Apple MacBook Pro 13-Inch 'Core i5' 2.4 Late 2011 Specs
Identifiers: Late 2011 13' - MD313LL/A - MacBookPro8,1 - A1278 - 2555*
The MacBook Pro 'Core i7' 2.0 15-Inch (Integrated Graphics/Iris Only - Late 2013 Retina Display) features a 22 nm 'Haswell/Crystalwell' 2.0 GHz Intel 'Core i7' processor (4750HQ), with four independent processor 'cores' on a single silicon chip, a 6 MB shared level 3 cache, 8 GB of onboard 1600 MHz DDR3L SDRAM (which could be upgraded to 16 GB. The tips below should also apply to other types of Macs such as iMac, MacBook Air, Mac Pro/Mini, etc. Use the Table of Contents below for better navigation. Why is My Macbook Pro so Slow? Whether you own an old 2012 MacBook Pro, or a shiny new 16-inch 2020 Touch Bar MacBook Pro with Apple M1 Chip, over time it can run slowly.
All MacBook Pro 13-Inch Models | All 2011 Models | Dynamically Compare This Mac to Others
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Quietly unveiled without a press release, the MacBook Pro 'Core i5' 2.4 13-Inch (Late 2011) features a 32 nm 'Sandy Bridge' 2.4 GHz Intel 'Core i5' processor (2435M), with two independent processor 'cores' on a single silicon chip, a 3 MB shared level 3 cache, 4 GB of 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM (PC3-10600) installed in pairs (two 2 GB modules), a 500 GB Serial ATA (5400 RPM) hard drive, an 8X DL 'SuperDrive', an Intel HD Graphics 3000 graphics processor that shares 384 MB of memory with the system, an integrated FaceTime HD webcam, and an LED-backlit 13.3' widescreen TFT active-matrix 'glossy' display (1280x800 native resolution).
Connectivity includes AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, Gigabit Ethernet, a Firewire '800' port, two USB 2.0 ports, audio in/out, an SDXC card slot, and a 'Thunderbolt' port that is backwards compatible with Mini DisplayPort and, likewise, supports an external display at 2560x1600 and passes an audio signal. Thunderbolt also supports other peripherals that use the Thunderbolt standard which provides up to 10 Gbps of bandwidth in both directions.
This model uses a 'Unibody' aluminum case design -- milled from a single piece of aluminum -- and has a backlit keyboard, a 'no button' glass 'inertial' multi-touch trackpad, and a non-swappable battery design that provides an Apple estimated 7 hours of battery life.
Compared to its predecessor, this model is identical with the exception of a faster processor and a larger standard hard drive.
Also see:
- What are the differences between the 'Late 2011' 13-Inch, 15-Inch, and 17-Inch MacBook Pro models?
- What are the differences between the 'Late 2011' 13-Inch, 15-Inch, and 17-Inch MacBook Pro models and the 'Early 2011' MacBook Pro models that they replaced?
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Click on a category for related details. The most commonly needed info is 'open' by default, but all info is important. Asterisks (*) reference data in details fields.
