How to Make Mac Run Faster and Smoother Like New (Quick Guide)

authorPic

By Jenefey Aaron

2026-04-03 / Mac Optimization

If your MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, or iMac has started feeling slow, you’re not alone. Many users notice lag after updates, heavy usage, or storage buildup. The good news is that learning how to make Mac run faster doesn’t require advanced skills. With the right steps, you can restore speed, improve performance, and make your Mac feel like new again.

Part 1. Why Is My Mac So Slow and Laggy?

Before learning how to make Mac faster, let’s learn why it is, and what makes it slow.

Common Scenarios When Mac Is Running Slow

  • Mac takes too long to boot or restart
  • Apps freeze or take time to open
  • System lags when multitasking or gaming
  • Slow downloads or browser performance
  • A spinning beach ball appears frequently
  • macOS updates cause performance drops

Common Causes

Here are some common causes.

Part 2. Best Way to Clean Up Mac to Make It Run Faster in One Click Automatically in Minutes

If you want the easiest and fastest way to boost performance, using an automated cleanup tool is the most effective approach. Manual cleaning can take time and often misses hidden junk files. That’s where Tenorshare Cleamio comes in; it scans your entire system and removes unnecessary files in just a few clicks.

Tenorshare Cleamio can deep scan and smartly remove gigabytes of junk files on Mac, including system and app caches, unused installers, browser cache, logs, and even empty Trash. This makes it one of the best apps to make a Mac run faster without technical effort.

Steps to Clean Up Mac and Make It Run Faster Using Cleamio

  • Download and install Tenorshare Cleamio on your Mac. Open the app and click “Scan” to analyze your system for “Junk Files”.
  • scan man junk files
  • Wait for the scan to complete and review the detected junk files. Select unwanted files such as System and App junk, Bin, and installers. Click "Smart Cleanup” to remove them instantly.
  • smart cleanup mac junk files
  • When the removal is complete, click “OK” and optionally restart your Mac.

Part 2. How to Make Mac Run Faster in 6 Manual Methods

Want to learn how to speed up Mac? Here are 6 effective methods you must try:

Method 1. Restart Your Mac Properly

Restarting your Mac clears temporary memory and stops background processes that may be slowing it down. Over time, system processes can accumulate and reduce performance, especially if you rarely restart your device. A proper restart ensures your system starts fresh without unnecessary load.

Additionally, disabling the option to reopen apps prevents your Mac from launching resource-heavy programs automatically. This helps improve startup speed and overall responsiveness.

  • Click the Apple menu and select “Restart”.
  • Uncheck “Reopen windows when logging back in” and click “Restart” to confirm.
  • restart mac properly to make mac run faster

Method 2. Close Resource-Hungry Apps via Activity Monitor

Some apps consume a large portion of CPU and memory, causing slowdowns. Identifying and closing these apps can instantly boost Mac speed, especially during gaming or downloads. By stopping unnecessary processes, you free up system resources for important tasks. This is particularly useful if your Mac is lagging during multitasking. It’s one of the fastest ways to improve Mac performance without installing anything.

  • Open “Activity Monitor” from Applications.
  • Sort processes by “CPU” or “Memory” usage. For example, for CPU, click the “CPU” tab from the top and then click the "%CPU" tab.
  • Select high-usage apps and click “X” then click “Force Quit” to close them.
  • force quit source heavy apps to make mac run faster

Method 3. Reduce Visual Effects & Animations

macOS includes visual effects that enhance appearance but consume system resources. On older Macs, these effects can significantly slow down performance. This method is especially helpful if you want to make an old Mac desktop run faster. It simplifies the interface and improves responsiveness, so you’ll notice smoother transitions and reduced lag immediately.

