How to Speed Up macOS Monterey

Do you have a computer running macOS Monterey that has slowed down over time? This is a common issue that can be easily fixed with some simple troubleshooting. In this article, we’ll look at 10 super simple ways to speed up macOS Monterey—follow us.

Not on macOS Monterey? Check out our general guide on how to speed up a slow Mac. 

Before we start

 

If your Mac is telling you it’s low on storage, it’s best to act fast to avoid crashes. With MacKeeper Safe Cleanup, you can remove hidden junk in just a couple of clicks, freeing up plenty of free space and improving the performance of your Mac.

 

Here’s how to use MacKeeper Safe Cleanup:

1. Download MacKeeper and install the app.
2. Select the Safe Cleanup tool after MacKeeper opens.
3. Click Start Scan to identify all unnecessary junk on your Mac.
4. Select files you want to remove, then click Clean Junk Files.

Why is macOS Monterey so slow?

There are a number of reasons why your macOS Monterey computer may be running slower than usual, such as:

• Power-hungry apps hogging CPU and RAM resources.
• A lack of free storage space.
• Bugs in Apple’s software or third-party apps.
• A build-up of clutter and junk files.
• Background processes that have become stuck.

The good news is that you can fix almost all of these things yourself—without having to call on an Apple Genius or third-party computer technician.

Ways to speed up your macOS Monterey if it’s running slow

When you see macOS Monterey running slow, it’s very rarely a hardware issue that requires an expensive repair. In most cases, issues with your software are the cause, and these can be easily addressed.

Here are 10 fixes you should try first:

1. Restart your Mac
2. Free up disk space on your Mac
3. Permanently erase junk files from Mac
4. Declutter your desktop
5. Stop memory-consuming processes
6. Check for software updates
7. Check your browser plugins and disable them if necessary
8. Reduce visual motion effects and transparency on your Mac
9. Reset PRAM and NVRAM
10. Reset the SMC

1. Restart your Mac

Here’s how to restart your Mac if your macOS Monterey is slow:

1. Click the Apple logo in the menu bar.
2. Select Restart.
3. Choose whether you want windows to reopen when your Mac restarts, then click Restart.

When macOS Monterey is slowing down your computer, a simple restart can eliminate software issues that lead to poor performance, including apps that have become stuck and are using system resources in the background.

2. Free up disk space on your Mac

All your apps, as well as macOS itself, need to be able to write data into free space to operate effectively, so having plenty of free space is extremely important. One of the most common ways to clean up Mac is to manually remove unwanted apps, large files, and other data like this:

1. Locate an app, file, or folder you want to delete from your Mac.
2. Right-click the item, then select Move to Trash.
3. Right-click the Trash can in your dock, then choose Empty Trash.

Hint from our team: 

 

The problem with the first method is that it’s time-consuming when you have a lot of data to delete, and it’s almost impossible to find all the hidden junk on your system. A much quicker, more effective way to free up disk space on Mac is to use MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup:

1. Open MacKeeper and select Safe Cleanup.
2. Click Start Scan to find all junk on your computer.
3. Click Clean Junk Files to safely remove all unnecessary junk.

3. Permanently erase junk files from Mac

A build up of unwanted junk files is one of the most common causes of low storage space—and one of the more difficult issues to address effectively. This is because most junk files are hidden away in system folders that you’ll likely never use or see.

Here’s one way to clear those files:

1. Open Finder, then click Go > Go to Folder in the menu bar.
2. Enter ~/Library/Caches and then press Enter.
3. Go through all the folders you see and delete the cache files you no longer need. Don’t delete the folders themselves—just the files within them.

Alternatively, you can use MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup to remove all junk from your Mac in just a couple of clicks.

1. Select the Safe Cleanup utility inside MacKeeper.
2. Click Start Scan to locate all unneeded junk on your system.
3. Select the files you want to remove, then click Clean Junk Files to safely delete them.

4. Declutter your desktop

A cluttered desktop can make your Mac feel sluggish and difficult to use. To fix this, organize the files and folders on your Mac like this:

1. Delete any files and folders you no longer need.
2. Right-click anywhere on your desktop, then select Use Stacks to put all files into groups.

