How to Speed Up Boot Time on macOS

Edited 3 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

macOSBoot TimeSpeedOptimizationStartupApplePerformanceComputerSystemMaintenance

Speeding up your macOS boot time can make your device more efficient and easier to use. This article provides detailed steps and tips to reduce the time it takes your Mac to boot, ensuring you spend less time waiting and be more productive. We'll explore both simple and advanced strategies.

Understanding boot time

Boot time is the period between when you turn on your Mac and when it is ready for use. Many factors affect boot time, including the configuration and software on your Mac. By understanding these factors, you can make adjustments to optimize the boot process.

A step-by-step guide to speeding up boot time

1. Manage startup programs and services

Startup items are programs that run automatically when your Mac boots. They can significantly slow down the boot process. To manage them:

1. Click System Preferences from the Apple menu.
2. Select Users & Groups.
3. Select your user account and click the Login Items tab.
4. Here, you can see the list of apps that open on startup. To remove an app, select it and click the minus (-) button below the list.

2. Use SSD instead of HDD

Solid state drives (SSDs) are faster than traditional hard disk drives (HDDs). If you're using an older Mac with an HDD, consider upgrading to an SSD. This can significantly reduce boot times, as SSDs have faster read and write speeds.

3. Clean up your Mac

A cluttered Mac can slow down your system, including boot times. Regular cleaning can help:

• Use a tool like Disk Utility to repair your disk by selecting it and clicking First Aid.
• Delete large files you no longer need or archive them to an external drive.
• Uninstall software that you don't use.

4. Reduce visual impact

macOS uses many visual effects that look cool but can slow down your system. Adjusting these can help your Mac boot faster:

• Open System Preferences and go to Accessibility.
• Select Display in the sidebar.
• Check the option to slow down.

5. Update macOS and applications

Make sure your macOS and all applications are up to date. Updates may include performance improvements and bug fixes that can help reduce boot time:

1. To update macOS, go to the Apple menu, choose About This Mac, and then choose Software Update.
2. For apps, open the App Store and go to the Updates tab to update your software.

6. Reset the NVRAM/PRAM

NVRAM (non-volatile random-access memory) stores settings such as volume and display. Resetting it can solve many problems, including boot speed:

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Turn it on and immediately press and hold the Option + Command + P + R keys for about 20 seconds.
3. Release the keys when you hear the startup sound for the second time, otherwise the Apple logo will appear twice and disappear.

7. Reset the SMC

The SMC (System Management Controller) is another component that can affect start-up behavior:

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Disconnect the power adapter and wait for 15 seconds.
3. Reconnect the adapter and turn on your Mac.

The steps to reset the SMC may vary slightly depending on the model, especially for Macs with the T2 chip.

8. Disable FileVault

FileVault encrypts your disk but can slow down boot times. Consider disabling it:

1. Open System Preferences and go to Security & Privacy.
2. Click the FileVault tab.
3. Click the lock icon to unlock it, then turn off FileVault.

Disabling FileVault will decrypt your data, which may take some time, but this step can speed up boot times.

Advanced tips for power users

1. Use the Terminal for detailed cleaning

The Terminal is a powerful tool that enables advanced cleanup operations:

• Removing DS_Store files: Use find ~/ -name ".DS_Store" -delete command to remove unwanted .DS_Store files, which are unnecessary but may be abundant.

2. Check the hardware with Apple Diagnostics

Faulty hardware can affect boot time. Use Apple Diagnostics to check for hardware problems:

• Shut down the Mac and remove all external devices except the keyboard, mouse, display, and AC power connection.
• Turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold the D key until prompted to select your language.
• Once selected, hardware diagnostics will run automatically.

If any problems are found, note the codes provided and contact Apple Support.

3. Manage kernel extensions

Kernel extensions (kexts) are loaded during boot and can slow down the process if there are too many of them:

• To view the loaded kexts, open a terminal and type kextstat.
• Uninstall unnecessary extensions. Third-party kexts are usually installed by specific applications and can be removed through their uninstallation processes.

Conclusion

Boot time optimization on macOS is a combination of managing startup items, updating software, cleaning up your machine, and, when necessary, upgrading hardware. Using both simple adjustments and advanced techniques, you can significantly reduce the time it takes your Mac to start up, leading to a more smooth and efficient experience.

Every Mac setup is unique, so be patient and consider each tip carefully. Some of the steps here, like managing startup programs and resetting NVRAM, are relatively quick and can be tried right away. Others, like upgrading hardware, will require more time and investment. Ultimately, your goal should be to maintain an efficient, clean, and optimized system for best performance.

  Share This Article

If you find anything wrong with the article content, you can request an update