Some users have no choice but to face the problem of why their MacBook Pro has slow internet compared to other devices.
Have you ever wondered why your MacBook Pro has slow internet? A number of affected Mac users consider the connection almost unusable and comparable to EDGE connectivity. While their Apple devices such as iPad work well with their Wi-Fi and enjoy strong signal, their MacBook is a different story.
The problem is when you’re connected into a 2.4Ghz Wifi and your macbook tends to download pretty low or limited if you’re connected to it. The solution is you must have a Wi-Fi that has 5G capable, most fibr home wifi has this feature and if you connect your Macbook pro laptop into it, your download speed will fasten same as your internet bandwidth. Speedtest was 'very slow' on my Macbook Pro 2015 and super quick on iPhone 8, it has been painful and driving me nuts!! It usually got quicker throughout the day, but unbearable in the morning. After reading the above post about the VPN, I searched (cmd + spacebar) for 'vpn'. When you look for solutions on how to speed up old MacBook Pro, browser extensions play a major role in browsing speed. It is also recommended that you can reduce the number of tabs for easy workflow. Manage additional plugins from Chrome: Click on 3 Dots from right corner More Tools Extensions.
Let us have a deeper look at the problem with this article and try a few quick solutions.
How to Connect Your Mac to the Internet
Let us start with the different ways that you can connect to the internet with your Mac machine. This can be done through Wi-Fi, personal hotspot, and Ethernet, to name a few. Here are steps to connect to a secure Wi-Fi network:
- Click in the menu bar. If Wi-Fi is turned off, click and then select Turn Wi-Fi On.
- Next, select a network.
- Enter the password and click Join. Don’t know the password to the network? Contact the network administrator then.
You may also connect to a hidden network through these steps:
- In the menu bar, click . If Wi-Fi is off, select and choose Turn Wi-Fi On.
- Select Join Other Network.
- Enter the network name and make sure to enter it correctly.
- If the network is secure, choose the Security type. Afterwards, enter the password.
- Click Join.
You may also use a personal hotspot. Most carrier plans enable you to share the cellular data connection of your iPhone or iPad with your Mac. In addition, you can connect to the internet over a wired connection. Do this by connecting an Ethernet cable between your router/modem and then the Ethernet port of your computer. Note, though, that some Macs require the use of an Ethernet adapter.
Help: My MacBook Pro Has Slow Internet
So you actually find that your MacBook Pro has slower-than-usual internet connection. For many users, a slow connection is synonymous with a slow machine. This is because nearly everything they do, from checking email to doing online research, requires internet access.
If your MacBook is suffering from crawling internet connection, then try these basic checks:
- Check Your Network Preferences – It may be unclear if webpages are taking a really long time to load or if your connection is broken. Follow these steps:
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences. Afterwards, select Network.
- Hit Assist Me > Diagnostics, and then choose your connection type.
- Click Continue in order to run the tests.
- If a problem surfaces, then follow the recommended advice from the Network Diagnostics tool to solve it.
- Look at Your Connection Speed – You can try Speedtest.net, Comcast Speed Test, or TestMySpeed.com, whichever you prefer or find applicable. Have a look at your internet bill or check with your provider what your upload and download speeds should be.
- Disconnect and Reconnect Your Modem – Unplug your modem, wait for some 10 seconds, and then plug it back in. Wait for things to reboot and then check your internet speed again.
- Test All Your Mac Machines – Do you have more than one Mac? It’s smart to test the internet speed on all of them. If the slowdown is happening only one of them, the problem is likely limited to that Mac. It could be, for instance, a weak Wi-Fi connection that’s acting as the culprit.
You can also make sensible troubleshooting steps to address the slow internet on your MacBook Pro. Consider the following:
- Restart Your MacBook – Among the simple steps to take is to restart your Mac. This can potentially cure the slowdown, both in internet connection and of the computer itself. It forces background processes to quit and frees up RAM.
- Free Up Disk Space – Your computer cannot function at a decent pace (including having a workable internet connection) if there isn’t adequate free space on your startup drive. Check disk usage via Activity Monitor, search for and delete large files that are no longer necessary, and delete cache and log files. While you are at it, clear out junk files using a reliable Mac cleaning tool to optimize speed and system stability.
- Use Safe Mode – Safe mode will tell you if the issue is connected to a startup item or plugins. This usually corrects the issue at hand. To start up in safe mode, follow these steps:
- Start or restart your machine.
- Immediately press and hold the Shift key.
- Here, the Apple logo shows up. Release Shift once you see the login window.
- Leave safe mode by rebooting your Mac without pressing any keys while at startup.
- Check If Your Antivirus Is Running – Most major antivirus systems constantly run in the background. They can then slow your machine down and even affect your internet speed.
