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3 ways to clean up your Mac and make it run better
Your Macintosh computer is your workhorse. It needs to be ready at a moment’s notice, and dish out extensive tasks on a day to day basis.
Having slow performance on your Mac can grind projects to a halt. It can also just about drive you crazy.
That’s why you need to know these three ways to clean up your Mac and make it run better.
It is important to note that this is a machine. It is constantly running, and it requires care to keep it running properly.
If you are experiencing slow performance and if restarting the computer isn’t enough, it may be necessary to look deeper into the computer. Here’s what to look for.
1. Unclogging files and apps
If you have had your Mac for a while, chances are certain things on the computer have been building up over time. Checking things like the login items on your computer is a great way to see if there are any unused apps hogging up your application memory.
To do so, simply go to “System Preferences,” choose “Users and Groups,” and then select your User. From there, choose the “Login Items” option to display the applications that open during startup.
Then select the apps you do not want opening automatically and click the “Minus” sign down below.
Another thing that can unclog files on the Mac is clearing the “Caches” folder on your computer. This folder stores various amounts of data, and over time can fill up and make your computer run slow. To clear the “Caches” folder, follow these steps:
Open Finder and click “Go” in the top left corner of the screen. Then hold down the option key on your keyboard. You should see the “Library” icon appear.
Click the library icon, and it will open your “Library” folder. It is very important that you do not alter anything in the “Library” folder, other than the “Caches” folder. Locate the “Caches” folder and double click it to go inside. Then move everything INSIDE the “Caches” folder to the trash.
2. Using Malwarebytes™
If your computer is still running slow, it may be a good idea to check for any pesky adware or malware on the computer. Adware and malware are malicious files that can accumulate over time on your computer. Malwarebytes™ is a third-party application that is recommended by Apple to help scan your computer.
The best way to get Malwarebytes™ is to go to Malwarebytes.com/mac and download the free app. Then simply open the app and select “Run Scan” to scan the computer. If it finds something it will give you the option to remove it.
After you have used Malwarebytes™, you can keep it in your applications folder for use at another time, or just uninstall it. It’s free to use for 30 days and can save you time searching every file on your computer for possible malicious software. If you decide to use it permanently, it costs $39.99 per year for the premium home option.
3. Reset the System Management Controller (SMC)
If you are still experiencing slow performance on your computer, it may be a good idea to try resetting the SMC on the Mac. Resetting the SMC will not delete any saved data on the computer, but rather reset certain settings on the computer; ultimately speeding up your Mac.
To reset the SMC on an iMac you would need to start by powering off the device. Once the computer is completely off, you would then unplug the power cord and wait 15 seconds. After that, plug the cord back into the computer, wait 5 seconds, and power on the device.
To reset the SMC on a MacBook, start by powering off the device. Once the device is powered off, locate the ‘Shift,’ ‘Control,’ ‘Option,’ and power button. What you will be doing is holding all four keys down at the same time for 7 seconds, and you will know you were successful if the computer does *NOT turn on. After 7 seconds, power on the device.
The three steps above will assist you in speeding up the computer and letting you get back to work. If the Mac is still running slow, you may need to take further steps, like reinstalling your operating system. But for most performance issues these steps will give you better speeds.
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Tags: Apple, malware, operating systems, Wi-Fi
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