Mac starts slowly: 5 tips for more speed

After a while, a Mac also starts slowly and is not as fast as on the first day. This can be caused by different factors and is usually easy to fix. To speed up the start of OS X, we have put together the 5 best tips for you. Your Mac will start up noticeably faster.

Mac starts slowly - Tip 1: PRAM reset

Probably the most effective way to speed up your Mac startup is to reset the PRAM. Your Mac uses this to save certain settings. Read the detailed article here or use the following instructions. Tip: If your screen brightness changed after the reset, the reset was successful.

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Press the Command key [Befehl], the [Alt] key and the letters [P] and [R] simultaneously. Hold it down.
3. While holding down these buttons, press the power button. Continue to hold down the buttons from step 2.
4. Your Mac will now start and immediately switch off again. Release all buttons after the start tone sounds a second time.

Mac starts slowly - Tip 2: Access rights and hard drive repair

It can happen that the access time increases significantly over time and the start of OS X is extended. Then you have to have the access rights repaired. Read below how this works.

1. Start the hard disk utility. You can find this under Programs in the Finder.
2. Select your hard drive and click First Aid, then click Run. Your access rights and hard drive will now be repaired.

Mac starts slowly - Tip 3: Clean up login objects

If you have entered too many login objects in OS X, it is advisable to deactivate some. Login objects are like the autostart in Windows.

• Go to System Settings and then to Users & Groups.
• Open the Registration objects tab and delete all entries that are not required.

Mac starts slowly - Tip 4: Clear cache

Over time, more and more settings accumulate in the cache and it is advisable to delete them in between. Note: Deleting the cache can cause some settings to be lost, such as icon sizes or dock settings. You will have to reset them afterwards.

• Open a terminal.
• Type "SUDO purge" without the quotation marks and press Enter.

Mac starts slowly - Tip 5: Check and update OS X version

Most of the time, you benefit from performance and security improvements in updates for OS X. Therefore, it is almost always useful to update OS X when possible.

• Go to the App Store and click Updates.
• OS X now checks for updates and gives you the option to install them.

Be sure to check out our article on performance in OS X to speed up your Mac.