Remember the feeling of a brand new Mac? A Mac without rainbow wheels. A Mac that didn’t cause headaches or frustration. Everything was just perfect! However, with all apps, documents, photos, and a full iTunes library, your Mac starts to act as if it’s hiking 20 miles uphill in the snow. We’ll show you 16 ways to speed up Mac.
Need for Speed (NFS) is a racing video game franchise published by Electronic Arts and currently developed by Ghost Games. The series centers around illicit street racing and in general tasks players to complete various types of races while evading the local law enforcement in police pursuits.
Here’s How to Speed Up Your Mac
These simple steps provided below won't take much time, but will greatly help to improve your Mac's performance. If you do these activities regularly, you won't have to worry about the need to speed up your Mac again.
1. Find resource-hungry processes
Some apps are more power hungry than others and can slow your Mac to a crawl. To see which apps are eating up your system resources, use Activity Monitor. You can open it from the Utilities folder of your Applications folder, or use Spotlight to find it.
Activity Monitor details five different resources: CPU, Memory, Energy, Disk, and Network usage. If your Mac is running slowly, pay special attention to the CPU section. It shows how processes affect CPU (processor) activity. Click a column name, such as % CPU, to list all programs by the amount of CPU they’re using.
If you see that some app is using a lot of CPU power, you can close it from here by choosing the app with the mouse and clicking the X in the left-hand corner of the Activity Monitor.
2. Manage your startup items
It goes without saying that a clean startup helps speed up slow Mac. When your Mac launches faster, it takes less time to do anything. No waiting for Safari, Chrome or Firefox to launch — they open instantly. How do you get such speed? Well, when your Mac boots up, it runs a lot of unnecessary apps. But it’s quite easy to take control of it. Go to your System Preferences > Users & Groups and then click on your username. Now click on Login Items and select a program you don’t immediately need when your Mac starts up, and click the “-” button below.
3. Turn off visual effects
A great tip to help you when you wonder how to speed up your Mac is to turn off visual effects. Sure, they look pretty, but who cares if your Mac is running slowly? Turning off some of the features can greatly speed up iMac or MacBook.
Here’s how to speed up a Mac by turning off some visual effects:
- Click System Preferences > Dock.
- Untick the following boxes: Animate opening applications, Automatically hide and show the Dock.
- Click on Minimize windows using and change Genie effect to Scale effect.
4. Delete browser add-ons
It's 2019 and today's browsers got overly sophisticated. Chrome and other browsers often get overloaded with various add-ons and extensions we install on top of them. These tools do a useful job like checking our grammar but we pay for that with reduced browser speed. You can battle that by reducing the number of open tabs (a good practice in and off itself) and by removing any browser extensions you don't need.
Here is how to delete extra browser extensions in all 3 main browsers:
Here is how to delete extra browser extensions in all 3 main browsers:
5. Reindex Spotlight
If you recently updated your OS, you would be aware of the slowness that occurs when Spotlight is indexing. This only takes a few hours and then your Mac will be fine. But sometimes the indexing gets stuck, and you need to speed up a Mac. To solve this problem, you need to reindex Spotlight by going to System Preferences > Spotlight and clicking on the “Privacy” tab.
Now drag your hard drive from Finder into the Privacy List. Once added, remove it by clicking the “-” sign. The indexing will start again, but hopefully, after a few hours, it will finish properly and boost your Mac speed.
6. Reduce Desktop clutter
Remember, every desktop icon takes up RAM space. Fewer icons — the faster your Mac gets. When your Desktop is clean, restart your computer. And the newly-introduced 'Desktop Stacks' feature on macOS Mojave lets you put those icons in order. If you're running macOS High Sierra or older macOS version, don't worry. The mere deletion of desktop items will make your MacBook faster.
7. Empty the caches
Cache files are temporary data used to speed up the processes. For example, a web browser will cache web pages to download a website faster when you revisit it. Sounds great, right? Actually, it is, but there is always “but.” Over time, these cache files take much storage on your Mac, and instead of speeding things up, they slow your computer down.
So how to speed up MacBook by emptying the caches? There are two ways: you can clean them up manually (step-by-step) or you can remove them in a second with a cleaning utility CleanMyMac X.
If you want to clear cache automatically, do the following:
- Launch CleanMyMac — download the app for free here
- Choose System Junk.
