Speed up a slow Mac: Mini, computer, in 5 minutes

Is your Mac running slower than usual? If so, there are several common issues to check to get it back up to speed. In this article we explain some of the main causes for a Mac performance slowdown and how to fix them. These tips should work for all Macs, from the MacBook Pro to the Mac Mini.

Check all running programs

The first step is to review all current activities being executed on your computer and how much energy each consumes. You'll need to check the Mac Activity Monitor. To find it, go to Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor.

A live list displays the performance of each program. The consumption details of the CPU will also appear by default. Some of them you may not recognize because they are internal executions of Mac OS. Focus on identifying activities that are slowing the computer down that you can close.

You can go directly to the program to close it or reduce the activity, or you can close it directly from the Activity Monitor. Select the program you want to stop, it will be marked in blue, click the upper left X button. You can click on Exit to close it and if it does not respond, perform the same process and click on Force exit:

Issues with the browser

Browsers are one of the common programs that can consume a lot of power and slow down your Mac You can check it in your activity list in the Activity Monitor.

Slowdowns caused by browsers are usually due to automatic updates or too many windows open. The simplest thing is to reduce the number of open tabs at the same time. Another option is to opt for another lighter browser, such as Safari or Quantum.

Large programs on your hard drive

Programs like Photoshop, which process a lot of information, can slow down a computer, especially if you don't have a powerful enough operating system. Confirm that your computer's operating system is compatible with the version of the large programs you use. If you find that programs are taking up space, switch them out for lighter versions. For Photoshop, you could switch to GIMP, for example.

Your Mac needs a break

If you can't find the specific cause for your Mac's slowdown, we advise you to close all programs from the Activity Monitor. Click on each of them and select Exit, as explained above. Turn your Mac off, let it rest for a couple of minutes and turn it on again.