- Close Unnecessary Apps and Browser Tabs – If your MacBook Pro has slow internet, then check if you have dozens of apps and websites open. All these are trying to connect to the internet in order to update and synchronize, slowing down your connection. Websites might even begin to hang! Close unnecessary apps and tabs to solve the issue.
- Enable Wireless Security – If your internet suddenly runs slow, then you should check if you have turned on security settings on your router. If this is not enabled, your neighbors might be enjoying free access as you try to diagnose the problem. Set up the highest security level and have an appropriate password that isn’t so easy to guess.
- Use an Ethernet Cable – If your wireless internet is acting up, then you might want to consider directly connecting to the router using a cable. In fact, Wi-Fi doesn’t often achieve the speed that Ethernet can. This is because of its distance from the router, signal loss, and related factors. Just plug your MacBook in using a cable and see if this boosts the speed.
- Call Your Provider – If nothing much seems to work, then it might be time to call your internet provider and discuss the problem with them. They can help fix your internet woes through remote commands or an in-person visit.
Final Notes
A powerful MacBook Pro can be rendered useless if it has very slow internet connection. Most activities on your Mac these days likely require internet connection, so this is an urgent concern to tackle. Try one of the troubleshooting steps and fixes we enumerated above.
Got an experience with connection on MacBook Pro slower than other computers? Let us know in the comments below!
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See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy Policy.
The new macOS 11.0 Big Sur is a huge update packed with lots of amazing features. Refreshed design, new Control Center and Messages app, improved Safari browsing experience, the list goes on.
We are all excited about the new macOS and hit the update button, only to find our Mac experiencing performance issues such as the machine runs slow after updating to macOS Big Sur. Common symptoms include:
- Apps are slow to open or keeps freezing.
- The fan is constantly running and has high noise.
- Internet becomes super slow and it’s impossible to watch YouTube videos.
If you are facing one of those macOS Big Sur slow issues with your Mac (iMac, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air), read on to find out how to fix it. We are going to share with you some of the best tips and tricks. Let’s get started.
Note: there are many possible reasons behind a slow Mac, we’ll start with the basic fixes. If one particular fix doesn’t work, try another one.
1. Check Whether Your Mac is Compatible with Big Sur
Technically speaking, this is not a fix but it’s worth checking as the first step. Every new macOS that Apple has released has a minimum requirement on hardware. If your Mac machine is showing its age, it’s going to have a difficult time running the latest operating system, or even not compatible with the latest version at all.
Click here to learn the list of macOS Big Sur supported Macs and check whether your Mac is on the list or not. Usually, your Mac needs to have at least 4GB memory (RAM) and 35.5GB available storage.
If you find that your Mac is too old to run macOS Big Sur, it’s probably a good idea to revert to an older version since you’ll encounter more performance issues after updating and there aren’t many tricks you can play around to speed up your machine.
2. Disable Startup Items (Apps & Hidden Launch Agents)
Best for: When your Mac is slow to start up.
Take a look at what start-up applications you have running and stop as many of these from opening as possible. The fewer programs that run automatically on startup, the faster your Mac will be. To disable these startup items:
![Speeds Speeds](/uploads/1/1/2/1/112178139/735116478.jpg)
- Click on the Apple menu from the top left corner.
- Click on System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items
- Select these apps that you don’t need to auto startup and hit the minus “–” option.
Besides autoruns, there might be some launch agents (i.e. hidden apps/services that keep running in the background) that slow down your Mac’s startup speed as well. And they are not that easy to be spotted out unless you use a tool such as CleanMyMac X.
Here’s how to remove them:
- Run CleanMyMac on your computer.
- Click on Optimization > View All Items > Launch Agents.
- You’ll see a list of small helper and service applications that automatically run after your Mac boots up. Select those you don’t want and hit the Remove button.
Then you’ll all set. You should notice some speed gain when you reboot your Mac machine.
3. Find and Quit Resource-hungry Apps via Activity Monitor
Best for: When your Mac is slow when running specific applications.
Another reason why macOS Big Sur running slow is that those resource-hungry applications are taking away too many system resources while running. Big programs like Photoshop, Camtasia, and Final Cut Pro tend to use much power than smaller ones. It’s usually fine when these programs are working with a big photo or rendering a video effect, but if they are constantly taking more share than they should, something is probably wrong.
To find out which applications/services are over-consuming your system power, follow the steps below:
- Open Finder > Applications > Utilities.
- Locate this app called Activity Monitor and double click to open it.
- Look at the processes from the top of the list, see if there are any processes that are using much power, e.g. taking more than 50% CPU.
- If you spot any processes that seem to be resource-hungry, try quitting them by simply selecting and clicking on the “x” button from the toolbar on the top, and see what happens.
Sometimes this might be all that you need to do and your Mac will run smoothly again.
Note: for those big photo/video editing applications that you often use, it’s also a good idea to check whether they have a newer version. If yes, you’d better update the apps to the latest version for optimal performance.
