There's nothing more frustrating than trying to boot up a slow computer. And while Macs are excellent machines, they can also suffer from slow boot times—especially if they've been around for a while

You can do many things to speed up your Mac's boot-up process, starting with the simple steps and working up to more complicated solutions.

Most of what we have outlined here shouldn't cause data loss, but it's better to be safe than sorry. So, make sure you have an up-to-date system backup before trying anything here.

1. Check Your Startup Apps and Login Items

Stop programs from automatically opening at boot, so they don't slow down your startup.

Your Mac probably starts a few programs when you log in, which slows it down. If you'd rather start these programs later, follow the steps below:

  1. Launch System Settings and click General.
  2. Select Login Items.
  3. Click the minus (-) sign to remove any items from the table labeled Open at Login.
Login Items menu in System Settings

Some programs start before you log in—removing them takes a bit more work. Follow the steps below to stop them:

  1. Open Finder and click Go from the menu bar.
  2. Choose Go To Folder from the dropdown menu.
  3. In the window that pops up, click Volumes.
  4. Select your boot partition, then Library > StartupItems.
  5. Hit Enter.
Hidden Startup folder in Finder

You are now looking at the hidden folder that tells your Mac what applications to start at boot. If you recognize anything here you no longer have installed, delete the relevant folders.

One last thing: by default, your Mac will reopen programs at boot that you had open at shutdown. You can turn this off before shutting it down with a simple checkmark:

Dialogue window asking to reopen windows when logging back in

2. Free Up Space on Your Hard Drive

If your boot drive is clogged with data, it could contribute to your slow startup. You can take a handful of actions to free it up, and you will find most of them in System Settings > General > Storage.

System Settings displaying storage space

Here, you can manage your data directly, see what apps consume space, and turn on settings to empty your trash. We have a guide on how to free up space on your Mac if you need more help.

It's generally a good idea to begin clearing up files by looking for old videos you have on your Mac; you can then move on to bulky applications you no longer use, like video games.

Before moving to potentially important documents, you should probably back them up in an external hard drive first.

3. Clear System Cache and Scan for Malware

CleanMyMac X scanning for temporary files on maOS

Cache files can pile up and slow down your system's startup. Another thing that could cause your system to struggle to boot is malware. The good news is that you can use a cleaner app to eliminate both of these things.

CleanMyMac X is one free tool you can use to scan for malware and remove cache files. The app also comes with real-time monitoring and lets you know what unused old large files are taking up space on your system.

If you suspect your Mac has malware that's bogging it down and you want a dedicated antivirus, we have a list of free antivirus software for your Mac.

4. Reset the PRAM/NVRAM

Your Intel-based Mac has a special kind of memory called PRAM or NVRAM, depending on the model you have. This memory is unlike other RAM as it is not cleared at power-off and stores all kinds of settings like your system volume and designated startup disk.

Sometimes it's looking for the wrong startup disk, however, and when that happens, you should reset your Mac's PRAM. Doing so is simple: first, turn off your Mac. Then, when you start it up, press Command, Option, P, and R keys simultaneously.

You don't need to reset the PRAM/NVRAM on an Apple silicon Mac. That happens automatically when your Mac restarts.

5. Update or Re-Install macOS

A new macOS update typically comes with better improvements to your Mac's software and hardware integration. You should update to the latest macOS version your Mac supports to see if there's a positive change to your startup speed.

Software Update section of the System Settings

You can update macOS by heading over to System Settings > General > Software Update.

However, it might be time to re-install macOS if things still don't improve. So, back up your Mac with Time Machine first to preserve your data, and then factory reset it.

6. Get an SSD or Upgrade Your Ram

Black internal HDD on a black surface

If you want your Mac to boot faster (and do just about everything else faster, too), an SSD is the single most powerful upgrade, especially if it's still using an HDD.

All modern Macs come with a solid-state drive, but if yours is pretty old, you can replace its current drive with an SSD. The catch? You'll have to spend more money to get equivalent space when compared to an HDD.

Likewise, your RAM also plays a massive role in how quickly your Mac turns on. Getting more RAM or faster RAM will help almost as much as an SSD. However, most modern Macs do not support RAM upgrades.

7. Clean and Maintain the Hardware

Believe it or not, dirty hardware can impact your Mac's boot speed. This is why we recommend cleaning dust off your Mac regularly and handling the hardware with care.

Clean your Mac with a lint-free microfiber cloth and some isopropyl alcohol. Avoid anything harsh or abrasive to prevent damaging it. You can also dismantle your Mac if you have a model that allows you to do so and clean the components carefully.

Slow Startups Are a Symptom

If you know that your Mac has never booted slowly in this manner, and it begins to do so frequently, then that could be a sign of bigger problems.

Slow booting is a symptom, not a disease by itself, and it means your Mac is suffering from some other problem. This problem could grow and cause other issues if you don't tackle it immediately.

If none of the tips mentioned here helped your situation, then it's time to take your Mac to an expert.