Free Mac performance guide
Why is my Mac slow?
“Slow” is a symptom, not a diagnosis. First decide whether the delay affects startup, one application, every application, internet activity or storage operations.
Build a useful baseline
- Name the delay. Record what you clicked, what happened and how long it took.
- Check free storage. Very low free space can affect normal macOS work.
- Review Activity Monitor. Look for sustained CPU, memory pressure or disk activity; do not force-quit a process solely because its name is unfamiliar.
- Change one variable. Restart, retest the same action and compare.
Apple silicon and Intel Mac
The useful diagnostic questions are mostly the same, but recovery choices, compatible software and expected performance can differ. Identify the model and macOS version before following model-specific instructions.
When storage is the likely cause
Continue with the startup disk guide or the System Data explanation. For a sanitised example of the toolkit evidence, see MacHealthCheck in action.