4. Clean up System Junk and App Junk
Free mac apps downloads. Best for: When macOS Big Sur runs slow for no obvious reason.
Another quick method you can use to speed up your MacBook or iMac after updating to Big Sur is by cleaning out system junk and app junk. Each time you update your Mac, there are some files written on the computer but you don’t need once a new macOS finishes installing but they might still be stored somewhere on your Mac. Same with third-party apps. Often times by cleaning those unnecessary files, your Mac with Big Sur will run faster.
However, it’s not that easy to identify these junk files than it might sound unless you are a computer person. For most of us (i.e. general Mac users), the best way is to use a third-party tool. Again, we like CleanMyMac and recommend it for this job because it’s easy and simple to use. Both a free version and a paid version are available. The free version will do an OK job of cleaning system junk and app junk but the paid version will actually prevent junk files from building up in the first place, which makes it worth considering.
How to clean it?
- Open the CleanMyMac app and click on the System Junk from the left panel.
- Click the yellow “Grant Access” button to allow the app to find more junk.
- Hit the Scan button to get started.
- Soon you’ll see a list of junk files that are safe for removal.
- Don’t forget to navigate to Photo Junk, iTunes Junk to clean app junk.
5. Enable Optimize Storage with Your Mac
Best for: When your Mac is running out of storage after updating to macOS Big Sur.
In general, the more storage space you have for your Mac machine, the faster it will run. The question is how to quickly free up some storage? Optimize Storage is a cool feature that you can take advantage of. It saves space by automatically removing your watched movies and TV shows from this Mac.
- Click on the Apple logo.
- From the drop-down menu, select About This Mac > Storage > Manage.
- You’ll see a window like below, click on the “Optimize” button for Optimize Storage.
- Wait until it’s completed.
6. Reset SMC and NVRAM
Best for: When your Mac fan or sound is running loud, battery and power drain fast, etc.
According to Apple, resetting the system management controller (SMC) can resolve certain issues related to fans, battery, power, and some other features. Similarly resetting NVRAM on your Mac can help address issues related to display resolution, sound volume, startup-disk selection, and recent kernel panic information. If you feel your Mac is acting after updating to the latest macOS Big Sur, it’s probably a good time to reset SMC and NVRAM.
Resetting SMC and NVRAM are harmless operations and they are easy to be done. You can follow the guides linked above from Apple, or watch this YouTube video for step-by-step instructions.
7. Clean Install (Re-install) macOS Big Sur
Best for: When you’ve tried all the above techniques and your Mac is still slow.
macOS Big Sur is probably the greatest operating system ever, but it’s not perfect. That’s why Apple has been fine-tuning it since it was firstly released in June. If you’ve tried all the fixes above and your Mac still lags, then re-installing might be your last resort.
A clean install will erase all the data on your Mac hard drive so you have no customization, no third-party apps, no user data, etc. just like you are having a new computer that should be quite fast. Check out this article from 9to5mac for more information.
Important: make sure to back up your Mac before you start the clean install.
Why iMac or MacBook Pro Can Run Slowly after Updating to macOS Big Sur
There can be quite a few causes. The first one is if your computer is not actually compatible with the latest macOS. Apple has made a list of devices supported by Big Sur, they are:
- MacBook: Early 2015 or newer.
- MacBook Air: Mid 2013 or newer.
- MacBook Pro: Late 2013 or newer.
- iMac: Mid 2014 or newer.
- iMac Pro.
- Mac Mini: Late 2014 or newer.
- Mac Pro: Late 2013 or newer.
Download Speeds Slowing Down On Macbook Pro 2017
As you can see, your computer needs to be a model made in 2013 or later to even run the macOS Big Sur. If you are using a model made in 2012 or before, you are not going to be able to run this new macOS, unfortunately. Even if your Mac is compatible but it’s showing its age, there isn’t much you can do to speed it up either. Your best option is to reinstall an older operating system.
Other reasons can be categorized into two types. One is hardware-related, and the other is software. If your Mac is running with a spinning hard drive other than flash storage (SSD), it’s going to be slow in general because SSDs (solid-state drive) are much faster than HDDs (hard disk drive). Software could be the culprit as well as outlined above, and we’ve shown you the best solutions accordingly.
Final Words
The newest Apple operating system, macOS Big Sur, is definitely powerful, beautiful, and exciting to install for we Mac users. But sometimes when new software is released, even by tech giants like Apple, there are glitches that can cause frustration. One such glitch is that it can cause some Macs to slow down after updating. There are some fixes for speeding up macOS Big Sur as we introduced above.
Macbook Pro Speed Up
So, back to you now, did your MacBook Pro or iMac run slower after updating to the latest macOS? And did you manage to fix it? Leave a comment below and we’ll try our best to help you out.