- Click Scan and then Clean.
That’s it!
However, if you decide to clean cache files manually, check out his guide on “How to Clear Cache on a Mac.”
8. Uninstall unused apps
Another proven way to speed up MacBook Pro, MacBook Air or iMac is to uninstall the application you don’t need anymore. So how to remove unwanted apps on your Mac? You may be surprised to find out that simply dragging them to a Trash bin is not enough. It leaves gigabytes of junk behind. Dragging documents and movies to Trash works fine but apps should be uninstalled completely. Check out a step-by-step guide on “How to Uninstall Apps on a Mac.” It describes the manual way and the easy way.
9. Clean up Mac’s hard drive
If you want the most bang for your buck, cleaning your hard drive is by far the best and easiest way to speed up MacBook or iMac. Go through your hard drive and clean out everything that is slowing it down. But what is slowing down my Mac? What to look for? Caches, logs, apps, widgets, hidden trash, large and old files.
Of course, you can clean up your Mac manually. But finding and removing all these things takes time. And you have to know where to look. The good news is that there is an easy solution to the problem. CleanMyMac X, by MacPaw has everything you need to finish the 3-hour task of hard drive cleanup in under 5 minutes. Even more, it will clean up the junk you didn’t even know about and speed up Mac.
10. Update your Mac (OS and hardware)
Typically, Macs take care of themselves. Having the latest software from Apple makes speeding up your Mac simple. To check your version of the operating system, click the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen and then About This Mac. Make sure you have the latest macOS/OS X installed (or the latest you can install since not all Macs upgrade to macOS Mojave).
As for the hardware upgrade, as you’ve probably guessed, it is costly. But if your OS is the latest possible version and you’ve cleaned up the hard drive, and you still have troubles with speed, this could be your solution. Keep in mind that upgrading some hardware is not possible for certain Macs.
Upgrading to the latest OS and upgrading your hardware will typically solve a bunch of slowness issues.
11. Create a new user profile on your Mac
If you want to go even further than updating the macOS — simply create a new user profile on your Mac. Some settings in your current user profile may have been compromised or got cluttered with outdated system logs. You can scrap all these and start your profile afresh.
- Click the Apple logo > System Preferences
- Click Users & Groups
- Press to Unlock changes
- Add a new user with a “+”
Next up, you will have to import your crucial user data to your new account. Luckily, macOS has a special Shared Folder just for this purpose. It can be found by clicking Finder > Go > Computer > Macintosh HD > Users. Drop your documents to this folder and then login to your new account. Well done! You’re starting a new life!
12. Free up RAM using Terminal
If you made it to this tip, you probably have enough skill to start using Mac's Terminal app. It's like using a magic wand — there are dozens of helpful combinations that you can use to command your Mac. One of them is used to free up RAM instantly.
You can apply this trick when you system is running out of available memory. In other words, when a particular app freezes up and desperately needs some fresh memory.
Open Terminal app via Launchpad
Paste in the following command:
You can apply this trick when you system is running out of available memory. In other words, when a particular app freezes up and desperately needs some fresh memory.
Open Terminal app via Launchpad
Paste in the following command:
Hit Enter
You will be asked to enter your system password
You will be asked to enter your system password
If you're not comfortable with using Terminal, there is a shortcut way to free up RAM that requires no hacking skills.
You can download the app I've mentioned above, CleanMyMac X, preferably, the 2019 version.
Download CleanMyMac X here
Navigate to Maintenance tab
Click Free up RAM
That's it!
13. Reset SMC & PRAM
Sometimes your Mac will act strange for no apparent reason — it sleeps or shuts down unexpectedly, the battery doesn’t charge properly, the keyboard backlight behaves incorrectly, and your Mac performs slowly. If these issues are not solved by restarting your computer, you’ll need to reset SMC (system management controller) and PRAM (parameter RAM).
Resetting the SMC
How to speed up MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and MacBook
First of all, you need to determine whether your Mac’s battery is removable. That’s because the process of resetting the SMC for computers that have a non-removable battery is quite different.
If the battery is non-removable:
- Shut down your Mac.
- Press Shift+Control+Option on your keyboard and press the power button at the same time. Hold the keys and a power button for 10 seconds.
- Release all keys.
- Press the power button to turn on your Mac.
If the battery is removable:
- Shut down your Mac.
