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macOS High Sierra Slow? Fixes Here

Written by John

macOS High Sierra was launched during the 2017 Worldwide Developers Conference. This is not a totally new OS but an upgrade of the current macOS Sierra. This version of macOS has many features but emphasis have been placed in making this OS the best to stream video, manage data and play games thanks to the great graphics. With the macOS 10.13 High Sierra, your Mac will be more responsive, capable and reliable.

Upgrading to macOS High Sierra 10.13 is a good idea but some challenges may be faced in the process. Among the most common issues is the macOS high Sierra slow. Why is this so? Mac slow after high sierra update because the new OS requires more resources than the older version. If you have been asking yourself “why is my Mac so slow?” the answer is actually very simple. After being in use for a while all Macs begin to slow down. This could be due to the parts aging, hard drive being too full or many apps running automatically in the background. No matter what the reasons for MacBook slow after High Sierra Update there is a simple solution for it. Here is a tutorial that will help you 10 ways how you can handle macOS High Sierra Slow.

How to Speed up macOS High Sierra 10.13

Has your Mac become painfully slow after macOS High Sierra update? There are different reasons why this may be the case but either way it needs a solution. We are here to give you these solutions. We have gathered ten solutions so every Mac user finds a solution to Mac running slow. Some will work on one computer but not on another. Go through each and choose the one that suits your needs best. All the best of luck!

1. Clean Up the Hard Drive

The hard drive is where all the data you store in your Mac goes. From the system files that make it run to personal files, they are all stored in the hard drive. The hard drive does not get rid of old stuff like our memory does. It keeps it all in there (unless it is deleted) and it piles up and this is among the leading causes of slow Mac. The solution to this is to clean up the Mac.

Cleanmymac3 on macOS High Sierra

If this is what you choose to do, there are two options; the easy and the hard ways. The hard way is going through the entire hard drive and deleting the things that you do not want to have in the Mac. The problem is that there are some hidden files that you may not be able to find plus the process is cumbersome. The easy way is to use a Mac Cleanup tool like the CleanMyMac 3. This is not only easy but also gets rid of all junk including iTunes junk, mail attachments, logs, caches and language packs to name but a few. It cleans the entire system leaving a Mac that operates fast and the macOS High Sierra will run very smoothly.

Clean My Mac 3 is available for a FREE download here.

2. Use the Optimized Storage Upgrade Feature

This is one of the coolest features the Mac has. Just what is this? It is a feature that allows the mac to automatically organize files. You can switch it on by going to the “Apple” menu then “About this Mac” then “Storage.”

Optimize Storage on macOS High Sierra

Setting the optimized storage upgrade on instructs the Mac to clean up files and free unused disk space. Unused, unread and idle items in the Mac are removed from the computer’s local storage and stored on iCloud. The feature sends notifications that request permission for the app to clear memory, logs, cache and duplicate files among others. Among the items this app will get rid of from the Mac are old images, text files, mail attachments, documents, unused fonts, old presentations, maps apps, I Tune U courses and old screenshots to name but a few.

3. Close Apps taking too much CPU space and Memory

One of the main reasons why you may be dealing with a MacBook slow after High Sierra update, maybe because some of the applications running at any given time take up too much CPU space than they should. This is particularly the reason for a slow Mac especially if the slowing down occurs when many applications are open. The good news is that you can solve this by using the Activity Monitor.

To open the Activity Monitor, go to “Applications” then open “Utilities” folder. Double click on “Activity Monitor” to launch it.

Activity Monitor

Go to the “%CPU” tab in the Activity monitor and click on it. You will see the current processes and how the CPU space is distributed among them. If you spot an app that is using up too much %CPU space but you do not need it open, close it by clicking on the X at the top left.

To determine how much memory is allocated to each of the open apps, click on the Memory tab and close any app that is taking up too much and you do not need it.

Memory and CPU space are very important in ensuring the macOS High Sierra slow issue is resolved so closing apps that take up too much of these will be useful. To close app in the Activity Monitor you can use the quit option or Force Quit. The latter close fast and is very effective at ensuring the immediate closure of an application but, unlike the prior, it does not save and unsaved changes. With Force quit the Slow High Sierra gains an immediate boost in speed. However, it is not advisable to use this option when closing applications with unsaved data like text documents.

4. Moderate the UI experience

The macOS High Sierra is known for providing users with a feature packed User Interface that many will love. You can personalize it as much as you wish with features like transparency and heavy app duty. All these look nice but they will cause the High Sierra to slow down. If you would like to have many windows open at the same time it is best to tone the IU features down and only leave what is necessary.

The steps to follow to turn off UI effects in the macOS High Sierra are:
a. Go to “Settings” then “Accessibility” then “Display”
b. Turn on the “Reduce Transparency” and “Reduce Motion” features.

Moderate the UI experience

5. Manage Start Up Items

One of the most common reasons for High Sierra slow login is having too many applications start up when the Mac does. These are apps that open automatically every time the Mac is powered up. While some like antiviruses are necessary, others are an unwanted burden taking up the resources of the High Sierra.

