Overtime, there is a high tendency that your computer system might slow down – it might take much time to boot or crash crash when you open multiple apps at once. The cause of diminished speed can be malicious, such as viruses and spyware on the hard drive, or can also result from application overload and out-of-date software updates.
Mac computers have a reputation for being less prone to complications than other systems, but even Macs can become slow. Getting rid of all the unnecessary files will help your Mac return to its factory excellence and speed up to match your needs.
However, you might find yourself clueless as to where to start your Mac cleanup: what can be deleted, and what should be left on the drive? Don’t worry. This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to clean and optimize macOS.
Step 1: Update your software
The first step to optimizing the inside of your Mac is to update your software. Install any patches, security updates, and application updates. It’s important to accept updates from Apple to maintain the security of your computer and to receive any new features and enhancements. Software updates often streamline the application and are more efficient.
Step 2: Tidy up your start up
Check for programs that automatically start when you turn on the computer. Delete the programs or remove them from the start-up menu.
To find the items that are opening automatically and running in the background, follow these steps:
- Click on System Preferences, then Users & Accounts, and select the Login tab
- Look through the items and remove anything that you don’t need to start automatically
It’s also important to turn off your system completely about once a week. Turning off the computer clears the memory and closes any programs that might be running in the background.
Step 4: Clean out unused apps
Look at your desktop and remove the shortcuts for any programs and documents that you’re no longer using. Delete the programs and documents or move them to storage. Use Software Update to uninstall unnecessary apps.
To get to Software Update, click the apple icon, then select App Store and update or uninstall programs.
Step 4: Clean out the downloads folder
Your downloads folder can get bogged down with a lot of old downloads. Move everything in the folder to storage or delete it if it’s no longer used.
Step 5: Tidy up your storage disk
To further optimize your system, check and fix your storage disk:
- Click Choose Applications, then Utilities, and Disk Utility
- Choose your storage drive, then click Verify Disk.
- If any errors are returned, click Repair Disk
Step 6: Clean out the cache
Your system can also be optimized by cleaning out the cache your system saves every time you go to a website.
If you’re using Safari as your web browser, follow these instructions:
- Open Safari, click Preferences
- Click Advanced, then Show Develop Menu
- Click Check Develop Menu and Empty Caches
Be sure to back up your data regularly, as well.
Step 7: Remove resource-hungry programs
Some programs use more processor and memory resources than others.
Here’s how to find out which apps are using memory resources:
- In the Finder app, click Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor > then click the Memory tab and the CPU tab
- You’ll see the processes listed in order of how much memory they’re using
Decide if you need to use the programs that are using the most resources, or if you can close them.
Step 8: Take out the trash
Be sure to empty the trash after you’ve removed apps and other deleted items.
Clean the outside of your Mac and more
Cleaning the outside of your Mac prevents dust and grime from interfering with the keyboard and vents. It also gives you a psychological boost to clean your desk area.
Turn off and unplug your computer, then use a damp cloth to clean the accumulated dust from any surfaces, but be careful what kind of chemicals you use, especially on your screen or monitor. Spray the cleaner on a cloth to avoid getting moisture in any of the ports.
Conclusion
Even the best cleanup routine can’t stop your Mac from getting older, but it can keep it running smoothly for much longer than it normally would. Following our advice to clear out storage, remove old apps, and generally keep your Mac sparkling is the best way to make sure it lasts as long as possible. We believe you won’t read to the stage if the guide isn’t useful to you, kindly share with friends.
