How to Clean Up and Optimize Your Mac

Introduction

I used to be a Windows user, and one thing I always did was clean up my computer every few months. When I switched to Mac, I wasn’t sure if I needed to do the same—but after a while, I noticed my Mac slowing down, apps taking longer to open, and storage filling up. A quick cleanup made a huge difference, and now I make it a habit.

If your Mac has been feeling sluggish, chances are it’s packed with old files, unused apps, and background processes that are slowing it down. The good news is that a little maintenance can help speed things up and free up space. In this guide, I’ll walk you through simple steps to clean up and optimize your Mac so it runs like new again.

1. Remove Unused Apps

Over time, we all download apps that we think we’ll use but end up forgetting about. These apps take up storage and can slow down your Mac, especially if they run in the background. Cleaning them out is a quick way to free up space and improve performance.

How to Remove Apps:

1. Open Finder and go to the Applications folder.
2. Scroll through the list and find apps you don’t use.
3. Drag them to the Trash or right-click and select Move to Trash.
4. Empty the Trash to completely remove them from your Mac.

For Apps from the App Store:

Some apps are installed through the App Store and need to be deleted differently.

1. Open Launchpad (click the rocket icon in the Dock).
2. Press and hold an app until it starts shaking.
3. Click the X in the corner to delete it.

If you're unsure about deleting an app, check when you last used it. If it’s been months, you probably don’t need it. Keeping only the apps you actually use will help your Mac stay clean and run faster.

2. Clear Out Large and Old Files

Files pile up fast, and before you know it, your storage is nearly full. Large files, like videos, downloads, and old documents, take up the most space. Clearing them out can free up storage and help your Mac run better.

How to Check Your Storage:

1. Click the Apple Menu in the top-left corner.
2. Select About This Mac, then go to the Storage tab.
3. Wait for your Mac to analyze your storage.

This will show you what’s using the most space, like apps, documents, or system files.

How to Delete Large and Unneeded Files:

1. Open Finder and go to Downloads—this folder often has old files you don’t need.
2. Click View > Sort By > Size to find the largest files.
3. Delete anything you no longer use and empty the Trash to free up space.

Move Important Files Elsewhere:

If you have large files you want to keep but don’t use often, move them to an external hard drive or cloud storage (like iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox). This will free up space on your Mac while keeping your files safe.

Checking your storage and clearing out large files every few months will help keep your Mac from getting too full and slow.

3. Clean Up Your Desktop

A cluttered desktop isn’t just messy—it can also slow down your Mac. Every icon on your desktop uses system resources, especially if you have a lot of files scattered around. Cleaning it up can make your Mac run smoother and help you find things more easily.

Organize Your Files into Folders:

1. Look through your desktop and delete files you don’t need.
2. Move important files into folders inside Documents or another location.
3. Keep only the files you use daily on the desktop.

Use Stacks to Keep Things Tidy:

If you have a lot of files on your desktop, Stacks can help organize them automatically.

1. Right-click on the desktop.
2. Select Use Stacks from the menu.
3. Your files will be grouped by type, making everything easier to find.

A clean desktop makes your Mac run better and helps you stay organized. Try to sort through your files regularly to keep things neat.

4. Clear Browser Cache and Extensions

If your web browser feels slow or unresponsive, cached data and too many extensions could be the problem. Over time, your browser stores files from websites to load pages faster, but too much stored data can slow things down. Cleaning it out can improve speed and performance.

How to Clear Cache and History:

1. Safari: Open Safari, click Safari > Settings > Privacy, then select Manage Website Data and remove stored files. You can also clear history under the History tab.
2. Chrome: Open Chrome, click the three dots in the top right, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data, and select Cached images and files.
3. Firefox: Open Firefox, click the menu button, go to Settings > Privacy & Security, then scroll to Cookies and Site Data and click Clear Data.

Remove Unused Extensions:

1. Open your browser’s Settings or Extensions menu.
2. Look through the list of installed extensions.
3. Remove any that you don’t use or recognize.

