macOS Sequoia is a solid operating system that brings some impressive features like iPhone Mirroring, and while performance is excellent for many users, not everyone experiences the same level of speed. If you're finding macOS Sequoia slower than previous versions on your Mac, these tips might help improve its responsiveness and make the OS feel faster.

These suggestions can be useful for any Mac user, whether you’re using an M4 or M1 chip, but they may be especially beneficial for those with older Mac models where performance limitations are more noticeable compared to newer hardware.

1: Install Available MacOS Sequoia Software Updates

Be sure to check for and install any available software updates for macOS Sequoia. Each update can bring bug fixes and performance improvements that could enhance system speed.

Navigate to ? Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update, and apply any pending updates.

Besides addressing bugs and security concerns, installing updates gives you a chance to reboot your Mac, which helps clear temporary files and caches. Rebooting occasionally can significantly improve system performance.

2: Disable MacOS Window Transparency Effects

While transparency effects in windows look visually appealing, they consume memory and CPU resources to render.

Head to ? > System Settings > Accessibility > Display, and enable “Reduce Transparency.”

This setting change can have a major impact on performance, especially when multiple apps and windows are open. You’ll also notice that Light mode appears brighter and Dark mode darker with increased contrast—some users appreciate this, others may not.

3: Run Fewer Concurrent Apps / Browser Tabs

If your Mac has plenty of RAM, running numerous apps and browser tabs isn’t an issue. But not all systems are built the same. Managing how many applications and browser tabs you keep open at once can help maintain optimal performance.

Make it a habit to close unused apps and inactive browser tabs regularly.

4: Clean Up Your Desktop

It’s common to see desktops filled with hundreds (or even thousands) of files, as many people use their desktop as a catch-all space for downloads and active documents. It's better to organize files into folders inside your Home directory. At the very least, regularly move items off your desktop since each file and folder requires rendering icons and thumbnails, consuming system resources.

You can drag everything from the desktop into another folder like Documents, or simply clean up what you no longer need.

5: Quit Messages & FaceTime

Although the Messages and FaceTime apps are great for communication, keeping them open—especially with heavy media sharing or animated GIFs—can consume significant CPU and memory. Even when not actively in use, FaceTime accesses the camera, using system resources.

Closing both Messages and FaceTime can lead to a noticeable improvement in performance, particularly if you frequently exchange media like videos, photos, stickers, and GIFs.

6: Activity Monitor to Find Unusual Processes & Resource Consumption

Activity Monitor, located in /Applications/Utilities, is a powerful tool to identify apps or processes using excessive system resources. Open it and sort by CPU usage first, then by Memory. The top entries will show what’s using the most resources.

You might see Safari, Chrome tabs, Messages, FaceTime, Slack, Zoom, or other commonly used apps appearing high on the list. From Activity Monitor, you can quit or force quit problematic apps—just be sure to save your work before doing so.

7: Hot Climate or Direct Sunlight? Use the Fans!

Using your Mac in a hot environment or direct sunlight can cause overheating, which leads to reduced performance. Even on mild days, direct sun exposure can heat your MacBook enough to trigger thermal throttling.

A sign of this issue is noticing your Mac feels hot, performance drops significantly, and kernel_task becomes the dominant process in Activity Monitor. This indicates the system is trying to manage internal temperatures by slowing down the CPU.

The simplest solution is to move your Mac out of direct sunlight or into a cooler area.

For MacBook Pro models equipped with fans (not applicable to the fanless MacBook Air), you can use tools like Mac Fan Control (free) to manually increase fan speed and cool the system. Be sure to return the fan settings to automatic once done.

–

Most users enjoy macOS Sequoia for its stability and performance, but if you're experiencing slowdowns, following the steps above can help restore smooth operation.

How has macOS Sequoia performed for you? Do you have any personal tricks that helped boost your system’s speed? Did the methods shared here make a difference? Feel free to share your thoughts, experiences, and additional suggestions in the comments below!

The above is the detailed content of How to Make MacOS Sequoia Feel Faster: Tips to Speed Up Slow MacOS. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!