How to Fix macOS 10.14 Running Slow Issue

Elise Williams

2024-04-12 10:55:47 • Filed to: Solutions of macOS 10.14 • Proven solutions

MacOS 10.14 users across the board who’s vying to get their newly updated OS firing on all cylinders relish fast processing speed. However, they might be dazed to realize that their Macbook becomes slow after updating to MacOS 10.14. The macOS 10.14 slow processing speed can stall critical functionalities that will cause great inconvenience. Therefore, every macOS 10.14 user needs to know how to fix a Mac that’s running slow on MacOS 10.14.

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How to Fix Mac Slow after macOS 10.14 Update

There are 10 tips for you to fix Mac running slow after macOS 10.14 update. You can follow them to speed up your Mac.

1. Decongest Hard Drive

The hard drive is a storage facility that harbors a myriad of files ranging from system files to personal files. However, it is bereft of file management functionalities to keep it optimized; it stores files endlessly unless it is choc-a-bloc or cleaned up by manual intervention. A crammed hard drive can cause MacOS 10.14 to slow.

You can clean up your hard drive by manually sifting through the contents of the hard drive to remove less desirable files. However, this is an arduous and less-efficient way of cleaning up your hard drive, when compared to the use of a Mac Cleanup utilities like CleanMyMac. These utilities root out junk files such as redundant iTune files, mail attachments, caches, no matter where they’re hidden.

2. Utilize The Optimized Storage

Optimized Storage is a veritable feature enhancement that comes with the new MacOS update. It entails the automatic removal of unread and unused files like duplicate files, caches, old images, logs, mail attachments, iTune junk, unused fonts, etc, from local storage to cloud storage, in order to free up space for the operations of critical functionalities. It sends out prompts requesting permission to clear out these unused files. To turn on this feature, open the "Apple" menu, and then select "About this Mac", and then select "Storage" and then turn on the optimized storage option.

3. Close Apps Taking Up Too Much Energy and Space

If an iMac is unusably slow after a MacOS 10.14 update, the culprit behind the problem might be some heavy apps that are running in the background. The slow speed can also occur because too many apps are running simultaneously. You can resolve this issue by making use of the Activity monitor. Open "Applications", and then select "utilities", and then double click on "Activity Monitor". In the open Activity Monitor window, click on the "%CPU" button to reveal the functionalities that are currently running and how they’re using the CPU space. Close the unimportant functions that are taking up significant space by clicking the "X" atop the function. If the function is still running, use the "Force Quit" option to stop it. Note the Force Quit option closes files without saving changes on files.

4. Declutter Desktop

This is another extension of memory-space-related techniques for fixing a mac that’s running slow on macos 10.14. Desktop icons take up RAM space. A crammed desktop can drag down the processing speed of the OS. To use this technique, simply reorganize your desktop to clean it up, and then restart your Mac.

5. Install App Updates

A MacBook may become slow after updating to MAcOS 10.14 due to some pending updates for some apps. As the new MacOS is rolled out, several third-party apps are being geared up to match the spec and performance requisites of the new MacOS update. It goes without saying that MacOS Mojave users need to ensure that updates for all the apps running on the updated OS are duly installed. Check for all app updates on the app store.

6. Get Rid of System Junk and App Cache

Your apps leave behind trails of redundant log files during its operations. As time goes on, cached files from the operations of various apps continue to mount and clog the system. One of the reasons why an out-of-the-box Mac runs at an impressive speed is because it is free from inordinate cached files. If your iMac unusably slow after the 10.14 upgrade, you can boost the processing speed by clearing out redundant system files, cached app files, browser extensions, old Mac updates, etc.

7. Minimize UI effects

Most macOS 10.14 users are fascinated by the various elegant features of the Mojave user interface, especially the transparency and the motion effects. They might be tempted to go overboard with the personalization of their Mojave user interface to an extent where it might cause processing speed problems. Unfortunately, the richer the personalization features activated, the poorer the processing speed of the OS. To minimize the personalization effects active on the Mojave user interface, open "Settings", and then select "Accessibility", and then select "Display", and then turn off less desirable effects.

8. Minimize Start Up App Activities

Startup Apps are apps that begin to run automatically once the Mac is turned on. Some of these apps are essentials, like anti-virus software. But some others are not, and may cause the Mac to run slow after a MacOS 10.14 update. To boost your Mac‘s processing speeds by minimizing startup apps, go to "System Preference", and then select "Users & Groups", and then open "Login items". Choose any item that isn’t necessary to load upon startup. Click the "-" button next to the highlighted item to deactivate it from running when the Mac boots.

9. Clear out Preference Pane Apps

System Preference Panes are extra installations that accompany the installation of certain apps. These may remain stored in the system even after their source apps have been deleted, and may drag down the system’s processing speed. To improve your Mac’s performance by cleaning up the System Preference Panes, CTRL+click or right-click the "Preference Pane" icon, and then remove any preference app to the Trash by clicking the "Remove" button next to it.

10. Change Your Old Hard Drive to SSD

Solid State Drives (SSDs) operate at supersonic speeds and with lower failure rates. Some Mac devices like MacBook Air and MacBook Pro with Retina Display come with inbuilt SSDs. However, to get your older Mac device sending and receiving information at speeds similar to those of the newer devices, you can buy and install a new SSD on your Mac. After installing the new SSD as your Mac’s internal disk, install the new MacOS updates and other apps on it to get them running at optimal speeds.