Why Does My Mac Download So Slow

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Why is my MacBook Pro so slow? If you're saying to yourself, 'my Mac is running slow', we're here to help. Your Mac or MacBook Pro can start to run slow for a number of reasons. In this article, we will look into some of the most common reasons why your Mac is running slow and - more importantly - how to fix a slow Mac or MacBook Pro. Haven’t restarted. If you have a slow MacBook, one of the most common reasons is that the computer hasn’t been restarted in a while. Restarting the computer clears cached files, closes programs, and gives your memory (RAM) a fresh start. The result will be a system that isn’t spending time hunting through a lot of old data. Aug 31, 2019 Follow these steps to do so: Shut down your Mac. Press the power button to turn on your Mac, and then immediately press and hold D on the keyboard. When you see the screen that asks you to select a language, release the D key. Select a language, and then wait for the diagnostic tool to run.

From app downloads to emails, a lot of Mac’s performance depends on the network connection — a slow Internet can spell trouble across the board. I live in The Middle of Nowhere, where the maximum speed I can get is 4 Mbps, so I need to make sure my MacBook isn’t bringing that speed down even more. If you’ve been updating your Mac OS to the latest version macOS High Sierra and the download is pretty damn slow, though you have a fast internet connection. We’ve tried figuring out what is the cause of the problem or there are secret hidden settings to enable to fasten its download speed.

If you're saying to yourself, 'my Mac is running slow', we're here to help. Your Mac or MacBook Pro can start to run slow for a number of reasons. In this article, we will look into some of the most common reasons why your Mac is running slow and - more importantly - how to fix a slow Mac or MacBook Pro.

First off, here's a list of the most common reasons:

  • The startup disk is full
  • Too many applications are running at the same time
  • Outdated software or operating system

Let's look at what you can do to fix each of these issues and get you back up and running in no time.

The startup disk is full: don't forget the 20% rule

As a rule of thumb, it's a good idea to keep at least 20% of your hard disk space free. This will keep your Mac running at a good speed and ensure that apps are not slowing it down when they are trying to access and store data on your hard disk.

The best way to free up some startup disk space is to regularly clean out your hard disk and optimize your storage. Do this by deleting unused files regularly or use an external storage device or cloud storage to hold files you do not use. This will help optimize storage space and keep your Mac or MacBook Pro performing at its best.

To do this, use built-in features on your MacBook Pro to run a diagnostic of your hard disk:

  1. Click on the Apple symbol on the top left of your screen
  2. Click 'About This Mac' and select the 'Storage' tab for an overview of how much storage space your hard disk has remaining and how it is used by files, music, videos, and other data
  3. Click 'Manage' to sort and easily remove unused files and free up valuable disk space

Alternatively, you can use third-party apps to clean up your MacBook Pro's hard disk. Apps such as CCleaner for Mac will help you locate unused and duplicate files and remove them. Plus, it can help remove unwanted internet files and cached files.

We think that once you run our cleaning software, repeating 'my Mac is running slow' to yourself (or anyone that will listen), will be a thing of the past!

Too many applications are running at the same time

Another common cause of why you're asking yourself 'why is my MacBook Pro so slow?' is overloading the central processing unit (CPU) with too many or high CPU-intensive apps running at the same time. Having said that, your Mac should be able to handle multiple apps running simultaneously, so the best way to run a diagnostic and check which apps are causing your Mac to run slowly is to use the built-in 'Activity Monitor'.

Why

Use your Activity Monitor to find intensive apps

  1. Click 'Finder' then select 'Applications'
  2. Go to 'Utilities' then select 'Activity Monitor'
  3. Once open, you will receive a real-time diagnostic of all the apps and processes open and using your CPU
  4. Click on the 'Memory' tab to see real-time memory use
  5. You can stop any app by selecting it from the list and then clicking on the stop icon in the top left
  6. Then click 'Quit' or 'Force Quit' when an app is being unresponsive or you're not using it

Outdated software or operating system

It is always good practice to use the most current operating system available. Apple releases a new operating system almost annually (currently macOS Big Sur 11.0) and each update provides patches and improvements to the operating system for your Mac. Each new version is faster, more secure, and more reliable, plus will contain additional features as well as the slickest design on offer by Apple.

How to upgrade your operating system

Depending on what version is currently installed on your Mac or MacBook Pro, below are the two options for how to install the latest and greatest operating system:

Why Does My Mac Download So Slow

If you're upgrading from macOS Catalina 10.15 or Mojave 10.14

  1. Click 'System Preferences'
  2. Go to 'Software Update' to find macOS Big Sur
  3. Click 'Upgrade Now' and follow the instructions on the screen

Upgrading from an older version of macOS?

  1. Click 'System Preferences' in the dock (or in the top-left Apple drop-down menu)
  2. Click on the 'App Store' icon and follow the instructions on the screen.

