Slow MacBook: why it happens and how to get its performance back

Finding out what is slowing your Mac down

Hardware causes

Is your Mac still slow after these checks? The cause is then usually one of the following:

1. Mechanical hard drive: older MacBook and MacBook Pro models often have a 2.5-inch hard drive, which is much slower than an SSD.
2. SSD too small: on a 128 GB Mac, the drive fills up quickly and the Mac no longer has enough space to work properly.
3. Not enough memory (RAM): memory pressure turns yellow or red as soon as you open several apps.
4. Overheating: when the processor gets too hot, macOS throttles it to protect it (the kernel_task process then appears at the top of Activity Monitor). Our article My Mac is overheating: what should I do? will help you find the cause.

Which part to replace

• Replacing the hard drive with an SSD: on Macs fitted with a mechanical hard drive, a 2.5-inch SATA SSD simply takes its place. This is the upgrade we recommend first, as it’s the one you’ll notice most.
• Larger SSD: on some models, the SSD is a removable module that can be replaced with a larger one. This is the case, for example, with the 2013 to 2017 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro Retina (A1465, A1466, A1502, A1398). You can easily find the right hard drive or SSD for your model.
• Removable memory: according to Apple, only certain MacBook Pro models have removable memory (13″ from mid-2009 to mid-2012, non-Retina 15″ up to mid-2012, 17″ up to late 2011). On these models, you can add more memory: here are all the memory modules available.
• Logic board: on other MacBook models, the memory is soldered on. The only way to get more is then to replace the MacBook logic board with a better-specced board that is compatible with your Mac.

Remember to back up your files before the upgrade. If the new SSD is blank, install macOS on it, then restore your files from the backup: our article how to install macOS on a hard drive for an Intel Mac explains the process in detail.

Find the part for my Mac

Not sure of your model? Quickly identify the parts you need for this repair without making a mistake.

Identify my Mac

Need help with the repair? We offer tutorials to guide you step by step through replacing the part. Our team of technicians is also on hand if you need any advice.