| Introduction Date: | October 24, 2011 | Discontinued Date: | June 11, 2012 |
| Details: | The 'Introduction Date' typically refers to the date a model was introduced via press release although this model was quietly unveiled without one. The 'Discontinued Date' refers to the date a model either was replaced by a subsequent system or production otherwise ended. Also see: All Macs introduced in 2011. |
| Details: | Also see: All models with a 64-Bit processor courtesy of EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Sort. |
| Details: | Geekbench 2 benchmarks are in 32-bit and 64-bit modes, respectively. These numbers reflect an average of user provided 32-bit and 64-bit results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better. You also might be interested in reviewing all 32-bit and 64-bit Geekbench 2 user submissions for Macs with the MacBookPro8,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models. To dynamically compare Geekbench 2 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison. |
| Details: | These Geekbench 3 benchmarks are in 32-bit mode and are for a single processor core and all processor cores, respectively. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better. You also might be interested in reviewing all 32-bit single core and multicore Geekbench 3 user submissions for Macs with the MacBookPro8,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models. To dynamically compare 32-bit Geekbench 3 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison. |
| Details: | These Geekbench 3 benchmarks are in 64-bit mode and are for a single processor core and all processor cores, respectively. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better. You also might be interested in reviewing all 64-bit single core and multicore Geekbench 3 user submissions for Macs with the MacBookPro8,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models. To dynamically compare 64-bit Geekbench 3 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison. |
| Details: | These Geekbench 4 benchmarks are are for a single processor core and all processor cores, respectively. All Geekbench 4 benchmarks are 64-bit. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better. You also might be interested in reviewing all single core and multicore Geekbench 4 user submissions for Macs with the MacBookPro8,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models. To dynamically compare Geekbench 4 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison. |
| Details: | These Geekbench 5 benchmarks are are for a single processor core and all processor cores, respectively. All Geekbench 5 benchmarks for the Mac are 64-bit. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better. You also might be interested in reviewing all single core and multicore Geekbench 5 user submissions for Macs with the MacBookPro8,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models. To dynamically compare Geekbench 5 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison. |
| Processor Speed: | 2.4 GHz | Processor Type: | Core i5 (I5-2435M) |
| Details: | This model is powered by a 32 nm, 64-bit Intel Mobile Core i5 'Sandy Bridge' (I5-2435M) processor which includes two independent processor 'cores' on a single silicon chip. Each core has a dedicated 256k level 2 cache, shares 3 MB of level 3 cache, and has an integrated memory controller (dual channel). This system also supports 'Turbo Boost 2.0' -- which 'automatically increases the speed of the active cores' to improve performance when needed -- and 'Hyper Threading' -- which allows the system to recognize four total 'cores' or 'threads' (two real and two virtual). Also see: How fast are the 'Late 2011' 13-Inch, 15-Inch, and 17-Inch MacBook Pro models compared to one another? How fast are they compared to the models each replaced? |
| Details: | N/A |
| Details: | Also see: Can you upgrade the processor in the 'Unibody' MacBook Pro? |
| System Bus Speed: | 5 GT/s* | Cache Bus Speed: | 2.4 GHz (Built-in) |
| Details: | *This system has a 'Direct Media Interface' (DMI) that 'connects between the processor and chipset' in lieu of a traditional system bus. Intel reports that it runs at 5 GT/s. |
| Details: | N/A |
| Details: | Each core has its own dedicated 256k level 2 cache and the system has 3 MB of shared level 3 cache. |
| Details: | Supports 1333 MHz PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM. Also see: How do you upgrade the RAM in the 'Early 2011' 13-Inch, 15-Inch, and 17-Inch MacBook Pro models? How much RAM of what type do they support? |
| Details: | 4 GB of RAM is installed as two 2 GB modules, no slots free. *Apple officially supports a maximum of 8 GB of RAM, but third-parties have determined that this model actually is capable of using up to 16 GB of RAM with two 8 GB memory modules. In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells memory -- as well as other upgrades -- for this MacBook Pro. In the UK, site sponsor Flexx sells memory and other upgrades for this MacBook Pro. In Canada, site sponsor CanadaRAM sells memory and other upgrades for this MacBook Pro. In Germany, site sponsor CompuRAM sells memory and other upgrades for this MacBook Pro. In Australia, site sponsor Macfixit sells memory and other upgrades for this MacBook Pro. Also see: Actual Max RAM of All G3 & Later Macs. |
