Is your Mac running extremely slow? It might be because applications are taking up a lot of CPU. When your system is running on low resources, your Mac can work sluggishly. It might even start to freeze and crash frequently. Luckily, there are ways to enhance the speed of your computer. Some of the best methods are explained below.
Remember to Restart Your System Occasionally
Most people leave their Mac system running even when they are not using it. So, you can tap whenever you need to work, and the system is ready for you. However, restarting your system occasionally can give the RAM and CPU of your system a fresh start. It can remove all the lingering unused applications or eliminate the background processes you no longer need.
Disable Resource-hungry Programs and Processes
Mac’s system resources are divided into several processes, and when different programs take up the resources, your system is bound to run slowly. You can speed up your system by hunting down those resource-hungry programs in the Activity Monitor and quitting them. Navigate to Finder > click Applications > click Utility > click Activity Monitor. Head to the CPU tab and double-click on applications with high CPU usage. It would be best if you closed those applications by clicking on Quit. Then, confirm the action.
Lower Window Server CPU Usage
WindowServer is the core process of your Mac system, and it connects all the actions and interface applications to your display. It draws all the graphical elements and helps to keep track of the changes in window positioning. However, there are occasions when the WindowServer spins out of control and might use 30%-50% of your computer’s CPU. You have to launch Activity Monitor WindowServer to check how much CPU is consumed. Then, you can quit all the unnecessary applications and close the windows you are not using to reduce CPU usage and boost speed.
Manage the Login Items
The startup items or login items are scripts enabling some applications to launch automatically when you boot your Mac. While your system is expected to have a few login items, you need to keep it in check. Too many startup items can reduce the battery life and consume a lot of processing power. It can make your Mac slow. Go to the Apple menu > click System Preferences > click Users & Groups > click Login Items > go through the list of the login items and remove anything you don’t wish to launch automatically.
Reduce the Number Of Browsing Tabs
If you are browsing the web with multiple tabs open, it can slow your system and make it drag. Your system will not have enough memory to run other applications or processes. With each new tab, you are draining your system’s resources. Therefore, you need to close the tabs you are no longer using so that your system’s resources are not drained.
Decrease the Number of Applications in the Dock
Each application found in your Dock requires a lot of data that draws from your system’s resources. This helps you access the apps faster than having to find them in Finder. If your system is already running at the edge, you need to give your device more breathing space. Navigate to the System Preferences app and click on Dock. It would be best to uncheck a few things like Automatically hide and show the Dock and Animate opening applications. This will help to limit the RAM and resources used by the Dock.
Uninstall the Apps you Don’t Use
Are you using an HDD instead of an SSD? If your HDD is nearly full, you need to think of getting rid of some of the files and applications so your system can breathe. Unlike SSDs, hard drives store and access data on spinning platters. Therefore, you will be left waiting long if there’s no space and the hard drive is trying hard to load. On the other hand, SSDs are not dependent on small mechanical moving parts, and that’s why you can access files more quickly. You need to remove the files, apps, and documents you don’t need anymore to boost speed.
Switch Off the Screen Saver
Screen savers are great because they animate your screen when you are not working, and they can help you relax. It can even help you show off your photos. You can adjust the setting so that the pictures in the screen saver change every five or fifteen minutes. But when you do this, your system allocates a lot of resources to load the screen saver and access the photos. Such activities might slow down your system, so you need to click System Preferences > select Desktop & Screen Saver > click the Desktop tab > click the Screen Saver tab and select Never by going to the Start After option.
Get started on boosting the CPU speed on your Mac to finish your work quicker.