  • Go to “System Settings”, then “Accessibility” and select “Display”.
  • Enable the "Reduce transparency” and “Reduce motion” option to reduce load on the GPU.
  • reduce visual effects to make mac run faster
  • Go back to the main System Settings window and click Desktop & Dock in the sidebar.
  • Scroll down and turn off the “Animate opening applications” option.
  • Turn Off Mac Desktop Animations

Method 4. Disable Unnecessary Login & Startup Items

Many apps automatically launch when you start your Mac, slowing down boot time. These startup items continue running in the background, consuming resources. Disabling these apps to make the Mac run faster helps with boot time and reduces lag after login. It’s particularly useful for users with many installed apps. Managing startup programs is a key step to improving Mac speed.

  • Go to “System Settings” and choose “General”, then open “Login Items & Extensions”.
  • Review the list of startup apps. Hold the “CMD” button on your keyboard and click all apps that you want to remove, then click “-” to remove them.
  • remove login items to make mac run faster
  • Now restart your Mac to see the difference.

Method 5. Update to Latest macOS Tahoe 26.4

Updating macOS ensures your system has the latest performance improvements and bug fixes. Older versions may contain bugs that cause lag or compatibility issues. New updates often optimize system performance and stability. If you’re wondering how to make my Mac go faster, keeping macOS updated is essential.

  • Open “System Settings” to go to “General", then open “Software Update”.
  • Update Macos
  • Let it check for updates automatically and click “Update Now” if available.

Method 6. Close Unused Browser Tabs & Remove Extensions

Browsers can consume significant RAM and CPU, especially with multiple tabs open. Each tab runs processes that slow down your system. Extensions can further increase resource usage and cause performance issues. Closing unused tabs and removing unnecessary extensions helps reduce system load. This is especially important if you want to improve your download speed or browsing performance.

  • Close unused tabs in your browser, then go to the browser “Extensions”.
  • Remove Browser Extensions
  • Remove or disable unnecessary extensions.

People Also Ask about Making Mac Run Faster

Q1: Why is my Mac so slow all of a sudden?

Your Mac may suddenly slow down due to background processes, low storage, or recent updates. Malware, outdated apps, or too many startup programs can also cause performance drops without warning.

Q2: How to make my Mac run faster without spending money?

You can restart your Mac, close heavy apps, disable startup items, and remove unnecessary files manually. Clearing browser cache and reducing visual effects also helps improve performance without needing paid tools.

Q3: Does updating to macOS Tahoe 26 make my Mac faster?

Yes, updates often include performance improvements and bug fixes. However, older Macs may experience mixed results depending on hardware compatibility and system resources.

Q4: How to make an old Mac desktop run faster?

Reduce visual effects, clean storage, upgrade RAM if possible, and disable unnecessary apps. Using lightweight apps and minimizing background processes can significantly improve performance on older systems.

Q5: How to boost Mac speed for downloads/gaming?

Close background apps, reduce browser usage, and ensure a stable internet connection. Updating drivers and freeing up system resources can also improve performance during downloads or gaming sessions.

Q6: Does a factory reset Mac make it faster?

Yes, a factory reset removes all data and restores your Mac to its original state. This can significantly improve performance, but should only be done after backing up important files.

Q7: How to clear CPU cache on Mac?

Mac automatically manages CPU cache, so manual clearing isn’t required. Restarting your Mac is the easiest way to refresh system memory and improve performance.

Conclusion

Learning how to make Mac run faster doesn’t have to be complicated. By combining quick manual fixes with automated tools, you can significantly improve performance and responsiveness. For the fastest results, Tenorshare Cleamio offers an easy one-click solution to clean your Mac and keep it running smoothly like new.

Speak Your Mind

Registrer/ Login

then write your review

Speak Your Mind

Leave a Comment

Create your review for Tenorshare articles

Related articles

All topics

Cleamio

All-in-One Mac Cleaner & Optimizer

4.5 / 5 rating
3.5M+ installs
Available for: macOS 10.13 or later
Tenorshare Cleamio

Cleamio: All-in-One Mac Cleaner & Optimizer

Clean junk files, free up space, and boost Mac performance

No.1 Mac Cleaner & Optimizer

Clean, speed up, and optimize your Mac