Is Your Mac Struggling With macOS Big Sur? Here‘s How to Speed It Up

The latest version of macOS, called Big Sur, brings a refreshed design, enhancements to core apps like Safari and Messages, and under-the-hood improvements for performance and security. Overall it‘s an impressive update, but you may find that Big Sur runs slowly, especially on older Macs.

If you‘re frustrated with a sluggish experience after upgrading to Big Sur, you‘re not alone. In this guide, I‘ll explain why Big Sur can run slowly and share proven tips to help speed it up. By the end, you‘ll have a faster, smoother Mac. Let‘s dive in!

Why Is macOS Big Sur Slow?

Each new macOS release adds more features and graphical effects, and therefore requires more system resources than the previous version. Big Sur has higher minimum requirements than Catalina, and is really optimized for the latest Macs released this year and last.

While technically Big Sur can run on Macs from 2013 onward, it may be sluggish on older hardware. Here are the minimum specs required for reasonable performance:

• Processor: 2.0GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 or better
• RAM: 8GB (4GB supported but not recommended)
• Free disk space: 35GB

So if you have an older Mac with only 4GB RAM, a slow hard drive, or an outdated dual-core processor, that‘s likely the root cause of any slowness you‘re experiencing with Big Sur. Insufficient disk space can also make your Mac feel bogged down.

10 Ways to Speed Up macOS Big Sur

Fortunately, there are several ways to speed up Big Sur and get your Mac running like new again. While buying a new computer is the most effective solution, it‘s not the only one. Try these tips first to optimize macOS Big Sur on your current Mac.

1. Check Compatibility and Minimum Requirements

First, confirm your Mac model is compatible with Big Sur and meets the minimum system requirements I mentioned earlier:

• MacBook (2015 and later)
• MacBook Air (2013 and later)
• MacBook Pro (Late 2013 and later)
• Mac mini (2014 and later)
• iMac (2014 and later)
• iMac Pro (2017 and later)
• Mac Pro (2013 and later)

If your Mac isn‘t on that list, it unfortunately can‘t run Big Sur, even if it has enough RAM and disk space. It‘s probably time to buy a new computer in that case.

2. Ensure Adequate Free Space

Big Sur needs around 35GB of available storage for the upgrade. But for the best performance, aim to keep at least 10-20% of your drive space free at all times.

Click the Apple logo > About This Mac > Storage to see how much space you have available. If it‘s under 35GB, free up space using the built-in tools to optimize storage, store files in iCloud, remove unneeded apps and large files, and empty the trash.

3. Upgrade Your Hardware (If Possible)

Some older Macs allow you to upgrade the RAM and storage yourself, which can provide a big speed boost.

Adding more RAM will let you run more apps at once and reduce slowdowns. The maximum supported RAM depends on your model, but upgrading from 4GB to 8GB or 16GB can make a huge difference.

Replacing a traditional hard drive with an SSD (solid-state drive) can also dramatically improve speed. SSDs are much faster than hard drives, so your Mac will boot up quicker, launch apps faster, and generally feel snappier.

Unfortunately, Macs from 2016 onward tend to have the RAM soldered to the motherboard and often have non-removable SSDs as well. But if you have an older Mac from 2015 or earlier, upgrading the RAM and storage yourself is often possible and cost-effective.

4. Disable Login Items

Having too many programs set to automatically open when you log in will slow down startup and use up system resources. Go to System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items to see what‘s enabled.

Uncheck any apps you don‘t need immediately upon startup, especially large programs like Photoshop or Final Cut. The fewer login items, the faster Big Sur will boot up.

5. Reduce Visual Effects

Big Sur‘s transparency and motion effects look great but can be taxing on older hardware. To improve responsiveness, go to System Preferences > Accessibility > Display and check "Reduce transparency" and "Reduce motion."

This will disable some animations and effects throughout the interface. You‘ll still get the overall Big Sur look, but with snappier performance, especially on Macs with limited graphics power.

6. Find Resource-Heavy Apps

Open Activity Monitor from Applications > Utilities to see which apps are hogging your CPU, memory, energy, and disk.

