Slow Internet on Mac

Struggling with slow internet on a Mac? A cluttered device often leads to a slow internet connection, but performing a manual cleaning might not remove the deeply hidden files. MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup can swiftly address these issues as it’s able to thoroughly remove all hard-to-find logs, caches, and junk files.

Why is your Mac internet so slow?

A slow internet connection on Mac can be frustrating, causing delays in web browsing, apps taking ages to load, video calls freezing and disconnecting repetitively, and online streaming nearly impossible to enjoy. In these instances, troubleshooting is essential to improve internet speed on Mac across all different macOS versions.

Here are some common factors that can cause such a nuisance:

• Older Monterey or El Capitan versions
• Malware and related malicious activity
• A weak or dropped Wi-Fi connection
• Too many background apps running simultaneously
• DNS configuration problems

Fear not, as several solutions exist to help you restore your Mac’s internet speed to steady, and we're here to guide you through each one.

A note from our experts: 

Diagnosing connectivity issues specific to each macOS version, from El Capitan to Sequoia, is crucial for resolving slow internet on Mac. One reason behind your browser's slowness might be junk accumulation. To resolve it, use our reliable, go-to fix tool to get rid of redundant files and optimize your device in your attempt to make the internet faster on Mac.

Here’s how to use MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup:

1. Download MacKeeper.
2. Launch the app, choose Safe Cleanup, and click Start Scan.
3. After the scan is complete, review the results and select the junk you want to delete.
4. Then click on Clean Junk Files.

How to check internet speed on Mac

Diagnosing a problem relating to slow internet on Mac begins with testing your connection speed. Reliable services like Fast.com and Speedtest.net allow you to check your internet speed.

To monitor your internet speed on Apple computer:

1. Restart the Mac if it has been active for more than a day, as it may influence your internet speed.
2. Open Safari or your preferred web browser and access Fast.com or Speedtest.net.
3. Allow the site to generate a detailed connectivity report, including your current download and upload speed. For more trustworthy results, run the test more than three times and/or with a delay of several minutes between attempts (~2-5 minutes).
4. If the reported speeds are significantly below your advertised speed, it’ll indicate a slow connection.

After accessing a speed connection site, the detailed report will help you monitor your download and upload speeds. Ensure the indicated speed meets your expectations.

Important: 

Your Safari is slow? At older macOS versions (now starting with macOS 10.13 High Sierra), you may experience a problem with opening certain sites and updating browsers. For some reason, they don’t update as easily as on Windows. The only way here is to use the Internet without restrictions on such devices and benefit from Firefox ESR or Chromium that will offer the best download version, based on your system requirements.

How to speed up internet connection on Mac

Is your speed test showing you that you have slow internet on Mac? If so, consider these strategies for speeding up internet connection:

1. Restart your Mac and router.
2. Turn off your VPN.
3. Update your browser and macOS.
4. Optimise, clean, and reset your browser.
5. Quit unnecessary apps and browser tabs.
6. Switch to another web browser.
7. Reset Wi-Fi settings.
8. Use an Ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi.
9. Use a faster Internet line or ISP.
10. Scan for malware.
11. Reduce the frequency at which Time Capsule is backed up.
12. Clean up your Mac to boost the overall performance.

1. Restart your Mac and router

Rebooting your Mac and Wi-Fi router can resolve various connectivity issues in a bid to help improve the internet speed on Mac. It makes sense when it hasn't been turned off for a day or more. 

Here’s how to restart both your Mac and your Wi-Fi router:

1. Click the Apple logo on the menu bar and select Restart from the dropdown menu.
2. Disconnect power to the router together with the media converter (a separate device from which the ISP cable comes) and wait for a few seconds.
3. Make sure that the power point isn’t overloaded and there are no devices connected nearby, such as a refrigerator, a frequently working eraser, or a kettle.
4. Plug it back into the power source.

A pro tip from us: 

There’s a possibility that pulling out the power of the router may cause damage to data/disks that were connected to it via USB or if a NAS is connected. Thus, make sure that any connected item, except network cables, is disconnected before the router reset.

If there are drives/devices connected to the router, try the following:

1. Press a turn off /power off button on the router.
2. Disconnect the router power adapter and the media converter from power.
3. After ~15 seconds, reconnect them back to the power outlet.
4. Turn on the router.

2. Turn off your VPN

Disabling your VPN can sometimes resolve issues associated with a slow internet connection on Mac, such as slower browsing or connectivity troubles.

Here’s how to turn off your VPN:

1. Toggle your Dock to find and click on System Settings.
2. Then choose Network settings.
3. Toggle the VPN switch to Off to disable the VPN connection.
4. If you’re using a VPN from an app similar to MacKeeper, then open the app, locate the VPN Private Connect, and turn it off.

