Is Your MacBook Pro Slow at Startup? 9 Quick Fixes Here

All MacBook Pros with retina displays are furnished with an SSD or Solid-State Drive. And according to a test performed by Zollotech, Macs with SSD are faster than those with HDD. It only took about 22 seconds to fully startup.

However, if you have been using your MacBook Pro for quite some time, you might notice that your MacBook Pro starts to become so slow. At times, you might experience it too slowly at startup.

We have collected 9 quick fixes that could help you resolve why your MacBook Pro slow startup.

Part #1: 9 Quick Fixes to Boost MacBook Pro SpeedSummary

Part #1: 9 Quick Fixes to Boost MacBook Pro Speed

No one likes a slow laptop, especially if you have been using it for work. But with all the apps, files, and other data that we put in, its overall performance might be affected.

Apparently, we can manage how we use the files and apps on a MacBook Pro, and certainly, you can find ways to boost its speed at startup.

Check out these tips below:

Tip #1: Remove Unnecessary Login Items

Like a car, your MacBook Pro slows down at startup when it has tons of baggage to carry. It takes longer to fully boot up if it contains lots of login items including auto-launch agents.

Here’s how you can remove these unnecessary login items:

1. Click the Apple logo.
2. Select System Preferences.
3. Find Users & Groups.
4. Click the Login Items tab next to the Password.

Here you will see a list of apps that run when you power on your MacBook Pro. Inspect the apps and find those you don’t need anymore. Select the checkbox under the Hide column, then click the minus icon.

Tip #2: Update macOS

Using an older Mac version cause latency and sluggishness. If you haven’t updated it in a while, you must consider updating it now to avoid experiencing a slower startup.

The soundest method to keep your Mac in the best condition is to update it whenever there is an update available. This is to ensure that your macOS is compatible with all your apps and will not cause any performance issues.

Using the latest macOS can also fix system bugs. However, before updating your Mac, make sure that you take backups of your data to avoid data loss.

1. Click the Apple menu.
2. Go to System Preferences.
3. Select Software Update.
4. Click Upgrade Now or Update Now. Follow the onscreen guide to complete the update.

After you have updated to the latest version, check to see if your MacBook Pro slow startup.

Tip #3. Use A Different User Account

To further test if the issue of your MacBook Pro that is slow at startup is isolated, try to log in with a different user account. If you don’t have another user account on your MacBook, try creating a new one to test.

1. Click the Apple menu and select System Preferences.
2. Select Users & Groups.
3. Under the list of Users, click the Add button.
4. Click the New Account pop-up menu.
5. Select a type of user and create a username and password.
6. Finally, click Create User.

If the new user account boots up faster than yours, then the issue is solely on your account and troubleshooting will be focused there.

Tip #4: Turn Off FileVault

FileVault is used to encrypt your startup disk’s contents. If this feature is turned on and set up, you will notice that it slows down any operations involving reading and writing from and to that disk, and that includes the startup.

Unless there is an extreme need for encryption like sharing a device with another user, you can turn off FileVault to boost the startup speed.

1. Go to System Preferences from the Apple menu.
2. Choose Security and Privacy.
3. Go to the FileVault tab.
4. Find and click the padlock icon and enter the admin username and password.
5. Turn off FileVault.

Test to see if the problem is resolved.

Tip #5: Disconnect Unused Peripherals

Are you fond of hooking up a lot of accessories to your MacBook Pro? It might not be a great idea since it can affect the way your device is starting up. Your MacBook Pro needs to detect various types of peripherals simultaneously when booting.

Remove any unused or barely used peripherals like your iPhone charger, camera, printer, external hard drives, etc.

Tip #6: Boot Your Mac in Safe Mode

If you are doubting that something is going on, with the performance of your MacBook Pro slow startup, then you can consider booting it in Safe mode.

A Safe Mode is also known as a Diagnostic Mode. In a safe mode environment, only the basic startup files and required kernel extensions are loaded and running. It also clears up any temporary files to speed up your Mac.

Follow this guide to boot your device in Safe Mode:

Intel-based Macs:

1. Power Off your device.
2. Turn on MacBook and quickly press down the Shift key.
3. Release the key when the login window appears.

Apple M1 Mac:

1. Power off.
2. Press and hold the power button until the startup options and the Options gear icon appear.
3. Choose a startup disk.
4. Hold down the Shift key and click Continue in Safe Mode.
5. Release the Shift key when in Safe Mode.
6. Click the Apple logo.
7. Restart the device.

Check to see if your MacBook Pro is speeding up.

Tip #7: Reset NVRAM/PRAM

NVRAM or Non-Volatile Random Access Memory stores all the OS-related settings to speed up your device during startup.

However, if there is an ongoing issue or error in NVRAM, you will notice that your device slows down and it doesn’t work normally.

Good thing you can reset NVRAM to refresh the system settings. If you own an M1 Mac, you don't need to reset NVRA. It has an auto-reset function once it detects your Mac slowing down.

Older Macs can do these:

1. Turn Off MacBook Pro.
2. Hold the Power button to reboot your Mac while pressing down the Option + Command + P + R keys for like 15 seconds.
3. Once you hear the second startup sound, release the keys.

T2-based Macs don’t have startup sound but you will see the Apple logo popping in and out twice.

Tip #8: Uninstall Third-party Suspicious Software

Did you notice your device slowing down only after installing a new program? If the software you have just installed is suspicious, you may uninstall it to avoid malware infection and other possible issues it can bring including startup latency.

Keep your app downloads within the AppStore to make sure that you are using verified apps only.

Tip #9: Free Up Disk Space

Your MacBook Pro slow startup is due to an overloaded disk space. Every app you access leaves a cache and this cache is saved and accumulated over time.

Apart from these junk items, you may have also downloaded large files and unnecessary apps that have been hiding inside your disk.

You can free up your disk by cleaning it from these files.

1. Click the Apple icon.
2. Go to About This Mac.
3. Select the Storage tab.
4. Click the Manage option.
5. Delete unneeded files like applications, photos, documents, and other data.

However, doing it manually can take a while and you might overlook other folders too. Use TechyCub Mac Cleaner instead for a more efficient disk cleaning. This software comes with several cleanup features that will sweep all the useless data off your disk.

Mac Cleaner Scan your Mac quickly and clean junk files easily. Check the primary status of your Mac including the disk usage, CPU status, memory usage, etc. Speed up your Mac with simple clicks. Free Download

1. Install Mac Cleaner on your MacBook Pro.
2. Click Scan once you have launched the software.
3. Review the scan results and select useless items.
4. Click Clean and wait.

You may also explore other features like Junk Cleaner, Duplicate Finder, App Uninstaller, and more. Mac Cleaner is your smart move when it comes to speeding up your MacBook Pro.

People Also Read How to Upgrade SSD on MacBook Pro or Mac How to Figure out MacBook Pro Black Screen

Summary

A MacBook Pro slow startup can be annoying and also alarming since it can be a sign of a technical problem. Fortunately, you can resolve it quickly using these 9 tips that we have gathered.

Managing all the apps and data that you store inside your MacBook Pro is important because it affects its overall performance. If you have tons of clutters inside, then you can surely expect that your device will boot up poorly.

Use a Mac Cleaner to assist you in optimizing your device efficiently and conveniently.