If you have been experiencing a slow start up and login process with your macOS Sierra then you should follow the steps below to manage what apps launch when the Mac is switched on.

Manage start up items

If you have been experiencing a slow start up and login process with your macOS Sierra then you should follow the steps below to manage what apps launch when the Mac is switched on.
a. Navigate to “System Preferences” then “Users & Groups” then “Login items.”
b. Select the apps you would like to stop from loading at startup.
c. Click on the “-“ button. This removes the apps and they will no longer slow the Mac down.

6. Replace Your old Hard Drive with SSD

Solid State Drives (SSDs) are faster than the usual mechanical hard drives and their failure rates are lower as well. So, to ensure that the macOS High Sierra is able to fetch information fast you need to get an SSD drive. The options you have on this subject will depend on what Mac device you are using.

For those who have the current MacBook Air or the MacBook Pro with Retina display, they will not need to spend the extra money on an SSD. These computers come with SSD drives. Those with older computers like the iMac, Mac Mini and MacBook, they will need to get a new SSD disk to replace the internal hard disk with.

As for those who have the MacBook Pro models that have an in-built CD/DVD drive they can replace the optical drive with a custom adaptor where an SSD can then be installed. With this, you will have both SSD and the normal hard drives. Install the macOS High Sierra in the SSD as well as other applications so they load fast. The internal hard disk can be used for bulk storage.

Using an SSD is one of the most effective ways to speed up macOS High Sierra. Try it today!

7. Maximize iCloud Storage

iCloud allows you to store data in the cloud. This will be especially helpful to those who have new Macs with small SSDs of 128 or 256 GB capacity. With iCloud one is able to store all the data they need in the cloud hence saving disk space. A free disk means more space for the High Sierra to breathe and hence a faster Mac.

Optimize Mac Storage with iCloud

iCloud has become the preferred means of storage for many people because the data stored can be accessed from anywhere at any time. The space is also unlimited meaning there is enough space for people to store whatever they want. The only downside to iCloud is that the backup syncs automatically and may choose to delete some data if it remains unused for long. For this reason, it is best to have an external offline backup of the data as well.

8. Reset SMC and PRAM/NVRAM

The parameter RAM and System Management Controller (SMC) play a crucial role in ensuring that the Mac operates without slowing. If you experience a Mac slow after High Sierra update, these are among the first things you should check.

Resetting the SMC will correct any hardware issue like battery faults and fans issues. On the other hand, the NVRAM will ensure that the Mac has the right battery charge, screen resolution and boots from the right disk.

To reset SMC on MacBook Pro, MacBook or MacBook Air:
a. Shut the Mac down and unplug the power cable.
b. Wait for a minimum of 15 seconds and then plug the power cable back in.
c. Hold Left Shift, Option, Control and Power button simultaneously for a minimum of 10 seconds. Release all the keys and power the Mac up as usual. You will notice a boost in speed instantly.

To reset SMC on iMac, Mac Mini, Xserve or Mac Pro:
a. Power the Mac down and unplug the power cord.
b. Wait for a minimum of 15 seconds and plug the power cord in.
c. Wait for at least 5 seconds then power the Mac up as you would do regularly.

Resetting the SMC will not lose any data so do not be scared to try it.

To reset the PRAM/NVRAM (on any Mac):
a. Shut the Mac down and wait for a few seconds.
b. Power it on and immediately press Command, P, R and Option keys on the keyboard simultaneously.
c. Only release the keys when you hear the beep indicating the machine is restarting.

9. Update the macOS High Sierra to the Newest Version

New operating systems come with more features that help them run smoothly and fast. To quickly fix High Sierra Slow look for updates and install them. To find updates for the High Sierra, open the Apple App Store on the Mac and in the toolbar click on check for Software Updates. If they are there download and install them by clicking on the “Update” button.

With the latest software, the time it takes to open applications will be shortened and the speed of the Mac increased.

10. Ensure the Mac You Have is compatible with High Sierra

Unfortunately, not all Macs are compatible with the macOS High Sierra. The compatible ones are:

iMac (late 2009 and later)
MacBook (Late 2009 and later)
Mac Pro (2010 and later)
Mac Mini (2010 and later)
MacBook Air (2010 and later)
MacBook Pro (2010 and later)

If your Mac is not among these, trying to use the High Sierra will be very challenging. There will be several issues including lengthened troubleshooting and macOS High Sierra slow. You can try updating the software and hardware for better results. The RAM is particularly very important and should increase since this OS uses a lot of memory. Consider getting a new SSD as well and your old Mac could run the macOS High Sierra smoothly.

Those are the ten ways that you can use to fix a slow Mac after macOS High Sierra update. I hope you have found some that are relevant to the issue you have. Try some or all of these methods and you will be happy you read this article. Your Mac will be very fast logging in, opening applications and even accessing the internet. You really will not have an issue with its performance.

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