- Remove the battery.
- Press the power button and hold it for 5 seconds.
- Press the power button again to turn on your computer.
How to speed up iMac, Mac Mini, Mac Pro
- Shut down your computer.
- Unplug a power cord and wait 15 seconds.
- Plug the power cord in.
- Wait 5 seconds and press the power button.
Resetting the PRAM
- Shut down your Mac.
- Press the power button.
- Press the Command+Option+P+R keys at the same time.
- Hold the keys until your Mac restarts.
- Release the keys.
Resetting SMC and PRAM may seem to be difficult, but it can really help with Mac speedup.
14. Replace your HDD with SSD
You can breathe new life into your Mac by replacing its traditional hard drive with a solid-state drive. Adding an SSD will make your computer boot faster, copy files in the blink of an eye and make the system really fast when multitasking.
A word of caution: it’s recommended that you consult a professional before attempting any hardware upgrades yourself because the process is quite challenging. And don’t forget to make a complete backup of your data before replacing your HDD with SSD, so that you’ll be able to restore all important files if something goes wrong.
By today's standards, a good SSD will have 240-256 GB of capacity. It is recommended to clean install the macOS on the new drive. When asked about the formatting system, choose APFS+ file system which works much faster.
By today's standards, a good SSD will have 240-256 GB of capacity. It is recommended to clean install the macOS on the new drive. When asked about the formatting system, choose APFS+ file system which works much faster.
15. Add more RAM
How to speed up my Mac? How to get it run faster? In fact, upgrading RAM is usually a great solution for improving your Mac’s performance. But first, check how much RAM you physically have on your Mac.
Click on the Apple logo > About this Mac...
Look out for Memory specs
The normal amount in 2019 is anything above 8 GB of RAM. An extra 8 GB RAM card will cost you around $30.
Click on the Apple logo > About this Mac...
Look out for Memory specs
The normal amount in 2019 is anything above 8 GB of RAM. An extra 8 GB RAM card will cost you around $30.
The more RAM your Mac has at its disposal, the more windows or tabs you can have open without slowing the system down. With more RAM, the operating system isn’t making calls to virtual memory which uses the hard drive and slows down the system considerably. Here’s a comprehensive guide on “How to Upgrade Your Mac’s RAM.”
Tip: One more hardware solution to speed up your MacBook, is to reapply MacBook’s thermal paste which has probably worn off over time. The tell-tale sign for this is your Mac overheating too often. The thermal paste transfers heat away from your Mac’s processor thus making it more efficient
16. Use CleanMyMac X
If you don’t feel like spending the next several hours trying to get your Mac in shape manually, there is a great solution. Download CleanMyMac X and let it do the job for you. It’s a powerful utility for speeding up Mac. It has a dedicated feature, called Speed that battles the slow macOS. It does some of the following:
- Disables your Hung Apps
- Disables Heavy Memory Consumers
- Runs macOS Maintenance Scripts
- Switches off extra Login items and more
Some users reported that the Speed feature is pretty impressive, especially on older Mac models.
Now, speed up your Mac, take a deep breath, do a Mac speed test and come to thank us.
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Electronic Arts Need for Speed: Carbon
When Electronic Arts (EA) announced in mid-2007 plans to publish games for the Mac, it surprised many gamers by including one game series that hasn’t raised its head on the Mac before—the venerable Need for Speed series of street racing games. That was in stark contrast to the other titles making up EA’s revived Mac efforts—notably Madden NFL—which had been on the platform before in one form or another. So now that Need for Speed: Carbon is available on the Mac, how does it fare?
If you’ve played any of the recent Need for Speed games available for the PC or video game consoles, you’ll have a basic idea of what to expect. If not, here’s the executive summary: You’re a street racer who’s returned to the city after an extended absence, only to discover that the town is now controlled by several rival gangs who have taken over different neighborhoods. The only way you can achieve your former glory—and control of the city—is to race against them in a variety of events and win, avoiding cops, other drivers and all manners of objects like telephone poles and concrete barriers in the process.
Let me say at the outset that Need for Speed: Carbon isn’t particularly realistic. If you’re looking for an actual racing simulator, you’ll be better off with something like Colin McRae Rally from Feral Interactive. But if you’re looking for a cinematic game that will make you feel like you’re in a scene from The Fast and the Furious, Need for Speed: Carbon is really hard to top.