5. Stop memory-consuming processes

Apps that eat up system memory (RAM) prevent other software from accessing the resources they need to run properly. Here’s how to kill processes on Mac that are using too much RAM:

1. Open Finder on your Mac, then go to Applications > Utilities.
2. Open Activity Monitor, then click the Memory tab.
3. Click the Memory column to sort processes by memory usage.
4. To kill a process using too much memory, select it, then click the X button.
5. Click Quit or Force Quit to confirm.

As many processes are critical to the proper functioning of macOS and other apps, don’t quit processes until you’ve checked what they do.

6. Check for software updates

An easy way to check for software updates on Mac is through the Mac App Store:

1. Open the App Store.
2. Select Updates in the sidebar.
3. Click Update All to install all available updates.

Mind that this method only updates software that was originally downloaded through the App Store. The easy way to update other apps is with MacKeeper’s Update Tracker:

1. Open MacKeeper and select Update Tracker.
2. Click Scan for Updates.
3. Select the apps you want to update, then click Update.

7. Check your browser plugins and disable them if necessary

When browser plugins in Monterey are making your Mac slow, it’s time to start disabling them. Even plugins you never use anymore can eat up resources in the background, which will slow down your machine. Here’s how to remove browser extensions you no longer need in Safari:

1. Click Safari in the menu bar, then select Settings or Preferences.
2. Select the Extensions tab.
3. Select an extension you want to remove, then click the Uninstall button.

Here’s how to remove extensions in Chrome:

1. Open the settings menu by clicking the three dots in the top-right.
2. Select Extensions > Manage Extensions.
3. Find an extension you want to delete, then click Remove.
4. Click Remove to confirm.

For a quicker and easier way to remove browser extensions, follow these steps:

1. Open MacKeeper and select Smart Uninstaller.
2. Click Start Scan.
3. Select Browser Extensions, then choose the extensions you want to remove.
4. Click Remove Selected.

8. Reduce visual motion effects and transparency on your Mac

Reducing animations and other effects can make your Mac feel snappier. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open System Preferences, then select Accessibility.
2. Select Display.
3. Turn on Reduce motion and Reduce transparency.

9. Reset PRAM and NVRAM

If you have a Mac with an Intel chip, you can reset its PRAM or NVRAM to clear settings that may be causing issues. Here’s how:

1. Shut down your Mac by clicking the Apple logo > Shut Down > Shut Down.
2. Turn your Mac back on, then immediately hold down the Alt/Option + Command + P + R keys.
3. Release the keys after about 20 seconds. This will be after you’ve heard the startup chime for a second time, or after you see the Apple logo for a second time if your machine has a T2 security chip.

If you have a Mac with an Apple Silicon (M1, M2 or M3) chip, there’s no need to worry about resetting its PRAM or NVRAM. This happens automatically when you restart if your Mac is facing issues.

10. Reset the SMC

Resetting the SMC (System Management Controller) can fix all kinds of problems related to power, including MacBook batteries not charging, your machine getting too hot, or fans not spinning correctly, which can cause your machine to overheat and throttle performance.

The reset the SMC on an Intel MacBook Air or Pro with Apple T2 chip:

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Press and hold the Control + Alt on the left side of your Mac’s keyboard, plus Shift on the right side of your Mac’s keyboard. Keep holding all keys for 7 seconds.
3. Press your Mac’s power button while still holding the keys above for another 7 seconds, then release them all.
4. Wait a few seconds, then press the power button again to turn on your Mac.

To reset the SMC on an Intel MacBook without an Apple T2 chip:

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Press and hold the Control + Alt + Shift keys on the left side of your Mac’s keyboard.
3. While holding the keys above, press and hold the power button for 10 seconds.
4. Release all the keys, then press the power button to turn your Mac back on.

To reset the SMC on an Intel iMac or other desktop with or without the T2 chip:

1. Shut down your Mac, then unplug its power cord.
2. Wait 15 seconds, then reconnect the power cord.
3. Wait 5 seconds, then turn your Mac back on.

If you have an Apple Silicon (M1, M2, or M3) machine, its SMC can be reset by simply restarting the computer.

Fix common problems to speed up your macOS Monterey 

When you need to know how to speed up Mac, there are 10 simple steps you can take to fix common issues that impact performance. This includes restarting your machine, updating apps, and stopping greedy processes. Another critical step is to ensure that your Mac has plenty of free space. Use MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup to remove all hidden junk from your machine.