I've got a 2020 iMac with an Intel processor and 16GB of RAM. After a fresh boot, everything runs smoothly, but as I do some light work—like spreadsheets, web browsing, and minor media editing—things start getting really slow after a few hours. Apps take longer to open, Finder sometimes freezes for a bit, and even just dragging files can feel sluggish. I've reset the SMC and NVRAM, removed login items, and ran Disk Utility. I checked Activity Monitor too, but everything looks normal in terms of CPU and RAM usage when the slowdown happens. It feels like there's something accumulating over time causing the performance drop. Has anyone else experienced this with a similar setup?
5 Answers
Is Chrome your go-to browser? Make sure it's totally updated. Also, check if you have enough free disk space. Running low on space can cause your Mac to slow down significantly.
You might want to take a closer look with Activity Monitor. Specifically, check the CPU tab for a process named 'kernel_task.' If it's showing a high percentage, your Mac might be trying to cool itself down due to overheating. Fur from pets could be blocking airflow too, which I've seen cause issues. Plus, ensure you have at least 10% of your disk space free to keep everything running smoothly.
Is your iMac a 2020 model with an SSD? That makes a difference. Could you share some screenshots of the Activity Monitor sorted by CPU or Memory? It’ll help to identify what's going on when the slowdown happens.
Don’t forget about the internal fans—cleaning them out can work wonders. Dust buildup can lead to overheating, which in turn affects performance.
I had a similar issue with my iMac, and I found that the Stocks app was the culprit. Even though I don't really use it, it would automatically run and cause my Mac to heat up and the fans to kick in loudly. Disabling its updates requires some tricky steps like turning off SIP, so I just end up force quitting it whenever I notice the slowdown. Might be worth checking what apps are running in the background for you too!
Related Questions
Lenovo Thinkpad Stuck In Update Loop Install FilterDriverU2_Reload