Events vary from canyon runs that will have you caroming down hairpin turns at top speed, threatening to go over the edge at every moment, to “drifting” (that is, sledding your car around tight curving courses, spinning the wheels and fishtailing as much as possible for points). And of course, there’s straight-up slaloms through busy city streets with a pack of opponents on your tail (or in front of you, depending on how good you are).
Each race you win will earn prestige, not only for you but for your little racing club and its control of territory. Wins also net you cash, which you can turn over into seemingly endless varieties of car customization or new vehicles that you’ll be able to unlock as your influence and your list of winning races increases. You’ll be able to race everything from front wheel drive subcompacts to roaring ’60s era muscle cars by the time you’re done, with a few supercar exotics thrown in for good measure.
As you impress the locals, you’ll build your own racing gang or team; each additional character actually races along side you and can help you out in a pinch. They each have different specialties: Blockers will keep a particularly pesky opponent from another team at bay, while scouters will go ahead of you and look for shortcuts. Drafters will get in front of you and let you ride in their slipstream, which lets you reduce your throttle and accelerate like a slingshot at key times when it really matters. Sound cues are used to good effect; you hear teammates over the radio barking out information and providing situation reports as you make your way around the circuit.
Production quality in most aspects of the game are very good. Actors—real life-actors overlaid with some CGI effects—are decent for the most part, although a bit melodramatic and silly at times, and the music is the run-of-the-mill urban beat/hip-hop stuff you’d expect out of a street racing game (or a kid with a Honda and 3,000-watt stereo).
Control of the game with a keyboard is actually pretty good, although I favored a game controller, similar to how I’d play this game on a console. If you’re not a console gamer, you might not really care about having a game controller, but, being familiar with this game series and this general genre on the consoles, a controller made the difference for me.
As another game that’s been brought to the Mac by TransGaming’s Cider translation-layer technology, Need for Speed: Carbon runs only on Intel-based Macs, and will only work right on Macs that have discrete graphics chips. (That means that MacBooks and Mac minis are left off the list of supported devices, unfortunately).
The game ran fantastically on my 2.33GHz MacBook Pro, but it wasn’t without problems—a few times, the game quit on me. There’s been no patch and EA is, unfortunately, something of a black hole for tech support. If you can’t find a canned answer on the company’s support Web site, don’t plan on getting substantive advice from its support team. EA and TransGaming obviously need to work out a few issues going forward—telling users to manually hack a config file with a text editor and change an arcane value from 1 to 0 to fix a problem with native screen resolution isn’t a very user-friendly solution, especially for a game.
Need for Speed: Carbon’s actual events will get repetitious after a while, even though they take place in different areas—much of the scenery begins to blend in together after a while. There are boss battles to break up the action, too—special events that make you use all of your skills in one single race against the leader of a rival club.
That’s not to say that Need for Speed: Carbon is just a flat series of street races. There’s a storyline, too, that will take you from event to event. And there’s a cast of characters who you’ll get to know over a series of races—bad guys, good guys, the whole nine yards. It makes for an entertaining mix that will keep you occupied.
Need for Speed: Carbon supports multiplayer action against other PC users, though you’ll need to set up an account on EA’s servers to do so. That’s a big plus; there’s no artificial division between Mac and PC users. (I’m glad to see this ironed out, because it hasn’t gone that smoothly for EA’s Mac release of Command & Conquer 3, which required a patch to enable Mac to PC play.) Racing online also enables you to post your scores on leaderboards maintained on EA’s Web site.
Although Need for Speed: Carbon is essentially the same version as the PC game “wrapped” in technology to make it work on the Mac, there is one element missing that you will find in the PC version: Online cars and mods that some gamers may have created and used with the Windows game can’t be imported to the Mac.
Need for Speed: Carbon has been rated E10+ by the ESRB, meaning it’s safe for kids 10 and older. There’s no naughty parts or bad language, just some mean behavior that might not set a good example for the impressionable elementary school set.
The bottom line
Need for Speed: Carbon is a welcome new addition to the Mac fold, and one of EA’s most playable and fun titles of its new crop of Mac games.
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Electronic Arts Need for Speed: Carbon
Pros
- Variety of different cars to choose from
- Engaging storyline
- Mac-to-PC multiplayer support
Cons
- No MacBook support
- A few spotty reliability issues