Is your Mac taking too long to start up? A slow boot can be frustrating, especially when you need to get work done quickly. Many users experience Mac computer slow startup issues due to too many startup apps, low storage, or accumulated system junk.
Even powerful Macs can feel sluggish if macOS loads unnecessary background processes. This article explains how to fix slow boot on Mac and shows practical methods to speed up macOS startup efficiently.
Understanding why your Mac boots slowly is the first step toward fixing it. Startup delays can vary depending on the Mac model, system condition, and software configuration.
Use the benchmarks below to compare your Mac's startup speed:
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If your Mac takes 30 minutes to boot, shows a stuck progress bar, or feels unresponsive long after login, you're dealing with a genuine Mac slow boot time issue.
Slow startup problems don't always look the same. You may notice:
These situations frequently make users feel their Mac is very slow to startup, even if it eventually loads.
So, why does my Mac take so long to turn on? Several factors can slow startup dramatically:
Users often report issues like:
In some cases, malware or incomplete macOS updates can also cause extended boot times until properly resolved.
Now that we've identified why your Mac might be slow to boot, let's focus on practical solutions. First and foremost, these six methods can dramatically reduce Mac startup time without requiring technical expertise.
⚡ Difficulty: Easy | Time: 3–5 minutes | Success Rate: High
Third-party VPNs and antivirus tools often integrate deeply into macOS system processes. While designed to protect your device, many of them run multiple background services during startup.
This can noticeably increase mac slow to boot problems, especially on older Macs or after system updates. Users frequently report that their Mac boots much faster after removing unused or aggressive security tools.
To uninstall:
Open "Finder" and go to "Applications".
Locate your VPN/antivirus program (like Surfshark)
Drag the application to Trash or use its built-in uninstaller.
Empty the "Trash" and restart your Mac.
This method is a quick way to fix mac slow boot mac issues caused by software conflicts.
⚡ Difficulty: Easy | Time: 5–10 minutes | Success Rate: High
Too many startup items are the No. 1 reason why a Mac startup becomes extremely slow. Every app or background service launched at boot consumes CPU, RAM, and disk resources, leading to mac very slow startup behavior. Managing both login and non-login items to stop apps from opening on startup in Mac can dramatically reduce startup delays.
This approach works well for visible apps but may miss hidden background services.
Go to "System Settings", then "General", then "Login Items".
Review applications under "Open at Login". Click the minus (-) button to remove unnecessary startup items.
Check hidden background processes under "Allow in Background".
Remove items you don't need at startup.
Manual cleaning helps, but it doesn't always catch system-level startup tasks.
macOS only shows basic login items, but many hidden background startup processes continue to run silently. Tenorshare Cleamio's Mac Status Center solves this by giving you full visibility and control over both login and non-login startup items.
Why Cleamio Is Effective for Boot Issues
Steps to Disable Startup Items Using Cleamio:
Download and launch Tenorshare Cleamio. Select the Cleamio logo (top right) to open "Mac Status Center".
Select "Startup Item Management" and then click "Manage" to view all startup programs.
Choose unnecessary items and click "Remove" or Remove All.
Restart your Mac for immediate improvement.
This automated approach is ideal for users who want a Mac slow startup fix without manual risk.
⚡ Difficulty: Medium | Time: ~10 minutes | Success Rate: Medium
Safe Mode prevents third-party extensions and clears system caches that may be causing mac slow boot time. It's especially useful if your Mac becomes slow after an update or unexpected shutdown. Many users see immediate improvement after a Safe Mode reboot cycle.
⚡ Difficulty: Easy Time: 3 minutes Success Rate: High (Recommended)
Low storage is a silent killer of startup speed. When macOS doesn't have enough free space to load caches and system services, it results in mac being very slow to startup issues. Clearing system and app junk is one of the fastest ways to improve boot performance.
Tenorshare Cleamio is an AI-powered Mac cleaner that safely removes junk files, app leftovers, duplicate files, and hidden data. With one click, it can free up 20GB+ space and noticeably reduce Mac boot and Finder lag.
Using Tenorshare Cleamio to remove system junk:
Download, install, and launch Tenorshare Cleamio on your Mac. Select "Junk Files" from the left panel. Click "Scan" to detect system junk and cache files.
Review the results and click "Smart Cleanup". Wait while the tool cleans your Mac. Click "Stop" anytime to pause.
Cleanup complete, your Mac should run faster now. Click "OK" to continue or explore more features.
⚡ Difficulty: Easy | Time: 1 minute | Success Rate: ~30%
External devices can delay startup while macOS checks and mounts them. If your Mac always boots slowly when peripherals are connected, this may be the reason your mac slow boot problem persists.
External devices sometimes cause startup delays:
Shut down your Mac completely
Disconnect all external drives, printers, and USB devices
Power on and test boot time improvement
Reconnect devices one by one to identify problematic peripherals
Boot your Mac without these devices and reconnect them after login.
⚡ Difficulty: Medium | Time: 3–10 minutes | Success Rate: ~55%
Disk errors and file system issues can significantly increase mac slow boot time. Disk Utility's First Aid checks and repairs disk structure problems that interfere with startup processes.
Restart and hold Command+R to enter Recovery Mode. Select "Disk Utility".
Choose your startup disk and click "First Aid".
Allow the process to complete, which may fix disk errors slowing boot time.
Restart normally to test improvements
After fixing immediate startup issues, maintaining optimal boot performance requires regular maintenance. The following checklist offers preventative measures to keep your Mac starting up quickly over the long term.
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These habits reduce Mac slow on startup issues long-term and keep Mac boot time short.
Security scans often begin immediately after startup if you turn off your Mac overnight. These background processes typically run once daily and may temporarily impact performance. Similarly, backup software might initiate delayed backups, consuming resources until complete.
Storage space rarely causes slowness; limited RAM is typically the culprit. Check Activity Monitor to identify memory-hungry processes. Other factors include outdated software, overheating, or background processes competing for resources.
Remove unnecessary startup items through System Settings, then Users and Groups, then Login Items. Clear system caches, update software, and delete unused applications. Consider running Disk Utility's First Aid to repair permissions.
Close unused browser tabs and applications. Use Activity Monitor to identify resource-hoggers. Reset NVRAM/PRAM for persistent issues. Consider upgrading mechanical drives to SSDs for dramatic performance improvements.
Post-update processes include Spotlight reindexing, content optimization, and background syncing. These necessary tasks typically resolve within 24-48 hours.
Reset SMC/PRAM or try safe boot to repair system files automatically. For persistent issues, reset the security policy cache using Terminal.
Yes, temporarily. New versions require optimization time and often include background tasks that complete within 48 hours.
A slow-starting Mac doesn't have to be permanent. You can significantly improve boot speed by managing startup items, clearing junk files, and fixing disk issues. If you want an all-in-one solution, Tenorshare Cleamio makes it easy to diagnose and fix startup problems efficiently. Try it today to finally fix slow boot on Mac and enjoy a faster macOS startup.
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Cleamio: All-in-One Mac Cleaner & Optimizer
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By Jenefey Aaron
2026-01-30 / Mac Optimization