM. Sort software by “%CPU” and “Memory” to immediately see the heaviest programs and deal with them.
Today this is more relevant than ever. For example, recently a miner application appeared in the Mac App Store, which quietly used computer resources to mine the Monero cryptocurrency and loaded the processor by 200%.
But often ordinary software behaves incorrectly. For example, lately Chrome was regularly pushing my MacBook's CPU to the limit with just a couple of tabs and almost no extensions, so I finally switched to Safari.
I suggest getting rid of any crooked software that does not know how to properly use system resources. Glitch- this is the lot of programs for Windows.
If you notice that the processor is heavily loaded by a service mdworker, you need optimize Spotlight indexing.
To do this, go to “System Preferences” > Spotlight, remove information that is useless to you from the “Search Results” tab and drag folders with a large number of small files that you do not plan to search to the “Privacy” tab.
Firstly, remove all useless software from the Applications directory in Finder.
Not only does it take up disk space, but it also uses other Mac resources by hanging in the background.
For example, I actively try new applications for macOS, so I clean out this directory at least once a week. I delete from here not only what I don’t like, but also the software that I don’t use.
Secondly, figure out how to automatically load the software at system startup, which is hidden in “System Settings” > “Users and Groups” > “Login Objects”.
All applications that run in the background eat up some of the processor and RAM resources. Some of them you may need (for example, clouds like Dropbox), while others are useless (for example, the Transmission torrent client).
If the computer's hard drive is occupied by 90% or more, macOS may not have enough space for the normal operation of the system's built-in features and additional features. applications. So she will start to slow down.
To check this, go to About This Mac > Storage.
Free less than 10%? Go to the "Manage" section. Here you can clearly see what and how much it takes. First, go through the recommendations for disk cleaning, and then move on to the remaining sections: “Documents”, “Programs”, iCloud Drive.
Mac installers are divided into two types: some do not update macOS and are guided by the principle “It works, don’t touch it,” while others install all system updates in the hope of fixing bugs and glitches.
Don't forget to also check for disk errors. They appear randomly during installation of applications and OS updates.
Just open Disk Utility, select the system drive and click on the First Aid button. The Mac will check itself for errors and try to fix them.
When the MacBook battery discharges below 5%, macOS turns on the emergency power saving mode and the computer starts to work very slowly. Connect it to the charger and everything will work.
I especially often encounter this during the middle of the workday. Usually there are a lot of tasks, so I don’t even notice notifications about battery discharge and I begin to be perplexed at the wild slowness in the Mac’s operation.
