7 Tips To Keep Your Mac Running at Peak Performance

With the average person owning a Mac for 5-8 years, it’s no wonder so many people are interested in keeping their computers running at peak performance.

The good news is that there are lots of ways to do this with just a little time and effort. This blog post will cover seven tips for maintaining your Mac’s performance.

1. Keep Your Mac’s Operating System up to Date

The first step in keeping your Mac running at peak performance is to make sure you’re running the latest version of the OS. Apple releases updates for macOS every few months, and these updates include bug fixes and mac performance enhancements.

Open the App Store and click on the Updates tab to check for available updates. If there are any updates available, they’ll be listed here.

If you’re not comfortable installing updates yourself or don’t want to deal with potential problems from doing so, consider using third-party software like Setapp. Setapp installs all its apps via one central app, making it easy to keep all your software up-to-date.

2. Defragment Your Hard Drive

Over time, your Mac’s hard drive will become fragmented. This means that files will be stored in different places on the disk, slowing down your computer.

One way to fix this is to defragment your hard drive. This process moves all the files on your hard drive so they’re all stored together in one place.

You can do this by opening Disk Utility (in Applications > Utilities), selecting your hard drive from the list on the left, and clicking the “First Aid” tab. Then click “Verify” and wait for Disk Utility to finish checking your disk.

If Disk Utility finds any errors, it will suggest you repair them. Disk Utility will erase your hard drive and restore it to its original state if you choose to do so. Make sure you have a backup of your data before doing this.

If Disk Utility doesn’t find any errors, you can click the “Defragment” button to start the defragmentation process.

Note: Defragmenting your hard drive can take a long time, so ensure you have plenty of time to let it run uninterrupted. You can also choose to defragment your hard drive overnight.

To learn more about hard drive health, “check disk macOS” here.

3. Remove Unused Applications and Files

Over time, your Mac will start to fill up with unused applications and files. These apps and files can slow down your computer and cause it to run out of disk space.

One way to free up some space is to remove any applications or files you no longer need.

To uninstall an application, drag its icon from the Applications folder to the Trash. If you want to delete its preferences, hold down the Option key while dragging the app’s icon to the Trash.

To find and delete large files you don’t need, open a Finder window and select “Applications” from the sidebar. Then click on “Utilities” and open “Terminal.”

Type “du -hs * | sort -nr” in the Terminal and press enter. This will list all of the files on your Mac, sorted by size.

You can then delete any files you don’t need by selecting them in Finder and pressing Command-Delete.

Be careful not to delete anything you need. If you’re not sure what a file is or what it’s used for, it’s best to leave it alone.

You can also use a third-party app like CleanMyMac to scan your Mac for unused files and applications and delete them with just a few clicks.

4. Disable Unused Extensions and Plug-ins

Extensions and plug-ins are small pieces of software that add extra features to your web browser or other applications. Many of these extensions and plug-ins are necessary, but others can slow down your computer or cause other problems.

One way to check for extensions and plug-ins slowing down your computer is to open the Activity Monitor (in Applications > Utilities). Select “All Processes” from the list on the left and click on the “Memory” tab.

If you see any extensions or plug-ins in this list that you don’t use, you can disable them by selecting them and clicking the “X” button.

You can also check for unwanted software by opening System Preferences (in Applications), clicking on “Security & Privacy,” and selecting the “General” tab. Look for any applications here that you don’t remember installing.

If you see any apps that you don’t want, select them and click the “Remove” button.

Be careful not to remove any extensions or plug-ins that you need. If you’re not sure what an extension or plug-in does, it’s best to leave it alone.

5. Check Battery Health

Your Mac’s battery health is important for ensuring your computer runs at peak performance. A healthy battery means your computer will last longer on a single charge, and it will be less likely to experience problems.

You can check your battery health by opening the System Information app (in Applications > Utilities). Select “Battery” from the sidebar on the left and check the “Health” column.

If your battery’s health is below “Normal,” you should consider replacing it.

You can also check your Mac’s charging history by selecting “Charging History” from the sidebar on the left. This will show you how often your Mac has been charged and how long it took to charge each time.

If you see any problems with your battery or charging history, you can take steps to correct them. For example, if your Mac doesn’t charge properly, you may need to clean the charging port.

6. Use Safari for Browsing

Safari is the default web browser on MacOS. It’s faster and more battery-friendly than other browsers, like Chrome.

To use Safari for browsing, open it by selecting “Safari” from the Applications folder or Dock.

The first time you use Safari, it will ask if you want to make it your default browser. If you choose “Yes,” Safari will automatically open when you click on links in email messages or other documents.

You can also change your default browser by opening System Preferences (in Applications), clicking on “General,” and selecting “Default web browser.”

7. Use an SSD Drive

If you have an older Mac, you may want to consider upgrading to a solid-state drive (SSD). An SSD is much faster than a traditional hard drive and can improve performance.

You can check the type of drive your Mac has by opening System Information (in Applications > Utilities) and selecting “Storage.” The “Type” column will show you what type of drive your Mac has.

If you don’t see “Solid State” in the Type column, you can upgrade to an SSD by visiting an Apple Store or contacting a third-party provider.

Keep Your Mac Running at Peak performance

These are some simple tips that you can use to keep your Mac running at peak performance. By following these tips, you can improve your computer’s speed and battery life and reduce the risk of problems.

Check out our other articles if you’re looking for more mac tips. We have tips for optimizing MacBook performance, fixing common problems, and more.