Is Your High Sierra Slow? The Very Best Fixes Here

Sooner or later, you will ask yourself, “Why is my computer running so slow?” Well, a sluggish computer, even if it is iMac or Mac Pro, is not a rare phenomenon. Most users react to the problem only after their Apple device turn so stagnant they cannot even launch an app or sign in at all. Without taking care of your Mac on time, you risk losing your working productivity and nerves. Apple made it as easy as possible to support the healthy life of its products. Therefore, it is user’s only duty to check the device’s health and treat it properly if something is about to go wrong.

mac OS High Sierra slow boot is associated with many different factors. Apple experts may argue on various issues, but the only thing they all accept is that the most common reason for Mac to slow down or crash is the lack of space and memory. Thus, it is critical to periodically check the overall health condition of your machine, including CPU, RAM, disk space, energy, and network condition.

In many cases, the problem can show up at the initial stage – macOS High Sierra installation. Mac owners often complain about the inability to set up the latest operating system on their computer without obstacles. The hints below will help you to overcome the most common issues associated with macOS High Sierra installation and usage.

High Sierra Install Stuck: How to Deal with the OS Update Issue

So, here you are waiting impatiently to upgrade your Apple computer to the latest version of mac OS High Sierra. It would be such a pity to find out that because of some known and hidden problems, you cannot use some of the apps or boot the machine at all. The bugs with Macs after updating to High Sierra are quite common, and you should be ready that your device may be running very slow at first. However, perhaps, it is worth fixing the issues and enjoying the benefits offered by Apple Company in their last version of the operating system. With the witty tips below, one will understand how to get the best of macOS High Sierra.

  1. Find out which model of Apple computer you are using. It is not possible to upgrade just every Mac in the world. You may discover the complete list of the upgradable Macs posted by Apple on their support forum.
  2. Wipe the computer first. New advanced features require more free space than older versions of operating system. High Sierra needs minimum 14.3GB to finish the upgrade completely. It is better to have even more free storage space to avoid any bugs during the installation process. Before the spring cleaning, it is necessary to back up the entire information as you may never know what might happen. Once you are done with the backup procedure, wipe the hard drive using built-in utilities or one of the third-party cleaners if you want to speed up the process and delete even the hidden leftovers.
  3. Back up information. As we recalled the process of backing up the data stored on your Mac, you may want to learn the ways to back up things without any risks. A user will need a place to store the data (from an external drive like HD or SSD to special platforms like iCloud or DropBox). Time Machine is the most popular option when it comes to backing up. Other go-to instruments include paid and free third-party software created specifically to help with the backup processes. Some third-party apps offer bootable backups, which is a rather comfortable If you need a lossless compression, you should find a corresponding tool as well as Time Machine is not able to do everything.
  4. Make sure you have macOS High Sierra 10.12.6 (or the previous release) installed. It will help to prevent a problem with the Apple computer hanging on the “about 1-minute remaining” screen. An Apple computer will never install the latest version of operating system successfully without having the previous upgrade first.
  5. Select the correct time to upgrade. Experts recommend updating anywhere but office as far as the process may take more time then you expect. It will prevent you from doing your work. Also, it is better to launch the installation during the night time so that you do not find the machine unavailable during the daytime. Usually, the installation procedure should not take more than a couple of hours.

Now, look at the problems and solutions in the next few sections.

high sierra slow boot

Mac OS High Sierra Download Slow: What’s Up?

The first signs of the problem may show up at the installation stage. For instance, a Mac owner may notice that the download takes very long even though he or she found the necessary files at Apps Store instead of some unofficial sources. So, if you are not even able to finish the installation and boot up the target Apple computer because of some error downloading High Sierra, analyze these causes and possible fixes.

Problem #1: Downloading Procedure is Sluggish

Most probable reason: The Internet connection is weak.

The ways to solve: Reboot the Internet router, or place an Apple computer in another location where you believe a signal could be stronger. If you do not have a very old Mac with thousands of large items stored on it, the download process should not last for more than a few minutes.

Problem #2: Lack of Disk Space

Most probable reason: As it was mentioned above, it is better to have something around 15GB of free space on your hard drive to set up the latest operating system. If you lack space, the system might refuse to upgrade properly.

The ways to solve: Wipe the hard drive after backing up. This way, you will risk nothing. To do it, scan the partition to detect huge bites. Then, erase them or move them to a different location. Start with the videos and digital camera photos to free up as much space as possible. Mind that the software you do not use could stack up as well. The good idea is to get rid of such applications completely by uninstalling them along with any associated files and folders. The fastest and easiest way is to get a third-party cleaner. They usually do not weigh too much, so the bare minimum of space left on your drive will be enough. On the whole, it is better to have more than 50% of free space to let any Mac run fast and smoothly.

Problem #3: Crashing or Freezing at a Minute Left

The worst scenario is having the process stuck when there is something like a minute or even less left.

Most probable reason: Most probably, the target computer is running macOS Sierra 10.12.5 or more outdated.

The ways to solve: It is necessary to make sure you have the most recent version, 10.12.6, with all necessary updates installed on your Mac. After that, re-install the version 10.13. In such situations, an attempt to reconnect and try again usually fails.

