Many of the users who use Mac tend to value the stability of the operating system developed by Apple, compared to some of the problems that usually accompany the use of Windows. But the fact that, in general, macOS tends to be characterized by being a fairly stable OS, and by working properly well in most cases, does not mean that it is not affected by some problems similar to those that arise with the developed by the Redmond company, Microsoft.
For example, it is possible that after a while using your Mac on a regular basis (regardless of the model and version), there will come a time when it starts to slow a little more than usual. Likewise, it can also crash at certain times, so the only solution we can find is to force a manual restart.
In any case, there is no doubt that, which Murphy’s Law, is usually quite common that just when we are about to finish a large project for work, with an imminent delivery deadline, the Mac suddenly begins to slow down.
Eventually, it is common for the problem to disappear promptly, so it is possible to work on the project (or what we basically have to do with it), until the ball ends up returning again.
Although it is feasible to learn to live with these frequent slowdowns, the truth is that it is not a dish of good taste when we have spent thousands of euros on the device. Luckily, finding the causes can be fairly straightforward. Once identified, we can find out what to do to solve them.
Could it be the browser?
Believe it or not, almost any application can hog the Mac’s memory and processing power, occasionally leading to slower performance as a result.
Although this can occur with any application, some are more prone. A good example is found in Google Chrome , the browser developed by Google and that we can install on most compatible devices.
The problem increases when we tend to have a huge number of open tabs , in addition to different extensions , useful when it comes to improving the use of the browser, but which can also end up slowing down the system.
Something similar usually happens with other slightly heavier applications, such as video or image editing programs , such as Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop or iMovie itself developed by Apple. And is that all these apps have something in common: they can consume a lot of resources , to the point of slowing down the entire system.
Unfortunately, unless we can invest in a truly powerful (and expensive) computer, it is hardly possible to avoid it, since the power required to encode video files or render large image files is often a burden for almost any operating system.
Returning to the issue at hand, if the problem is caused by Google Chrome, it is clear what the solution is: we can replace it with Safari , the browser itself developed by Apple and integrated into macOS, or Firefox , whose development team has managed to improve speed up to 80 percent.
Low hard disk space
In addition to some specific applications, the reality is that there is nothing that more tends to slow down our Mac than having little space on the hard disk . Or, what is the same, having the hard disk too full.
The solution is usually to optimize and clean the hard drive, with the intention of eliminating those larger files that we no longer need or use, acquire an external hard drive in order to derive files, videos and photos; or replace the HDD with an SSD unit , as long as our Mac allows it.
For example, it is possible that the photo library is too heavy , so if this is the problem, the solution is to clean the image library, getting rid of the oldest ones, opt for an external hard drive or the iCloud storage.
It can also happen that the storage of our Mac is not optimized .
macOS outdated
The version that we are using of the operating system installed on the Mac can also greatly influence its performance. With the passage of time, it is normal that, if we are using an older version of macOS, the computer will end up slowing down.
This is the reason why Apple always tries to release a new version every so often.
In any case, do not forget that although these are some of the most common causes why a Mac can work more slowly, they do not have to be related to what happens to your device, so it is advisable to go to technical service to be sure.