| Details: | N/A |
| Details: | This model has an Intel HD Graphics 3000 graphics processor that shares memory with the system. Also see: What type of video processor is provided by the 'Unibody' MacBook Pro models? Is it upgradable? Which models have 'dedicated' and 'integrated' video memory? |
| Details: | Apple reports that 'memory available to Mac OS X may vary depending on graphics needs. Minimum graphics memory usage is 384 MB'. *If upgraded to 8 GB of RAM (or more), 512 MB will be reserved for video function. |
| Built-in Display: | 13.3' Widescreen | Native Resolution: | 1280x800 |
| Details: | 13.3' color widescreen LED-backlit TFT active-matrix 'glossy' display with a 1280 by 800 native resolution. Apple reports that this system also supports '1152 by 720, 1024 by 640, and 800 by 500 pixels at 16:10 aspect ratio; 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, and 640 by 480 pixels at 4:3 aspect ratio; 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, and 640 by 480 pixels at 4:3 aspect ratio stretched; 720 by 480 pixels at 3:2 aspect ratio; 720 by 480 pixels at 3:2 aspect ratio stretched.' In the UK, site sponsor ALB Repair offers component-level logic board repair, display repair, and other repair services for this MacBook Pro. No fix, no fee! In Germany, site sponsor Conodi provides high quality Mac and PC repair services as well as remote home office setup and troubleshooting. In-person and mail order repair services include the display, motherboard, water damage and more for this MacBook Pro. In Spain, site sponsor iRepairs provides affordable repair and data recovery services. In-person and by mail repair services include the display, battery, keyboard, motherboard, and more for this MacBook Pro. In Singapore, site sponsor Esmond Service Centre provides highly regarded repairs for the display, motherboard, battery, water damage issues, and more, all with a free estimate and fast turnaround for this MacBook Pro. |
| 2nd Display Support: | Dual/Mirroring | 2nd Max. Resolution: | 2560x1600 |
| Details: | The maximum resolution supported on an external display is 2560x1600. Also see: Are there any adapters or 'hacks' that make it possible to connect a second external display to a MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air model? |
| Standard Storage: | 500 GB HDD | Std. Storage Speed: | 5400 RPM |
| Details: | By custom configuration, this model could be equipped with a 750 GB Serial ATA hard drive for an additional US$100. It also could be configured with a 128 GB, 256 GB, or 512 GB SSD for an additional US$200, US$600, or US$1200, respectively. Also see: How do you upgrade the hard drive in the 'Early 2011' and 'Late 2011' 13-Inch, 15-Inch, and 17-Inch MacBook Pro models? What type of hard drive do these models support? Can one replace the hard drive with an SSD? In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells storage upgrades for this MacBook Pro. In the UK, site sponsor Flexx sells storage upgrades for this MacBook Pro. In Canada, site sponsor CanadaRAM sells SSDs and other upgrades for this MacBook Pro. In Australia, site sponsor Macfixit sells storage upgrades for this MacBook Pro. Also see: SSD Compatibility Guide for All G3 & Later Macs. |
| Storage Dimensions: | 2.5' (9.5 mm) | Storage Interface: | Serial ATA (6 Gb/s) |
| Details: | This model supports a single SATA III (6 Gb/s) 2.5' hard drive or SSD that is up to 9.5 mm thick. |
| Standard Optical: | 8X DL 'SuperDrive' | Standard Disk: | None |
| Details: | Apple reports that this slot-loading 'SuperDrive' (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) has a maxium write speed of '8x DVD-R, DVD+R; 4x DVD-R DL (double layer), DVD+R DL (double layer), DVD-RW, DVD+RW; 24x CD-R; 10x CD-RW' and a maximum read speed of '8x DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-ROM; 6x DVD-ROM (double layer DVD-9), DVD-R DL (double layer), DVD+R DL (double layer), DVD-RW, and DVD+RW; 24x CD'. Site sponsor Other World Computing offers a 'Data Doubler' mounting kit that may be of interest. It makes it simple to install a second hard drive or SSD in the optical drive bay of this MacBook Pro. |
| Standard Modem: | None | Standard Ethernet: | 10/100/1000Base-T |
| Standard AirPort: | 802.11a/b/g/n (450 Mbit*) | Standard Bluetooth: | 2.1+EDR |
| Details: | AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n) and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR standard. *This model unofficially supports 450 Mbit/sec 802.11n Wi-Fi using MIMO. Also see: What is 802.11n? How is it different from 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11a? |
| Details: | Two 480-Mbps USB 2.0 ports, one 800-Mbps Firewire '800' port. |
