Mac · Repair guide

How to fix a Mac that's running slow

9 fixes, easiest first3 min readUpdated November 2026

Quick fix

Quit apps you aren't using and restart the Mac, then open System Settings > General > Storage and free up space using the recommendations shown.

What it means

A Mac usually slows down because its startup disk is nearly full, too many apps are open or starting at login, or one app is using a lot of memory or processor power. Apps that need more than your Mac can offer, an out-of-date macOS and disk errors can also make it sluggish.

Common causes

  • The startup disk is nearly full
  • Too many apps open at once
  • One app using too much memory or processor power
  • Too many apps opening automatically at login
  • Apps that need a newer processor or graphics card than your Mac has
  • An out-of-date version of macOS
  • Errors on the startup disk

How to fix it

Work down the list. Each fix is safe to try before moving on to the next.

01Quit apps you aren't usingEasy

  1. For each app you don't need, click its name in the menu bar and choose Quit, or press Command-Q while it's in front.
  2. If an app won't quit, press Option-Command-Esc (or choose Apple menu > Force Quit), select the app and click Force Quit. Unsaved work in that app may be lost.

Why it helps: Every open app uses memory, and closing the ones you don't need frees it for the rest.

02Restart your MacEasy

  1. Save your work.
  2. Choose Apple menu > Restart.
  3. When the Mac starts again, open only the apps you need.

Why it helps: A restart clears out apps and background tasks that have built up over days of use.

03Free up storage spaceEasy

  1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings, click General, then Storage.
  2. Click the recommendations shown, such as storing files in iCloud or emptying the Trash automatically.
  3. Click the info button next to a category such as Applications or Documents to see and remove large items.
  4. Open your Downloads folder and delete files you no longer need, then empty the Trash.
  5. Move big photo or video libraries to an external drive.
  6. On macOS Monterey or earlier, use Apple menu > About This Mac > Storage.

Why it helps: A nearly full startup disk is one of the most common reasons a Mac slows down.

04Find what's using memory in Activity MonitorEasy

  1. Press Command-Space, type Activity Monitor and press Return.
  2. Click the Memory tab, then the CPU tab, to see which apps use the most.
  3. Apps that are stuck show (Not Responding) in red.
  4. To close one, select it, click the Stop button at the top left and choose Quit. Use Force Quit only if Quit doesn't work, since unsaved work can be lost.
  5. Don't quit processes you don't recognize; some are part of macOS.

Why it helps: One misbehaving app can slow down the whole Mac, and Activity Monitor shows you which one.

05Stop apps from opening at loginEasy

  1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings, click General, then Login Items & Extensions.
  2. Select an item you don't need to open every time you log in.
  3. Click the Remove button below the list.
  4. Restart and see whether the Mac is quicker to get going.

Why it helps: Fewer apps starting at login means a faster start and more free memory.

06Check that your apps suit your MacEasy

  1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings > General > About to see your Mac's chip or processor and memory.
  2. Compare that with the system requirements listed by the maker of any heavy app you use, such as video editing software or games.
  3. Quit apps that need a different processor or graphics card than your Mac has.

Why it helps: Apps built for more powerful hardware can make an older or smaller Mac crawl.

07Update macOSEasy

  1. Back up your Mac first.
  2. Open System Settings > General > Software Update.
  3. Install any update listed and enter your Mac password if asked.
  4. Don't close the lid or let the Mac sleep until the update finishes.

Why it helps: Updates include fixes for problems that can slow the Mac down.

08Check the disk with Disk UtilityMedium

  1. Back up your files first.
  2. Open the Utilities folder inside Applications, then open Disk Utility.
  3. Choose View > Show All Devices.
  4. Select the last volume under your startup disk, click First Aid, then Run. Then select the item above it and repeat, working up to the disk itself.
  5. If First Aid can't finish on the startup disk while the Mac is running, Apple says to run it from macOS Recovery instead.
  6. If Disk Utility finds errors it can't repair, contact Apple or a repair shop before erasing anything.

Why it helps: Errors on the startup disk can make the Mac slow to open files and apps.

09Test the Mac in safe modeMedium

  1. Apple silicon Mac: shut down, press and hold the power button until Loading startup options appears, select your startup disk, then hold Shift and click Continue in Safe Mode.
  2. Intel Mac: turn it on and right away press and hold Shift until the login window appears.
  3. Log in. You may need to log in twice. You'll see Safe Boot in red at the top right of the login window.
  4. If the Mac is faster in safe mode, a login item or add-on app is the likely cause; remove recent ones.
  5. To leave safe mode, choose Apple menu > Restart.

Why it helps: Safe mode starts the Mac with only the essentials and clears some system caches, which helps find the cause.

Check it's fixed

  • Apps open quickly and the spinning wheel shows up rarely, if at all.
  • Storage settings show plenty of free space on the startup disk.
  • Activity Monitor shows no single app using most of the CPU or memory when idle.

When to get help

If the Mac is still slow after these steps, or Disk Utility reports errors it can't repair, back up your files and contact Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider. Running Apple Diagnostics first can show whether hardware is at fault.

Questions

Why is my Mac slow after a macOS update?

Restart the Mac, check Activity Monitor for an app using a lot of memory or CPU, and update your apps, since older versions may not suit the new macOS. If it's still slow, try safe mode to rule out login items.

How much free space should my Mac have?

There is no magic number, but a nearly full startup disk slows a Mac down and can block macOS updates. Use the recommendations in Storage settings and move large files to an external drive to keep space free.

Do I need a cleaner app to speed up my Mac?

No. The tools built into macOS, such as Storage settings, Activity Monitor and Disk Utility, cover the main causes of a slow Mac.

Is it safe to force quit an app?

Yes, but any unsaved work in that app can be lost. Try Quit first and save your work in other apps before you force quit.

Related fixes

How to stop the spinning wheel on a MacPress Option-Command-Esc, select the app that isn't responding and click Force Quit. If the wheel keeps coming back, restart the Mac, fHow to fix a computer that's running slowRestart the PC, then open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, close what is using the most CPU, memory or disk, and disable apps you don&#How to fix a macOS update that's stuckGive the update several hours, ideally overnight, before doing anything. If the Apple logo and progress bar still haven't moved, hold tHow to fix a Mac stuck on the Apple logoIf a macOS update is installing, give it time, even overnight. Otherwise, hold the power button for up to 10 seconds to turn the Mac off, un

Still stuck?

Paste the exact message to find the closest fix, or search it on Google, Microsoft, Apple, Reddit and YouTube.

Sources