Extensions can be useful, but having too many can slow down your browser. Keeping only the ones you need will help your Mac run faster while browsing.

5. Empty Trash and Clear System Junk

When you delete files, they don’t disappear right away—they stay in the Trash, still taking up space. If you don’t empty the Trash regularly, these files can add up and slow down your Mac.

How to Empty the Trash:

1. Open Finder and click on Trash in the sidebar.
2. Review the files inside to make sure you don’t need anything.
3. Click Empty in the top-right corner to permanently delete them.

Remove System Junk with Storage Manager:

Your Mac also collects temporary files, logs, and other system junk over time. You can clear these out using built-in tools.

1. Click the Apple Menu and select About This Mac.
2. Go to the Storage tab and click Manage.
3. Look for options to remove unnecessary files, such as System Data or Temporary Files.

Regularly emptying the Trash and clearing system junk will help free up space and keep your Mac running smoothly.

6. Keep Your Mac Updated

Regular updates help your Mac run smoothly by fixing bugs, improving performance, and keeping your system secure. Many updates also include small tweaks that make apps run better and prevent slowdowns over time. Skipping updates can lead to issues, so it’s important to check for them regularly.

How to Check for Updates:

1. Click the Apple Menu in the top-left corner.
2. Select System Settings, then go to General > Software Update.
3. If an update is available, click Install Now and follow the instructions.

Turn On Automatic Updates:

To make sure you never miss an important update, you can enable automatic updates:

1. In the Software Update menu, look for Automatic Updates.
2. Turn it on so your Mac downloads and installs updates without you having to check manually.

Keeping your Mac updated doesn’t just improve speed—it also helps protect your system from security risks. Make it a habit to check for updates often to keep everything running at its best.

7. Restart Your Mac Regularly

Many people leave their Mac on for days or even weeks without restarting. While Macs are built to handle long usage periods, restarting now and then helps clear out temporary files and refresh system memory. This can improve speed and fix small glitches that build up over time.

Why Restarting Helps:

• Closes apps running in the background.
• Clears system memory (RAM) for better performance.
• Installs updates that require a restart to take effect.

How Often Should You Restart?

A good rule is to restart your Mac at least once a week. If you notice apps freezing or your Mac slowing down, restarting can often fix the issue in just a few minutes.

To restart, click the Apple Menu and select Restart. Make sure to save any work before doing so. Keeping up with regular restarts is a simple habit that helps your Mac run smoothly.

8. Use a Cleaning Tool (Optional)

If you prefer an easier way to clean up your Mac, you can use a trusted cleaning tool. These apps can help remove junk files, clear caches, and free up space without you having to do everything manually. Unlike paid cleaners that often come with ads or unnecessary features, these open-source options are lightweight, free, and do exactly what you need.

Here are two free and open-source options:

• Clean-Me – A simple and effective tool designed to remove unnecessary files, such as system logs, cache files, and old application data. It gives you full control over what gets deleted, so you don’t accidentally remove important files. It’s lightweight, easy to use, and does a great job of freeing up disk space without harming system performance. You can download it here.
• PearCleaner – This tool works similarly but focuses on cleaning up temporary system files, unneeded language files, and old logs. It helps keep your Mac organized by removing clutter that can build up over time. It’s a great option if you want a simple, no-frills cleaner that does its job without taking up extra resources. You can download it here.

While cleaning tools can be useful, always double-check what’s being deleted before confirming. It’s a good habit to review the files to ensure nothing important is removed.

Conclusion

Keeping your Mac clean and optimized doesn’t have to be complicated. By removing unused apps, clearing out large files, organizing your desktop, and keeping your system updated, you can improve speed and performance. Small habits, like restarting your Mac regularly and emptying the Trash, also make a big difference.

If you prefer a faster way to clean up your Mac, open-source tools like Clean-Me and PearCleaner can help automate the process. Just be sure to review files before deleting anything.

A little maintenance now and then keeps your Mac running smoothly. Try these steps, and you’ll notice the difference!