| Details: | This model has an SDXC card slot. No expansion bays are provided. In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells a wide variety of external expansion options and accessories, including docks, adapters, cables, input devices, cases, and more for this MacBook Pro. In Australia, site sponsor Macfixit offers an extensive selection of external expansion options and accessories like docks, stands, chargers, cases, security products, and more for this MacBook Pro. Also see: Are SD Card slot storage expansion options available for the 'Unibody' MacBook Pro models? Which are compatible? Is this type of storage a good idea for these models? |
| Incl. Keyboard: | Full-size | Incl. Input: | Trackpad (Inertial) |
| Details: | Apple reports that the backlit integrated keyboard has '78 (US) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys, 4 arrow keys (inverted 'T' arrangement).' The glass multi-touch trackpad supports 'inertial scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three-finger swipe, four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap, and drag capabilities'. |
| Details: | This MacBook Pro uses a black and silver 'unibody' case design milled from a single piece of aluminum with a 'catchless' magnetic latch. |
| Apple Order No: | MD313LL/A | Apple Subfamily: | Late 2011 13' |
| Details: | The Apple order number should be unique to this system. |
| Apple Model No: | A1278 (EMC 2555*) | Model ID: | MacBookPro8,1 |
| Details: | *Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model. In this case, please also note that the EMC number is not externally listed on the notebook so it cannot be used readily for identification. Also see: All Macs with the A1278 Model Number, the 2555* EMC Number, and the MacBookPro8,1 Model Identifier. For more about these identifiers and how to locate them on each Mac, please refer to EveryMac.com's Mac Identification section. |
| Details: | Apple reports that this model has a '63.5-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery' that provides 'up to 7 hours of wireless web' use. In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells quality batteries for this MacBook Pro. In the UK, site sponsor Flexx is a local distributor of OWC batteries for this MacBook Pro. In Australia, site sponsor Macfixit is a local distributor of OWC batteries for this MacBook Pro. |
| Pre-Installed MacOS: | X 10.7.2 (11C74) | Maximum MacOS: | X 10.13.x* |
| Details: | *This system fully supports the last version of OS X 10.8 'Mountain Lion' as well as OS X 10.9 'Mavericks' with the exception of the 'Power Nap' feature. It also supports the last version of OS X 10.10 'Yosemite' and OS X 10.11 'El Capitan' -- including Mac-to-Mac AirDrop and AirPlay Mirroring capability -- but other advanced features are not supported. It is capable of running macOS Sierra (10.12) as well, although it does not support the Universal Clipboard, Auto Unlock, or Apple Pay features. Finally, this model is capable of running macOS High Sierra (10.13), and it supports HEVC (High-Efficiency Video Coding), but it does not support hardware accelerated HEVC. It is not compatible with macOS Mojave (10.14) or later versions of the operating system. Also see: Which Macs are compatible with macOS High Sierra (10.13)? What are the system requirements? Which Macs support HEVC? |
| Minimum Windows: | 7 (32-Bit)* | Maximum Windows: | 8.1 (64-Bit)* |
| Details: | *Apple's Boot Camp 4 supports the 32-bit of Windows 7 on this model. Boot Camp 5 supports the 64-bit versions of Windows 7 and Windows 8. Earlier versions of Windows are not supported. Although Apple does not support Windows 10 via Boot Camp 5 (officially or otherwise), this system meets Microsoft's hardware requirements and it very well may be possible to boot Windows 10 on this Mac. If you have installed Windows 10 on this system (successfully or unsuccessfully), please share the results of your experiment. Thank you. |
| MacOS 9 Support: | None | Windows Support: | Boot/Virtualization |
| Details: | Also see: Are there any third-party programs to run Mac OS 9/Classic applications on Intel Macs? Site sponsor OHS specializes in heavily upgraded Macs capable of running both Mac OS X and Mac OS 9 applications. For more on running Windows on Intel Macs, please refer to the exhaustive Windows on Mac Q&A. |
| Dimensions: | 0.95 x 12.78 x 8.94 | Avg. Weight: | 4.5 lbs (2.04 kg) |
| Details: | In inches while closed - height by width by depth, (2.41 cm, 32.5 cm, 22.7 cm). |
| Original Price (US): | US$1199 | Est. Current Retail: | US$300-US$500 |
| Details: | Please note that on average the estimated current retail pricing of used systems is updated twice a year (please refer to the date on the bottom of the page for the date last updated). Photo Credit: Apple, Inc.. |
Click on a category for additional details. The most commonly needed info is 'open' by default, but all info is important. The icons correspond with the icons for each port on the computer.