Important: 

As VPN, when it’s turned on, can slow down your Mac’s internet speed, the same can be caused by the Wi-Fi’s limit IP address tracking option enabled. So, turn it off as well and recheck your internet connection.

3. Update your browser and macOS

Making sure your browser and macOS are both up-to-date is crucial should you want to improve internet speed on Mac. As Safari, as an in-built Mac app, usually gets regular updates together with the overall macOS update, our instructions below will help you to update the Safari browser with Terminal as an alternative:

1. Open the Terminal app on your MacBook by navigating to Applications > Utilities folder or by searching Terminal using Spotlight.
2. Then enter the following command: softwareupdate -i -a in your Terminal window.
3. Enter the password if asked or press Return to initiate the Safari update.

Furthermore, it’s not just crucial to regularly update your browser but also your macOS to improve connection issues. Maintaining an up-to-date macOS can also significantly improve your overall system performance.

To check for available macOS updates, follow these steps:

1. Click on the Apple logo and select System Settings
2. Go to General and click on Software Updates
3. macOS will automatically check for any available updates. If updates are available, click the Upgrade Now button
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update process.

4. Optimize, clean, and reset your browser

You can improve internet speed on your Mac by regularly cleaning Chrome, Mozilla, and Opera junk. We recommend you clean and reset your browser once per four months.

Here’s how to clean and reset your browser:

1. Clear cache: Open the Safari app icon, then click on Safari at the top of the screen > Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data > Remove All > Remove now > Done.
2. Clear History: Click on the Safari app icon > Safari > Clear History. Click on the arrows and select the option you’re comfortable with, then click Clear History.
3. Disable extensions: Uninstalling applications, including extensions, will delete their data, which can be extremely critical in certain cases (e.g., an outdated password manager), so it’s better to disable them instead.

A hint from our team: 

For a more streamlined browsing experience with minimal interruptions, allow MacKeeper's Stop Ad to do all the heavy lifting. Our tool blocks intrusive ads effortlessly, ensuring a smoother and more secure browsing journey. Download MacKeeper now to enjoy a hassle-free browsing experience.

5. Quit unnecessary apps and background data services

Having too many unnecessary apps running and cloud services kept in the background could be the culprit behind your slow internet on Mac. Our experts advise focusing on essential apps and temporarily turning off background data services such as cloud storage.

Here’s how to quit unnecessary apps and stop background services:

1. Quit apps: Right-click on the app you want to quit and click Quit. In the app, you can also use the shortcut Command + Q.
2. Turn off background services: Click on the Apple icon, choose Force Quit, and make sure that there aren't any icons from the app that may do excessive data transfer to check if there isn't a big new iCloud data sync. This usually occurs if the account was recently added, and it may take some time to sync all the files from your iCloud.

6. Switch to another web browser

If you're experiencing sudden delays when attempting to access web pages, slow downloads, or incessant buffering, it might not be due to your internet speed but could mean your web browser is malfunctioning. To fix these browsing issues effectively, start by clearing the browser cache and history.

If you continue to face difficulties accessing websites or encounter prolonged loading times, consider switching to an alternate browser—check the best internet browsers for Mac.

If you’re trying to download multiple files at once, this is likely to contribute to your slow internet connection on Mac. Try pausing files in your download queue and downloading them individually to help speed up your internet connection.

7. Reset Wi-Fi settings

If your network speed persists as slow, despite trying our recommended solutions, resetting your Mac’s Wi-Fi settings might fix this issue. You’ll need to re-enter your passwords after resetting your Wi-Fi, so if you can’t remember them, check out our tutorial on how to find a Wi-Fi password on a Mac before you proceed.

Method 1: Reset Wi-Fi settings from System Preferences

This is one of the easiest ways to normalize your device’s network operation and speed up the internet on Mac. Here’s how:

1. Open your Apple menu > Settings/Preferences> Battery.
2. Make sure that your Mac isn’t using Low Power Mode. Otherwise, the slowdown is expected to cost battery health. So, if necessary, disable it by choosing Never.

Method 2: Delete your Mac’s network configuration files

Each location will have separate isolated network settings, and you can create a new one like this:

1. Click on the Apple icon > Settings/Preferences > Network.
2. Then, choose ●●● Locations > Edit Locations > select "+."
3. Now, create the new location and select Done.
4. The settings will be reset without deleting them (they’ll be in the previous location).
5. From Locations, select the freshly created one and wait for 1–4 seconds to apply changes.