NOTE: If you're running an older version like Mountain Lion 10.8, you will need to upgrade to El Capitan 10.11 first.

Now that you know what the three biggest culprits are and how to fix these issues we hope you never have to say 'why is my MacBook Pro so slow?' again. If it does get slower over time just come back to these points. You've got this.

Like we mentioned earlier, it's also a good idea to install a cleaning app such as CCleaner for Mac which will help you locate unused files, duplicate files, and cached files and remove them. Remember your goal is to keep at least 20% of your hard disk space free at all times for your Mac to perform at its optimum.

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Get NetSpot to stay in control of Wi-Fi quality, anywhere.

There are few things more frustrating than an internet connection that’s very slow. Thankfully, there’s a great deal you can do to troubleshoot the problem and speed up your connection. Here’s how to do it.

Why is my download speed so slow?

Internet speed is measured by how much data per second can be downloaded and uploaded. It totally depends on your Internet use, but the processes like uploading large files and video conferencing require decent speed.

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So what is a fast download speed? Normally, anything that’s above 100 Mbps is considered good Internet. This means, your Mac will handle multiple simultaneous online activities without major interruptions. Still, there’s no limit to perfection. If you want to reach the optimal speed to make downloads faster, there are a couple of things you can try.

First, you need to find out whether the slow download speed is due to your broadband connection or your wireless network. Since your wireless network is the bit over which you have control, you should check that first. In any case, optimizing and fine tuning your home or office wifi will improve performance.

How to increase Internet speed

Firstly, look at where your router is situated. Ideally, it should be in the centre of your house, so that every room gets a good signal. It should be away from walls, the floor and the ceiling as much as possible. And keep it away from metal furniture, which will reflect radio waves rather than allow them to pass through. Modern routers support both 5GHz and 2.4GHz networks. The latter allows for faster speeds, but the former suffers from less interference from other devices like microwave ovens and cordless telephones. So connect to the 5GHz network on devices that support it. If you have devices that only support 2.4GHz, place your router away from appliances like a microwave or cordless phone.

Here are a few simple steps you can take to improve your Internet speed:

  1. Analyze your Internet speed. For a quick check of current speed, find and access Network Utility via Spotlight. Select your WiFi connection under the Info tab, and check Link Speed. The tools like NetSpot ot WiFi Explorer will help you automate WiFi monitoring as well as track factors that impact Internet speed.

  2. Replace old cables. Ensure all your cables are in good condition. Clean dusty cables, replace those that are too loose or damaged, and double check whether the cables you use fit your network environment.

  3. Optimize your router/ISP’s settings. Check the current setup of your router and tweak DNS settings if necessary. Unfortunately, ISPs don’t always come with the DNS configs that perfectly match your environment.

  4. Scan your Mac for viruses. Sometimes, malicious programs and files on your computer can be the reason of poor Internet speed. Open CleanMyMac X > Malware Removal and the app will automatically make your Mac clean.

  5. Regularly update software and firmware. Access Software Update via the Apple menu and see whether you might have missed a macOS update. Outdated OS as well as installing the beta versions of the new macOS may hinder the quality of your Internet. If the operating system is fine, check for the new versions of your router’s firmware.

  6. Eliminate on-system interference. Make sure there are no “heavy” programs like virus scanners on your Mac — they may interfere with network performance.

  7. Check your filters. Low-quality filters are another source of damage for your WiFi infrastructure, so you might need to replace them.

  8. Fix external interference. The position of your router determines the Internet speed you get, especially if other devices located in your building rely on the same WiFi channel. We recommend to use NetSpot, an app for interference monitoring that shows you where to position a router.

  9. Use a cable. We know, it feels like a tip from the 90s, but WiFi is actually always a bit slower than the Internet you get when you plug in directly to the modem.

  10. Get a new modem. Very often, that’s the only fix that can help. Check with your ISP or test other providers to see whether you can get some extra speed.

  11. And yes, don’t do any of the above until you try a restart. Power cycling — which is turning off and on your modem — is what you should begin with. Sometimes, there’s no particular reason your Internet is slow. It’s just your modem needing a fresh start.

How to get better Internet speed

When you’re satisfied with your router and it’s in the best possible location, time to analyze your wireless network. The following solutions will not only help you run a speed test, but also understand how to improve Internet speed.

NetSpot will produce a full analysis of all the wifi networks within range of your home or office and highlight any problems. It produces a heat map of your home or office and highlights ‘dead spots’ where wifi signal strength is low or non-existent. It can also advise on the best placement for your wifi router, and really useful suggestions to troubleshoot your networks.

WiFi Explorer allows you to identify conflicts with other networks, identifies signal overlaps, and provides a graph of signal to noise ratio. By maximizing the signal v noise, you can improve signal performance and speed up downloads.

One possible cause of poor wifi performance is interference from other wifi networks in your street. WiFi Explorer and NetSpot analyze how fast Internet is by analyzing those networks and let you know if they are causing a problem.