| Video (Monitor): | 1 (Thunderbolt) | Floppy (Ext.): | None |
| Details: | This model is equipped with a Thunderbolt port in place of a Mini DisplayPort. It is backwards-compatible with Mini DisplayPort-equipped displays as well as adapters that are compatible with Mini DisplayPort (DVI, VGA, dual-link DVI and HDMI). It also can support other peripherals that use the Thunderbolt standard, which provides a maximum theoretical 10 Gbps of bandwidth in both directions. |
| Details: | N/A |
| Details: | N/A |
| Details: | Two 480-Mbps USB 2.0 ports, one 800-Mbps Firewire '800' port. |
| Details: | No internal modem. Gigabit Ethernet, AirPort Extreme (802.11g/n) and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR standard. |
| Details: | N/A |
| Details: | Internal omnidirectional microphone. Has a single 'audio in/out' port. |
| Details: | Has a single 'audio in/out' port. |
| Details: | N/A |
| Details: | 100V-240V AC, 60W 'MagSafe' power adapter. Also see: What is the 'Magsafe' power connector? How does it work? How was it designed to not cause data loss? |
Global original prices for the MacBook Pro 13-Inch 'Core i5' 2.4 Late 2011 in 34 different countries and territories follow; organized alphabetically by region.
For global original prices for Intel Macs in one particular country on a single page, please refer to EveryMac.com's Global Original Prices section.
Original Prices - North & South America
| Mexico: | MXN $17,999 | United States: | US$1199 |
Original Prices - Europe
| Denmark: | DKK 8,999 | Finland: | ¤1199 |
| Ireland: | ¤1199 | Italy: | ¤1149 |
| Norway: | NOK 9.990 | Portugal: | ¤1199 |
| Switzerland: | CHF 1'299 | United Kingdom: | £999 |
Original Prices - Asia
| India: | Rs 69,900 | Indonesia: | Rp 11,999,000 |
| Malaysia: | RM 3,699 | The Philippines: | PHP 61,990 |
| Thailand: | THB 39,900 | Vietnam: | VND 28,999,000 |
Original Prices - Australia & New Zealand
If you have additional original prices for this model, please get in touch. Thank you.
Ten of the most popular Q&As about the MacBook Pro 13-Inch models follow.
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Does this sound familiar to you? You were sitting in front of your Macbook Pro surfing the Internet or working on a project. All of a sudden, you saw the spinning beach ball.
One second, two seconds…finally you started to cry out: “Why is my Mac laptop so slow?”
Though Mac machines are generally considered to be faster than Windows PCs, it’s not uncommon for a Mac to start acting up with symptoms like taking forever to boot, freezing while opening an app, or mouse cursor becoming unresponsive, etc.
You are not alone!
As Apple advocates for more than a decade, we’ve probably encountered more performance issues than you. Fortunately, we were able to fix most of them, and today we still use our old MacBooks from time to time.
Here we are going to share the fixes we’ve discovered along the way, and you are going to learn:
- The four main reasons why a Mac can run slow.
- Solutions to fix your slow Macbook and make it fast again.
- Bonus tips to mitigate the risk of future slow-downs.
The tips below should also apply to other types of Macs such as iMac, MacBook Air, Mac Pro/Mini, etc. Use the Table of Contents below for better navigation.
Mojave Macbook Pro Mid 2010
Contents
- Why is My Macbook Pro so Slow?
- How to Fix a Slow Macbook Pro: The Manual Methods (4-6 hours)
- How to Fix a Slow Macbook Pro: The Quick Technique (5-10 minutes)
Why is My Macbook Pro so Slow?
Whether you own an old 2012 MacBook Pro, or a shiny new 16-inch 2020 Touch Bar MacBook Pro with Apple M1 Chip, over time it can run slowly. There could be so many causes, but in general, they all fall into the following four categories.
1. Personal Habits. If you keep your Mac running all the time, let too many apps join the fun on startup, or multitask with loads of heavy applications open — more often than not, your Mac will hang.
2. macOS System. A newer macOS usually performs better than an old one, but no system is perfect. You may experience firmware or permission issues that impede performance as well.
3. Software Issues. Apps, whether pre-installed or third-party ones downloaded elsewhere, can consume lots of system resources when used improperly, which eventually will slow down a Mac.
4. Outdated Hardware. Every piece of hardware has a lifespan; your Macbook is no exception. An outdated hard drive or lack of RAM can be the bottleneck of your machine.
These are just the high-level reasons. Check out this infographic that outlines 26 specific reasons why a Mac might run slowly. You may find what’s hanging up your machine.
Note: If your MacBook Pro is slow only after updating to the latest macOS version (i.e. macOS 11.0 Big Sur), the best fix would be restarting your machine several times since the new macOS needs time to re-index or update data saved in the disk drive. For example, Photos can take a while to update the entire picture library; Spotlight re-indexing tends to be time-consuming as well. Learn more from this post: Quick Fixes for a Slow Mac after macOS Big Sur Update
Moving on… The Solutions!
