If your Mac feels laggy, unresponsive, or just generally slower than usual, it doesn’t always point towards a hardware issue. In many cases, it's often software-related or to do with how the device is being used.
Here are some of the most common causes of slow performance, and what you can do about them.
System Activity - Resource Usage
When you’re using your Mac, it relies on your CPU (processor), RAM (memory), and GPU (graphics) to keep everything working effectively. The more apps and browser tabs you have open, or the heavier those apps are, the more strain it puts on your system.
A good place to start is Activity Monitor, which shows you what’s using the most resources:
- Press Command + Space to open Spotlight.
- Type Activity Monitor and hit return.
- Click the CPU tab and sort by % CPU.
- Click on the Memory tab and sort by Memory.
💡Tip: If you’re using Chrome and noticing slowdowns, try switching to Safari. Native macOS apps are usually better optimised and less demanding.
Checking Software System Requirements
Some apps, especially creative or professional ones, need a lot of power and hardware resources to run smoothly. It’s worth checking whether your Mac meets (or ideally exceeds) the recommended system requirements for the apps you’re using. Check the following components to make sure your device meets the software requirements:
- Processor (CPU)
- Graphics (GPU)
- Memory (RAM)
- Storage space
- macOS version
💡Tip: Even if your device meets the recommended requirements for the software, it’s often best to use a system that exceeds those specifications. This provides extra performance headroom and ensures greater long-term compatibility, especially as software updates can become more demanding over time. You can always check with the software developers if you're unsure on software requirements.
Storage Almost Full
macOS needs some free space to operate properly. If your drive is nearly full, your system can slow down significantly. Here’s how to check:
- Go to System Settings > General > Storage.
- At the top, you’ll see a breakdown of what’s taking up space.
Drive Indexing
If your Mac is brand new or you’ve just restored it, Spotlight might still be indexing your files in the background. This process can slow things down temporarily, but it usually finishes quickly, especially if you leave the Mac plugged in and idle.
iCloud Synchronisation
Just signed in to iCloud? Your Mac could be working hard in the background to sync documents, photos, and other files. This can slow things down for the first few hours (or days, if you have a large library), but it should improve once syncing finishes.
macOS Version
Apple releases macOS updates regularly, not just for new features, but also to fix bugs and improve performance. If you’re running an older version, updating may help.
- Go to System Settings > General > About
- See what version of macOS you’re on
- If there’s an update available, install it from System Settings > General > Software Update
💡Tip: Depending on the version of macOS you've got you might find it easier to determine what version of macOS you have by navigating to Apple Menu > About This Mac.
Hardware Issues
If your device is still running slowly, it may be helpful to run Apple Diagnostics to check for any underlying hardware issues. You can follow our step-by-step guide here to perform the test and assess your device’s hardware condition.
