How do I clean out my Mac?

How to Clean up, Revive, and Optimize your Mac® System
  1. Step One: Update your software. ...
  2. Step Two: Tidy up your start up. ...
  3. Step Three: Clean out unused apps. ...
  4. Step Four: Clean out the downloads folder. ...
  5. Step Five: Tidy up your storage disk. ...
  6. Step Six: Clean out the cache. ...
  7. Step 7: Remove resource-hungry programs.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on crucial.com


How do you clean out your Mac to make it run faster?

Here are the most effective tips on speeding up your Mac:
  1. Your system slows your Mac down. ...
  2. Update your software. ...
  3. Update your OS. ...
  4. Run Maintenance Scripts. ...
  5. Turn off visual effects to speed up a slow Mac. ...
  6. Your hard drive is nearly full. ...
  7. Restart your Mac. ...
  8. Use Mac cleanup tools to remove junk and get a faster Mac.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on cleanmymac.com


How do I remove unnecessary files from my Mac?

Free up storage space in other ways

Delete unneeded files in the Downloads folder. You can open the Downloads folder from the Dock or by choosing Go > Downloads from the menu bar in the Finder. Delete unneeded email in the Mail app. To delete junk mail, open Mail and choose Mailbox > Erase Junk Mail.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on support.apple.com


Do I need to empty the cache on my Mac?

System cache, as you'd probably expect, is data created by macOS that helps your Mac run smoothly. Because it's connected to the operating system we would recommend against deleting any system cache, unless you are using a specific tool to do so.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on macworld.com


Is it safe to delete cache files on Mac?

Is it safe to delete Mac caches? It's good to be careful about deleting stuff from your Mac, but it's generally safe to remove cached data. You shouldn't run into any major issues if you delete cached files from system-level (/Library/Caches/) and user-level folders (~/Library/Caches/).
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mackeeper.com


How to Clean Up Your Mac? 7 Ways to Clean up Space on macOS



How do I find out what is slowing down my Mac?

An app you're using may require more memory than your Mac has easily available. To see how much memory your Mac has, choose Apple menu > About This Mac, then check the amount of memory listed in the Overview pane. See the documentation that came with the app to find out its system requirements.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on support.apple.com


Why is my Macbook Pro running slow and freezing?

So, why do MacBooks freeze? Macs can be slow for two reasons: hardware failure or lack of resources such as CPU, RAM, and storage. When investigating the slowness first eliminate the possibility of hardware issues, and then work on freeing resources.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on macmyths.com


Why is my Mac so slow all of a sudden?

Your Mac may be slow due to an outdated macOS or an overloaded cache. Malware can also infect your Mac and slow it down by hogging system resources. If your Mac is old, it might struggle to run modern software, and you may need to replace it.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on businessinsider.com


How do I fix a slow Mac?

How to Fix a Slow Mac
  1. Find and kill resource-consuming processes. ...
  2. Check for macOS updates. ...
  3. Restart your Mac once in a while. ...
  4. Free up space on the startup disk. ...
  5. Limit the number of apps running in the background. ...
  6. Manage login items on startup. ...
  7. Clear cache files on Mac. ...
  8. Add more RAM.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on clario.co


Do Macs get slower over time?

Like Windows PCs, Macs do slow down over time. Whenever a new macOS update is released, your old Mac slows down a bit because of added features and complexity. Moreover, the more apps you have on your Mac, the slower it gets. Malware can slow down your Mac as well.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on computerinfobits.com


How do I know if my Mac is running properly?

Turn on your Mac and then immediately press and hold the D key on your keyboard as your Mac starts up. Release when you see a progress bar or you're asked to choose a language.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on support.apple.com


How do I free up RAM on my Mac?

How to reduce RAM usage on a Mac
  1. Tidy up your Desktop. ...
  2. Fix the Finder. ...
  3. Close or merge Finder windows. ...
  4. Stop apps starting up automatically. ...
  5. Shut web browser tabs. ...
  6. Delete browser extensions. ...
  7. Make sure you have lots of free disk space.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on macworld.com


How do I clean up my slow IMAC?

