Top 7 Ways to Fix Mac Running Slow after Sonoma Update

macOS 14 or macOS Sonoma is a major leap in terms of features. Apple introduced a whole new set of features to keep users intrigued with macOS. But that’s not all; some users have started facing performance issues with the update. Users have said their Mac is running slow after the macOS Sonoma update. 

There have been mixed complaints from users about the performance issues on macOS Sonoma. Some users face this issue on Apple Silicon-based Mac, while others face it with only an Intel-based Mac. Not only this, but the users have claimed that the issue is faced with only certain applications like Mircosoft Edge, coding-specific apps, etc. Let’s see all the troubleshooting steps you can follow to fix Mac running slow after macOS Sonoma Update. 

How to Fix Slow Mac After macOS Sonoma Update Problem

Users have complained that their Mac unwantedly started running slow, and it became practically impossible for them to do even the basic tasks because of this issue. 

As a user, consider it a hardware issue because the latest Sonoma Update can be heavy for an old Intel-based Mac. But that is not true (except for old but macOS Sonoma-supported Macs), as the issues have been encountered by users having the latest Apple Silicion-based Mac. So, the issue is on the software side and not because of the old hardware. 

If your macOS also started running slow after macOS Sonoma, then you can follow the steps given below to troubleshoot this issue:

1. Check CPU Hungry Programs

Performance issues on your Mac can be due to the CPU-hungry programs. Check for the apps and programs running on your Mac and how much CPU and memory they take. If you see an app taking a lot of your Mac’s resources, then you can close them. Below are the steps to do so-

• Press Command + Spacebar and then type Activity Monitor. Now, press Enter to open the Activity Monitor on your Mac. 
• Under the CPU tab, look for programs with maximum CPU usage. 
• Select the program and click on the x icon to force quit it. 

If this doesn’t help, try force quitting all the apps simultaneously. You will be able to do it by following the steps given below-

• Open the Force Quit Applications window by pressing the Command + Option + Esc keys together. 
• Now, select all the apps here by pressing Ctrl + A. 

• After this, click on Force Quit to quit the apps. 

2. Disable Startup Items

Startup items can slow down your Mac. These apps start automatically when you start your Mac and can be a major hit on performance on your Mac. Check all the startup items on your Mac and then disable them. You can do it by following the steps given below-

• Press Command + Search to launch Spotlight search. Here, type System Settings and press Enter to open it. 
• Under the General tab, click on Login Items. 

• See all the apps that open at login. 
• Select an app, then click on the – button to remove it. Do the same for all the startup items and see if the issue is still encountered. 

3. Check Storage

The next thing to do is check the storage on your Mac. A Mac with almost no storage can face performance issues. To check the storage on Mac, you can follow the steps given below-

• Open the Apple Menu and then click on About this Mac. 

• Now, click on the More info button. 

• Scroll down to the Storage section and click on Storage Settings. 

• This will show you a chart of how much of your Mac’s storage is remaining, along with what is occupying the storage. 

If your storage is almost full, you must clear some files. Delete all the unwanted files and applications installed on your Mac. 

You can attach an external storage media, keep all your files on it, and clear your Mac of all the stuff. This way, your Mac will have extra storage, and your important files won’t be harmed. 

4. Updates Apps

The current version of your apps may not be compatible with the latest macOS Sonoma. To avoid this situation, check for the latest updates for the software installed on your Mac and install them. To do so, follow the steps given below-

• From the Apple Menu, click on App Store. 

• Now, click on the Updates option on the left pane. 

• This will show available updates for all the apps. 
•  Update all the apps and then see if the issue is still encountered. 

5. Update macOS

Check for available updates on your Mac and install them. But isn’t my Mac running slow after the macOS Sonoma update due to the latest update? Sometimes, the updates can have bugs, and developers release patches for them with every update. Maybe the latest update available for your Mac may fix this issue. To do so, follow the steps given below-

• Open the Mac’s System Settings. 
• Under the General tab, click on Software Update. 

• Let your Mac check for the available updates, and then install them. 

6. Reset Mac

If you have tried everything that we have mentioned above and still cannot resolve the performance issues on your Mac, then it’s time to reset your Mac. The update you installed might have some corrupted files or not have been installed correctly, due to which you are facing this issue. Try resetting your Mac and then see if the issue is still faced or not. Just take a backup before you move ahead, as a reset will delete all your files and apps. 

• From the Apple Menu, open the System Settings. 
• Now, click on General. 
• After this, click on Transfer or Reset. 

• Finally, click on Erase All Contents and Settings. 

• Now, follow the instructions you are given on the screen to reset your Mac. 

7. Contact Apple Support

Are you still facing the issue? If your Mac is running slow after the macOS Sonoma update, and even a system reset didn’t seem to fix the issue, then you should contact the Apple Support Team. You can contact them through the official Apple Support Page. 

If you have an Apple service center nearby, then it would be better to take your Mac to the service center. If an appointment is required, then get that first before you head out to the service center; otherwise, you will have to return without your problem being solved. 

Tell the technician at the Apple service center about the issue when you started facing it. Accordingly, they will diagnose your Mac and fix this issue. If the issue is due to the Sonoma update, then they will downgrade to the previous version of macOS (macOS Ventura or another) and will suggest you not install the macOS Sonoma update. 

Bottom Line

We know it is exciting to try new features with the latest macOS Sonoma update. But the update is not all rainbows and unicorns. There have been reports from users about different issues they encountered after the macOS Sonoma. Many have complained their Mac is running slow after the macOS Sonoma update. If you are also facing this issue, you can follow the steps given above to fix the issue. 

Also, if you have an old Mac, your hardware may not be powerful enough to run macOS Sonoma. Even though it may be compatible, you may face issues with the update, so it is best not to get the Sonoma update in that case or upgrade your Mac if you want to try the Sonoma. 

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