Seven Tips to Increase Mac’s Speed

Speeding up an old MacBook should not be that difficult, even if you lack technical expertise about computers in general.

Some people neglect to take proper care of their Mac and have to deal with the consequences later.

A computer that you cannot use to the fullest because it freezes or crashes becomes useless quite fast.

If you want to speed up your laptop, continue reading this article. The suggestions below should come in handy and help you create a proper computer maintenance strategy.

Suggestion #1 – Get a Cooling Pad and Clean Dust Inside

A mac cleanup should be on the priority list right off the bat. The dust and dirt that accumulates inside the laptop pose a threat to the internal hardware. Do not wait until the computer starts overheating. As soon as you notice that the temperature is too high and that the internal fans are making a loud noise, shut down the MacBook and clean the dust inside.

Those who are reluctant to take the MacBook apart themselves because they are afraid to damage the internal hardware should get in touch with a local computer service store.

There should be someone who can do the task. It will cost you money, but you will know that the computer is in safe hands.

A cooling pad is also a good way to deal with overheating and loud fan noise. If you clean the dust inside the MacBook regularly, in addition to investing in a cooling pad, there should be very next to no problems with overheating or loud internal fan noise.

Suggestion #2 – Limit Background Apps and Visual Effects

Remember that your computer has a finite number of available resources. The GPU and memory can cover so much ground, and if there are redundant processes in the background, expecting optimal performance would be far-fetched.

First of all, disable visual effects. You do not need gimmicks like a backlit keyboard. Some apps may also have various animations and other effects that serve no real purpose.

After taking care of visual gimmicks, check the Activity Monitor for redundant background apps. Quit applications that you are not using. Freeing up system resources should improve the overall MacBook performance significantly.

Suggestion #3 – Scan the System for Potential Computer Viruses

Do not underestimate malware and viruses. Even if you have reliable antivirus software, you should still keep tabs on potential threats. Run a custom disk scan regularly, like once or twice a week. There are instances when an antivirus may not detect a threat by itself while it is in the background.

There may be an argument to improve your cybersecurity. In addition to antivirus software, you could enable the firewall and stick to virtual private networks. The latter comes in handy when you need to connect to public Wi-Fi, which lacks the necessary security protocols.

Suggestion #4 – Keep Enough Free Space on the Drive

Running out of drive space will spell trouble for the overall performance. Your computer’s HDD or SSD should have at least 10 or 15 percent of total storage free, but even this amount is pushing it.

In case you are stuck with only a few gigabytes of free storage, take some action and free up the disk’s storage.

Sticking to streaming services instead of hoarding media files on the computer
Deleting other MacBook storage, like app extensions, plugins, and system backups
Getting rid of old applications, downloads, and other unnecessary files
Transferring data to cloud storage and external hard drives or memory sticks

Suggestion #5 – Declutter the Desktop

A cluttered desktop is also quite common among computer users. People find it more convenient to keep app shortcuts and documents on the desktop for quicker access.

However, what they do not realize is how much of a hindrance each desktop icon is. Shortcuts require rendering each time you switch back and forth between the tabs, and if there are multiple icons on the desktop, the computer struggles with its performance.

Keep your files away from the Macbook’s desktop. Find another location, and if you find it difficult to remember where the files are, use the search feature.

Suggestion #6 – Restart the Computer Regularly

Regular computer restarts will prevent memory leaks. Some applications start allocating memory incorrectly, which leads to the computer system slowing down.

It should not take too long for your Mac to restart. And if it does, you can speed up the process by trimming up the start-up item list and enabling the auto-login feature.