All the Best Ways to Speed Up Your Slow Mac
  1. Disable processes in Activity Monitor.
  2. Remove login items on startup.
  3. Free up space for system files.
  4. Update macOS to the latest version.
  5. Reduce visual effects.
  6. Free up RAM.
  7. Stop Spotlight indexing.
  8. Swap HHD for SSD.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mackeeper.com


How do I clear up my RAM?

How to lower RAM on Windows and PC: Initial steps
  1. Restart your device. If you're wondering how to clear RAM, the answer is probably easier than you think. ...
  2. Try other browsers. ...
  3. Clear RAM cache. ...
  4. Update software to latest versions. ...
  5. Delete unused extensions. ...
  6. Monitor RAM usage with Task Manager.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on us.norton.com


Why is my Mac using so much RAM?

Though more expensive Macs have more RAM, even they can butt against limitations when too many applications are running. It may also be an app that is hogging all of your resources. This is especially true of older applications which haven't been optimized for modern computer architecture.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on setapp.com


How do I run a self diagnostic on my Mac?

Apple silicon
  1. Start up your Mac.
  2. Continue to press and hold the power button as your Mac turns on.
  3. Release the power button when the startup options window appears.
  4. Press Command-D to run the Diagnostics.
  5. Apple Diagnostics will run automatically. When it is complete, it will present a list of the problems encountered.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on macpaw.com


How do I open Apple Diagnostics?

How to Use Apple Diagnostics on an Intel Mac
  1. Press the power button to turn on your Mac, then immediately press and hold the D key on your keyboard as your Mac starts up.
  2. Release the D key when you see a progress bar or you're asked to choose a language.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on macrumors.com


How do you check a Mac for virus?

Here's how to run a virus scan in MacKeeper:
  1. Open MacKeeper, and select Antivirus from the sidebar.
  2. If you want to scan certain folders only, click Custom Scan.
  3. Otherwise, click Start scan.
  4. When the scan is finished, select any detected malware, and you can either delete it from your Mac or move it to Quarantine.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mackeeper.com


Do Macs get viruses?

So, Macs can get viruses and are subject to threats just like any other computer. While Macs have strong protections built into them, they may not offer the full breadth of protection you want, particularly in terms of online identity theft and the ability to protect you from the latest malware threats.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mcafee.com


Do I need antivirus software on a Mac?

In short, yes you do need antivirus for your Mac. Mac computers are not immune to viruses and other malware and Mac-targeted attacks are increasingly prevalent. Following best practices for securing your device and using built-in security features can help, but antivirus software can protect your device even further.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on comparitech.com


Why is my Mac fan so loud?

Your Mac fan may kickstart when you're running intensive tasks or resource-heavy apps that make your Mac overheat. With MacBooks in particular, fan noise can sound as though your Mac wants to take off. By the way, in case of overheating, your Mac usually slows down.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on macpaw.com


Why does my Mac sound like a jet engine?

This rushing-air sound is a normal part of the cooling process. Ambient temperature, the temperature outside the device, also plays a role in the fans' responsiveness. If the ambient temperature is high, the fans turn on sooner and run faster. Learn more about the operating temperature of Apple notebook computers.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on support.apple.com


Why is my Mac overheating and making noise?

Clean dust out of your Mac

Over time, that builds up and sits on the motherboard and components like a blanket. Removing this dust can stop your Mac overheating and producing loud fan noise. If you own a Mac Pro, you can simply pop off the side and clean it out, but you can't do that with other models.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mackeeper.com


How do I clean the fan on my Mac?

Put one of your finger in the middle of the fan so it can't turn anymore. Take your brush and gently try to loosen up the dust particles with the bristles of the brush. This might take a while but you'll see that there's quite a lot of dust hidden in that fan. Gently blow the dust away once it's out of the fan.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on ifixit.com


Is Norton good for Mac?

Mac computers that use Norton will stay safe and secure at all times. Norton 360 protects Mac based computers, including iMac, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, MacBook, and Mac Pro. From the operating system perspective, Norton 360 works on current and previous two versions of Mac OS X.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nortonlifelockpartner.com
Previous question
What is a good sedative for a dog?