Now that you’ve learned the reasons behind a slow mac, what should you do to fix it? We break down the solutions into two categories:
- The Manual Methods: best for those who are tech-savvy and don’t mind taking the time to do so. We list a number of things you can do manually to fix your slow Mac.
- The Quick Technique: best for beginners or those of you who don’t have time to implement manual fixes. We recommend using CleanMyMac X to scan your Mac and fix all issues the app finds.
Note though, the solutions we suggest below only work when your Mac can boot up normally. If it cannot, or you hear strange sounds coming from the machine (particularly from the internal Mac hard drive), contact Apple support or schedule an appointment with a Genius Bar in your area.
How to Fix a Slow Macbook Pro: The Manual Methods (4-6 hours)
The methods introduced below are the best manual fixes we have explored. The order is based on a combination of estimated time required and expected effectiveness after implementation. They are, however, by no means the only solutions, and you don’t have to complete all the methods as it’s very unlikely you’ll be able to. Meanwhile, read this checklist on how to speed up Macbook Pro.
Method 1: Manage login items to tune startup times
- Time: 5-10 minutes
- Effectiveness: Low-Moderate
When to use: your MacBook Pro runs extremely slow on startup.
Why it helps: disabling login items (auto-run applications or services) you rarely use helps your Mac better allocate system resources to load the processes you do use, you’ll reach the login or desktop screen more quickly.
How to do: follow the steps in this YouTube video.
Method 2: Clear off cluttered Desktop items & Dashboard widgets
- Time: 20-30 minutes
- Effectiveness: Moderate
When to use: your Macbook Pro takes a bit longer to load the first screen after startup.
Why it helps: because macOS treats each desktop item (be it a file, a Dock application, or a Dashboard widget) as a small task, it uses resources to load it when starting up. Reducing the number of such items can make the first screen show up quicker.
How to do:
- Keep fewer files on Mac desktop. Try to group those files you saved directly on desktop, put them into few folders, and if possible move them folders like Documents or Pictures.
- Remove unnecessary apps from the Dock. Move your mouse cursor to an app, right-click, select Options and click Remove from Dock.
- Clear unused Dashboard widgets. Go to Dashboard, press option button and move your cursor the widget you don’t want to show, click “x” on the upper left corner.
Method 3: Clean up hard drive to free up more disk space
- Time: 1-2 hours
- Effectiveness: High
When to use: your Macbook Pro is running out of space, and it slows down or freezes more frequently.
Why it helps: macOS utilizes free hard disk space as “virtual memory” in addition to RAM (Random Access Memory). If your MacBook Pro is running out of storage, that means little virtual memory can be used by the system if needed. This may cause your Mac to freeze more frequently — even when you just launch a few apps. In general, having at least 10% of free disk space can often prevent the problem from happening.
How to do: try the tricks below.
Note: if you want to save time, CleanMyMac is a nice tool for this purpose. It automatically detects and cleans extra junks that can take up gigabytes of disk space.
- Empty Mac Trash bin.
- Clear web browser (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, etc.) files such as caches, history, plugins, etc.
- Uninstall unused applications.
- Remove unused language packs on your Mac.
- Go to the “Movies” and “Pictures” folders, delete large or duplicate items you’ve already backed up. You can use Gemini 2 to find them more quickly.
- Go to the “Download” folder and get rid of items you don’t need.
- Transfer big files or folders to your external hard drive or another computer.
- And other ways you can think of to lighten your Mac hard drive. Lastly, never underestimated the probability of a large unknown file, for once I had accidentally recorded 8 hours of screencasting video. I didn’t know it until I ran Space Lens from CleanMyMac where I got to zoom in folders after folders to detect the large files.
Method 4: Verify and repair disk permissions with Disk Utility
- Time: 15 minutes
- Effectiveness: Moderate
Update: beginning with OS X El Capitan (including macOS Sierra), it’s no longer necessary to verify or repair permissions as Apple has made system file permissions to be automatically protected.
When to use: your Macbook has issues launching some applications, and doing so slows down your Mac.
