How to Fix a Slow MacBook in 2025

Struggling with your sluggish MacBook? Fear not. Let’s get it zipping along again.

1. The Basics: Clean Up Your Act

Your MacBook, despite its sleek aluminum unibody and undeniable charm, can get cluttered. Digital clutter, that is. Start by cleaning your desktop. Fewer icons = less startup drag. It’s a simple fix, almost laughably so, yet remarkably effective.

Don’t stop there. Open Finder, head to Downloads, and prepare for a digital purge. Old PDFs, screenshots of forgotten memes, and that video project you never finished? Trash them. Breathe.

2. Check for Resource Hogs

Hit Command + Space and type Activity Monitor. Sounds fancy, doesn’t it? It’s essentially a window into your MacBook’s soul. Look for apps devouring CPU or memory like ravenous wolves. Culprits? Chrome. Always Chrome. Switch to Safari—trust me.

3. Update, Update, Update

Yes, I hear you groaning. Updates can be a hassle, but macOS in 2025 has reached a point where skipping them is practically self-sabotage. Open System Settings, click Software Update, and let your MacBook rejuvenate itself.

Pro Tip: Avoid beta versions unless you like living dangerously.

4. Ditch the Fancy Visuals

macOS is undeniably gorgeous. But those animations and transparency effects? They’re like stilettos—nice to look at but terrible for long-distance performance. Go to System Settings > Accessibility and enable “Reduce Motion” and “Increase Contrast.”

5. SSDs Need Breathing Room

Ah, storage. If your MacBook is screaming, “I’m full!”—listen. SSDs hate being crammed tighter than a subway at rush hour. Free up at least 20% of your storage for optimal performance. Offload files to iCloud or an external drive. Just do it.

6. Consider a Fresh Start

When all else fails, there’s the nuclear option: a clean macOS install. It’s dramatic. It’s time-consuming. But boy, does it work. Back up everything, then restart into macOS Recovery. Follow the prompts like a phoenix rising from the ashes.

Conclusion: A slow MacBook doesn’t mean it’s destined for the tech graveyard. A little effort, some tweaks here and there, and your trusty laptop will feel as good as new. Remember: technology needs TLC, too.