Go to the App Store and look for any available update request. Pick the Update button. In something like 10 minutes, the operating system should be on your Mac. After that, move on setting up High Sierra.

Problem #4: Apple Computer Turns Too Hot

Most probable reason: A user tries to multi-task when High Sierra’s installation is not over.

The ways to solve: Launch Activity Monitor in the Applications folder → Utilities (a Spotlight search will help as well). Detect the processes and apps that require most of the energy, CPU, and RAM. Shut down such processes one-by-one. Just push the x (delete) button next to the items you wish to stop. Try quitting Google Chrome and Mail first as those are the most popular apps that consume a lot of CPU and memory.

high sierra bugs

mac OS High Sierra Slow Startup and Other Post-Installation Troubles

After you are done with macOS High Sierra upgrade, it is important to see whether the system works and you can even perform the login. Restart to test the upgrade. Once you updated to the latest High Sierra version, is there a slow down in the work of your computer? Also, it is also important to check whether Mac will wake from sleep without any problems. Finally, test whether the apps you need launch without problems (otherwise, use Finder to solve the problems).

So, are you ready to find the answer to the questions, “How can I cope with my very slow Mac once I upgrade to the latest version of macOS?”

Problem #1: Sluggish Bootup Process

Most probable reason: There are too many startup items – files that launch together with your Mac at the bootup. Also, you may have a startup disk with the restricted free space available. Finally, the target computer has an HDD instead of SSD. That is why it may work slower than expected.

The ways to solve: Switching to SSD, which is far more expensive than HDD, is not necessary. First of all, pick the Apple logo on the left. Choose System Preferences. There you should find Users & Groups and Login Items. You will get the list of files that launch automatically along with the machine. Select the useless files and pick the minus icons to deactivate them. It should speed up the work of your computer at the bootup.

That is not all! You still have to find out if the startup disk has enough free space. It is possible to see that in About This Mac and Storage. The bar will display how much space is used and how much is free. With the help of Manage, a user can discover what types of items are eating up the most space.

Problem #2: Troubles with Computer’s Cursor

Most probable reason: A Mac owner accidentally enlarged the size of the cursor.

The ways to solve: Adjust the cursor back to recommended size. Move to Systems Preferences and Accessibility. You need Display there. The mark under the Cursor size option should be put to Normal.

Problem #3: Software is Broken

Most probable reason: The software is old or does not match the target operating system.

The ways to solve: Scan the software developer’s official website or the App Store if it is available over there. Search for the updated version. In case you manage to discover any updates, download and activate them. Re-launch the software. In case of problems with Photos, the only way out may be repairing the Photos Library.

Problem #4: Slow Browser (Safari, Chrome, or FireFox)

Most probable reason: You are running an old version of the preferred browser. Perhaps, your browser is overloaded by numerous extensions, add-ons, and plugins. At last, Mac may have malware, adware, or viruses in its system. That is why the preferred browser redirects the user to harmful websites with lots of ads.

The ways to solve: To begin with, get a good antivirus for Mac and scan the system with the help of such tool.

Make sure the browser is up-to-date. It should be of the most recent version with all necessary updates. Click on “About…” or analogic button in the preferred browser to find out whether any updates are available. In most cases, Mac owners will be checking Safari.

Finally, get rid of the useless third-party extensions and plugins. On the example of Safari, launch its Preferences and Extensions. There you will find the list of active and inactive plugins. Uninstall/deactivate the ones you do not find useful. It is better to have a small number of enabled extensions.

mac OS High Sierra WiFi not Working? Create a New Configuration!

One more common issue a Mac owner may face after the High Sierra upgrade is a very slow Internet connection. Moreover, it may take a while to connect to the network. The Apple computer may refuse to recognize the network. Other problems may include troubles with separate applications that require WiFi connection (e.g., Mail). So, how to fix some of the typical problems with an Internet connection on Mac?

Create a New WiFI Configuration

It is an effective solution even though it might be a bit risky: a user will have to delete the system-level configuration items. Make sure you have a backup of all files.

  • To begin with, switch off WiFi – pull down the corresponding menu bar items in the top. Choose Turn Wi-Fi Off.
  • Develop a new folder form the Finder app and place it on the desktop. Name it close to this:
  • Move to Finder in macOS. Pick Go to see the menu. Select Go to Folder.
  • Type the given path and pick Go: /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/
  • Detect and choose the files listed below:

com.apple.airport.preferences.plist

com.apple.network.eapolclient.configuration.plist

com.apple.wifi.message-tracer.plist

NetworkInterfaces.plist

preferences.plist

  • Place these files into the folder you’ve created in step 2.
  • Reboot the Apple computer with the help of Restart button in Apple menu.
  • Come back to the WiFi menu. Select turn Wi-Fi On. Join the wireless network the way you do.

That is how to fix the most common issues during and after the macOS High Sierra installation. Hopefully, at least one of the options will solve your problems with Mac. If you face a failure even after following all these recommendations, contact the official Apple Support. After all, they are responsible for their customers.