Why it helps: corrupted or damaged file permissions can cause certain applications to run abnormally or unable to run at all, thus affecting the overall Mac performance. Matt from CNET brought his sluggish Mac back to health using this method. Note: it’s harmless to repair file permissions.
How to do: check out this YouTube video for a step by step guide.
Method 5: Lighten web browsers to improve Internet surfing
- Time: 20 minutes
- Effectiveness: Low-Moderate
When to use: your web browser (Safari, Chrome, or Firefox, etc.) just seems stubborn to load pages or becomes unresponsive.
Why it helps: web browsers are notorious for dragging down computer performance after extended use. By implementing the things below, you can expect a much smoother net surfing experience.
How to do:
- Have fewer tabs open at once, especially when you read online magazine sites which tend to have heavy pages (ads, flash queries, etc.)
- Remove those browser extensions you rarely use — (Safari here, Chrome here, Firefox here).
- Clear browser cache, cookies, plug-ins, and history. This can also free up much hard disk space. See this guide for how.
- Get rid of Adware (flash ads), this article from the Boyce Blog is worth a glance.
- Safari tends to eat up more RAM as time goes by, but a simple quit and restart will help it get back to “normal.”
- Reinstall your web browser if necessary.
Method 6: Identify and knock out heavy apps/processes with Activity Monitor
- Time: 15 minutes
- Effectiveness: Moderate
When to use: your Macbook starts to run slower after opening several applications, but you have no idea which application is the culprit.
Why it helps: Activity Monitor is a task manager on Mac that shows you both running applications and inactive processes. The list allows you to have a clear understanding of which one is devouring too many system resources (CPU, memory, disk, network, etc). Once you find the culprit, you can also use Activity Monitor to quit or force quit the app/process easily.
How to do: see this video from MacWorld.
Method 7: Reset SMC and NVRAM to fix odd hardware errors
- Time: 30 minutes
- Effectiveness: Moderate-High
When to use: your Macbook Pro acts oddly (it takes forever to figure out which disk to boot from, it’s slow to shut down, the fan is running non-stop, screenshots are not adjusting correctly, battery indicator lights are behaving incorrectly, etc.), and overall your Mac performs poorly.
Why it helps: NVRAM (or PRAM in older Macs) stores certain settings in a location that macOS can access quickly. SMC has roles in controlling thermal and power management on Mac. Resetting NVRAM and SMC helps resolve the issues mentioned above, and it’s a safe thing to do.
How to do: check out this video for how to properly reset NVRAM and this video for SMC.
Method 8: Update your Macbook Pro to latest macOS version
- Time: 1-2 hours
- Effectiveness: Moderate
When to use: your Mac is still running an older macOS version (e.g. High Sierra or Mojave), and you meet the basic requirements of the new upgrade — latest macOS 11.0 Big Sur, you need at least 2 GB of RAM and 15 GB of free space on the drive.
Why it helps: a newer macOS version typically runs faster than an older one, though it depends on the model of your Mac machine.
How to do: there are a few things you need to check before getting ready to update your MacBook to macOS Big Sur. For example, check whether your model is compatible, whether you have enough storage space, and most importantly backup your data, etc.
Method 9: Disable fancy features in exchange for performance
- Time: 15 minutes
- Effectiveness: Low-Moderate
When to use: best for those who are using an older Mac with limited hardware configuration, and don’t particularly favor fancy interfaces and visual effects.
Why it helps: by disabling or turning off features like Notifications, Transparency, and Animations, Magnification, File Vault, etc., you can boost Mac performance since fewer system resources will be used.
How to do:
- Reduce Transparency and Animations.
- Minimize windows using and change the Genie Effect to Scale Effect.
- Optimize Notification center and turn off real-time notifications you don’t need.
- Disable Launchpad effects.
- Get rid of preference panes. Go to System Preferences, locate a pane you want to remove, right-click (or Control-click), then remove it from the pop-up menu. It may ask you to type the admin password.
- Disable FileVault Disk Encryption option.
Method 10: Upgrade hardware (RAM, SSD) to have a real boost
- Time: it depends (at least 2 hours)
- Effectiveness: High
When to use: you are using an old Macbook Pro, and you’ve tried every method you can to fix your slow Mac but it’s still slow.
Why it helps: adding more memory (RAM) or replacing your HDD (hard disk drive) with a new SSD (solid-state drive) will give your Mac a real boost in performance. The only con is the upgrades can be pricey.