If an app is using an abnormally high amount of resources, try updating it or contacting the developer for help. As a temporary fix, quit the app when you‘re not using it.

Some common culprits include web browsers with dozens of tabs open, Spotlight search indexing, and apps like Dropbox or Google Drive syncing files in the background. Restart your Mac if the slowness persists.

7. Reset NVRAM and SMC

Resetting your Mac‘s NVRAM and SMC can resolve obscure performance and power issues, so it‘s worth trying if you experience persistent slowness.

To reset the NVRAM, restart your Mac and hold Option+Command+P+R as it boots up, until you hear the second startup chime. Release the keys and let it finish starting up.

The process to reset the SMC depends on whether your Mac has a T2 Security Chip. On a desktop Mac, unplug the power cord for 15 seconds and then plug it back in. On a notebook, shut down the Mac, press and hold Control+Option+Shift, then press the power button. Release all keys and turn it on again. See Apple‘s support page for full details.

8. Turn Off Power Nap

Power Nap lets your Mac periodically wake from sleep to check for updates, sync iCloud, and perform other background tasks. But it can also make your Mac take longer to wake up.

To turn off Power Nap, go to System Preferences > Energy Saver (Battery on laptops). Uncheck "Enable Power Nap while on battery power" and "Enable Power Nap while plugged into a power adapter."

With Power Nap disabled, your Mac will take longer to receive new emails and other updates, but it should wake from sleep quicker when you need it.

9. Keep macOS and Apps Updated

Apple regularly releases updates to Big Sur with performance improvements, security fixes, and other refinements. Keeping your Mac up-to-date ensures you get these optimizations.

Go to System Preferences > Software Update to check for and install any Big Sur updates or security patches. Do this once a month or so to keep your Mac current.

Similarly, check the App Store for any updates to the apps you use frequently. App developers often release updates to improve speed, stability, and compatibility with the latest macOS version. Keeping your apps updated will help Big Sur run more smoothly overall.

10. Do a Fresh Installation of Big Sur

If you upgraded to Big Sur from an earlier macOS version and find it sluggish, doing a fresh installation may help. This will erase your Mac and install a clean copy of Big Sur, potentially fixing any underlying software issues affecting performance.

Back up your Mac with Time Machine first, since a fresh install will delete all your files and apps. Then boot into macOS Recovery by restarting your Mac and holding Command+R as it starts up.

Choose "Reinstall macOS Big Sur," select your startup disk, and follow the prompts to complete the installation. Once you‘ve set up Big Sur again, you can restore your backed-up files from Time Machine.

When to Buy a New Mac for Big Sur

If you‘ve tried all the optimizations above and Big Sur still runs slowly, it may be time to buy a new Mac, especially if yours is from 2015 or earlier.

The latest Macs have much faster processors, more RAM, speedy SSDs, and dedicated graphics cards — all of which make a huge difference in overall performance. With the minimum specs for a smooth Big Sur experience, a new Mac will run several times faster than one from five or more years ago.

If your current Mac struggles with basic tasks like web browsing or checking email, upgrading to a newer model will be a night-and-day difference in speed and responsiveness. The latest MacBook Air and Mac mini offer excellent performance at relatively affordable prices.

Buying a new computer can be a big investment, but if you use your Mac for work or creative projects, the productivity benefits of a faster machine can be well worth the upfront cost. Big Sur will absolutely fly on a brand new Mac.

The Bottom Line

macOS Big Sur is a great update overall, but older Macs may have trouble running it smoothly due to increased hardware requirements. If you find Big Sur is slow after upgrading, try these tips to speed it up:

• Check compatibility and minimum specs
• Ensure at least 35GB of free space
• Upgrade RAM and storage if possible
• Disable login items and background processes
• Reduce transparency and animations
• Identify resource-hogging apps
• Reset the NVRAM and SMC
• Turn off Power Nap
• Keep macOS and apps updated
• Do a fresh install of Big Sur

If your Mac is from 2015 or earlier, buying a new computer may be the best solution if you want the smoothest Big Sur experience. But following the advice here will help you get the most out of Big Sur even on older hardware. With a bit of tuning and patience, you can keep your trusty Mac running well for years to come.