Method 3: Delete your Mac’s network configuration files

Sometimes, Wi-Fi connectivity issues stem from corrupted network configuration files on your Mac. Here’s how to remove configuration files to restore a stable internet connection:

1. Click anywhere on your Mac’s desktop and press Command + Shift + G to launch the Go to Folder dialogue box.
2. Paste the Go:/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/ path in the box and click Enter.
3. Locate the following files and move them to the Bin:
   • NetworkInterfaces.plist
   • preferences.plist
   • com.apple.wifi.message-tracer.plist
   • com.apple.airport.preferences.plist
   • com.apple.network.eapolclient.configuration.plist
4. Then, open Terminal and enter the following command: sudo route -n flush to reset the rout map option, which stores and updates the locations (addresses) of other network devices and the most efficient routes to them.
5. Reboot your computer. macOS will create new preference plist files when your Mac comes back on.

8. Use an Ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi

An Ethernet (or wired) connection is generally faster and more stable than Wi-Fi. So, if your Wi-Fi is running slowly, try a direct connection with your router using an Ethernet cable to optimize the network quality.

Here’s how to set up an Ethernet connection:

1. Make sure you’ve turned off your Wi-Fi before using Ethernet.
2. Connect one end of the Ethernet cable to your Mac’s port and the other end directly into your network router.
3. Then go to System Settings > Network. From here, you should be able to see that your Ether adapter has a network connection and connect.
4. Now close your Network settings and open a browser to check your connection.

9. Use a faster Internet line or ISP

Faster Internet comes at a cost. So, you might need to purchase newer routers/network converters when thinking about upgrading (and preferably not from an ISP). Well, older equipment isn’t bad, but it doesn’t support newer protocols such as Wi-Fi 6/6e and Wi-Fi 7, so the transition to faster Internet won’t make sense when it cannot be used to its fullest.

If you do any of the following, you’ll need a fast internet service provider (ISP) to:

• Enhance productivity for work-from-home scenarios.
• Enable seamless streaming and downloads of high-resolution content.
• Support online gaming platforms without lags.
• Accommodate multiple devices simultaneously connected to the internet.

Upgrading to a faster internet line or switching to a more capable ISP can be done by contacting various providers to compare plans and speeds available in your area. You’ll be able to select a package that suits your usage and budget.

A faster internet connection isn't solely about speed; it's about efficiently meeting your online demands, whether for work, streaming, gaming, or multi-device connections. Lower Mbps connections suffice for basic internet use, while higher Mbps are preferable for bandwidth-intensive activities. To enjoy a fast internet connection, a higher-speed plan is essential.

Learn more on how to increase download speed on Mac with our expert tips, ensuring a smoother and faster browsing experience.

10. Scan for malware

To ensure a smooth and uninterrupted internet experience, you need to regularly scan for malware on your Mac. MacKeeper’s Antivirus offers a reliable way to detect and eliminate all potential threats affecting your system’s performance. Here’s how to use it:

1. Open MacKeeper and navigate to the Antivirus tool.
2. Click Start Scan.
3. Allow the antivirus to analyze your system for any malware or potential threats.
4. Review the scan results and follow the prompts to remove any found malware or infected files. Once completed, restart your Mac to initiate changes.

11. Reduce the frequency at which Time Capsule is backed up

Time Machine, Mac’s automatic backup feature, regularly utilizes Time Capsule for backups by default, potentially affecting Wi-Fi bandwidth. If Time Capsule backs up large files, it might slow the internet connection on Mac. To fix this, consider adjusting the backup frequency to a two-hour interval.

Here’s how to change Time Capsules backup frequency:

1. Go to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Terminal
2. Type the command: defaults write /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.backupd-auto StartInterval -int <7200> on a new line and hit the Enter key.

It’s worth noting that time intervals are expressed in seconds, so 7,200 seconds will cause Time Machine to back up your files every two hours.

12. Clean up your Mac to boost the overall performance

Is your Mac still feeling sluggish and slow? Often, a cluttered system leads to slow internet on Mac. That’s why our team recommends regularly cleaning your device to improve the MacBook’s performance.

If you’d like some assistance with this, then our MacKeeper Safe Cleanup tool can do the job efficiently and within minutes.

1. Open MacKeeper on your Mac
2. Select Safe Cleanup in the left pane
3. Now click the Start Scan button and wait a few minutes while MacKeeper scans your device.

To learn more on how to clear system storage on Mac, check out our guide to help you enhance your device's efficiency.

Fast internet or nothing

We’re confident that one of the solutions in this guide will resolve your Mac running slow. Additionally, MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup is highly recommended to clear up your device. By eliminating unnecessary clutter and potential internet-slowing factors, our tool will raise your chance of avoiding future slowdowns.