If there are lots of routers in your neighbourhood using the 40MHz spectrum, known as wide band, it can cause congestion – wide band occupies seven channels, compared with five used by 20MHz networks.In this case, switching to the 20MHz band may actually increase Internet speed by reducing interference. To do that you’ll need to access your router’s admin page in a web browser. You’ll need to consult its manual, or look for a sticker on the bottom of the router, for an IP address, username and password.

How to increase download speed on a slow internet connection

Why Does My Mac Download So Slow &

  1. Turn off bandwidth-hogging apps and plugins.
    If you haven’t been able to improve the speed of your home broadband or wifi network, or if you’re on mobile network, you can still download faster. TripMode allows you to control which applications can download data. That means you can reserve bandwidth for apps you want to use to download and therefore download faster.
  2. Split the downloads in threads to maximize download speed.
    To splitting the downloads in threads try to use Folx, one of the most popular download managers for macOS. It has features for downloading movies, archives, or big files that allows you to split downloads into separate streams enabling faster downloads.
  3. Schedule downloads.
    One way to speed up downloads is to schedule them for a time when your ISPs network is less busy. Peak times are usually early evening through to around midnight, so use Folx to schedule downloads for the early hours of the morning. Some ISPs also throttle bandwidth for some users during peak hours, so downloading when it’s less busy is a very good idea.

How to download torrents faster

Despite the negative publicity BitTorrent has had in recent years, there’s nothing illegal in using it or in downloading torrents. As long as the content you download isn’t protected by copyright or, if it is, you have permission from the rights owner to take it, you’ll be fine. What’s more, it’s totally safe to use selected third-party tools to increase upload speed on torrent.

Additionally to Folx download manager it is also a torrent client. It has several features to make torrent download faster.

  1. Check seeds and peers.
    Folx has its own built-in torrent search engine, so you don’t need to use a web browser. When you search for torrents in Folx, it will display the number of available seeds for each result. The more seeds, the faster the download is likely to be, so choose a torrent with lots of seeds.
  2. Limit upload speeds and speed up torrent downloads.
    Torrent clients upload files as well as download them and so the bandwidth available for a torrent client like Folx is used for both. If you limit upload speeds, you can make download speeds faster. You can also limit download speeds for browsers on your Mac, making more bandwidth available for torrents. To limit upload and download speeds, open Preferences in Folx and click on the Smart Speed tab. Of course, if you want to improve upload speed, you can limit download speeds instead.
  3. Check port number.
    Many torrent clients use port numbers 6881-6889. ISPs know this and some of them throttle bandwidth to those ports, which can make download speeds slow. In Folx Preferences, in the Torrents tab, check the port number and make sure its outside that range. If the port is showing as ‘in use’ click ‘Randomize port’ to choose another.
  4. Prioritize downloads.
    If there’s one download you want more than the others that are downloading at the same time, right click on the other downloads and use the ‘Limit Speed’ option to cap their download bandwidth and increase torrent download speed for your file.

Mac Running Very Slow

How to speed up Chrome downloads

There are a number of things you can do to boost up Google Chrome’s speed:

Mac Download Folder

  1. Limit Extensions. Browser extensions can be very useful but they eat up memory and can be reason of getting slow download speed on browser.
  2. Don’t have lots of tabs open. Web pages in tabs use resources like memory and, if they auto-load, bandwidth too. Keeping tabs to a minimum will speed up your browser.
  3. Use a download manager extension. Folx has a smart browser extension that allows it to handle everything you download in Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or any other browser. Using that can speed things up because Folx has features, like splitting files into streams, that are designed to make things faster.
  4. Avoid noname extensions that promise faster downloading
    There are lots of Chrome extensions that promise to make the browser download faster. However, many of them don't work and causes Chrome run more slowly, don’t download the complete file, or, worse, are infected with malware. So, they are best avoided.

Downie does a similar job, even allowing you to down; pad 4K-resolution videos from streaming video and social media sites. Just copy and paste the URL for the video page into Downie or use its browser extension. Once you’ve downloaded the video, you can use Permute to convert it to any format you want.

If all else fails, check with your broadband provider

  • Check whether your broadband provider has a fault
  • Check whether wired instead of wireless can improve speed

Check that your broadband provider hasn’t reported a fault in your area by calling its helpline number.

Why Does My Mac Download So Slow Video

Once you’ve ruled that out you need to find out whether the problem is your wireless network or is caused by your router failing to connect to the broadband network. If you have a Mac that has an Ethernet port or you have a USB to Ethernet adapter, connect it directly to an Ethernet port on your router to try speed up your Internet. If your download speed is much faster when connected by Ethernet, your wireless network may be the culprit.

Fortunately, there are lots of things you can do to troubleshoot and improve the speed of your wifi network.

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Why Does My Mac Download So Slow