How to do:
Note: whether you choose to upgrade RAM or SSD, you’ll need to open the bottom case of your MacBook, a screwdriver may worth adding to your shopping cart as it will help you remove the screws much faster.
Add extra RAM: depending on your MacBook model, the RAM that best fits may be different. Learn more from our review here. It’s best to also check out this page to see memory specifications for your Macbook Pro model. It comes with an illustrated guide on how to replace the memory. This video from is also worth checking out.
Upgrade to an SSD: If you still want to use your old MacBook Pro for professional work (video/graphic editing, 3D modeling, etc.), the best option is to replace the hard drive with a speedy SSD, see our picks here. Once you purchase your desired SSD, watch this video for how to install it step by step.
How to Fix a Slow Macbook Pro: The Quick Technique (5-10 minutes)
The manual methods can be quite time-consuming to implement and may require you to have a certain level of technical skills. Fortunately, we’ve got two awesome Mac optimization apps that can save you time fixing your slow Mac.
Option 1: Using CleanMyMac X to scan & clean up your MacBook Pro
CleanMyMac X – an app developed by MacPaw and rated as the winner in this Mac cleaner software review. As its name indicates, this app aims to help you clean your Mac and free up more storage space. It does this by locating junk and unnecessary files via analyzing your macOS system: Photos, Mail attachments, large and old files, etc. In addition, you can use the app to batch uninstall unwanted programs, and permanently erase files that are private to you. CleanMyMac is super sleek and intuitive, just hit Scan to get started and then Clean to fix issues.
Option 2: Using MacBooster to improve your Mac’s overall performance
MacBooster – an app developed by the IObit team. This app stands out for its all-in-one concept. It includes a handful of useful utilities that can monitor the overall status of your Mac system. The Virus & Malware Scan module, for example, helps identify possible security threats and removes malware. To get started, simply run a quick System Status scan and it will find and suggest fixes. You can also move on to the Tools sections for further optimization.
Mojave Macbook Pro 2011
Tips to Avoid Mac Running Slow
- Shut down your Mac when you are away. Restart regularly.
- Do not save everything to the desktop or the main drive (where your system files are stored). A full boot volume can lead to a slow startup and other performance issues.
- Try not to install third-party apps that you don’t need. They can take a lot of precious disk space as well as system resources while running. Also, outdated apps can have problems running due to macOS incompatibility. Learn how to uninstall Mac apps the right way.
- Use a lightweight browser like Safari or Chrome, Firefox tends to slow down over time (Safari or Chrome acts up too, sometimes). Avoid opening too many tabs at once while you are browsing the web, try not to install too many extensions/plugins.
- Clean up the hard drive (especially when the startup disk is almost full) on a regular basis, e.g. once a month. You can do this manually, or use a tool (like the ones we recommend above).
- Always keep your software up-to-date if possible, ideally, you should always install apps from App Store or the software provider’s official website, instead of third-party download sites which may bundle Adware or malware.
- If you regularly use your MacBook Pro for work at an office, consider elevating it with a laptop stand or a cooling pad as this helps avoid overheating issues.
- Don’t immediately update your Mac to the latest macOS version (to date, it is macOS 11.0 Big Sur). Let the early birds test out first, then choose to update when you feel it’s the right time.
- Don’t blame your Mac when it’s slow. Figure out the reason first and fix it right away. You never know when a small issue can evolve into a serious one.
Any Questions?
Do you find the information and techniques we’ve shared above helpful? Did you manage to tune up your MacBook even a little bit? We’d like to hear from you, contact us and let us know.
Fair disclosure: we are just normal loyal Mac fans like you. We don’t claim ourselves to be Mac experts, nor have we ever worked for Apple. All the information shared here is merely a walk-through of the knowledge and experience we’ve used to resolve our own Macbook Pro performance issues. Due to the complexities of the subject matter, your results may vary. Also, some of the recommendations contain third-party affiliate links. If you decide to purchase one of them, we will receive a commission for the sale, part (if not all) of the earnings will be used to maintain this site, for example, paying for the domain and hosting services. Nonetheless, we recommend them because we use the tools with our Mac machines and find them truly great. Make sure you only use what works for your issue, and don’t over-spend on things you don’t need.
This page was last updated on Mar. 24, 2021.