Keith Thomas provides on-site Apple Help for home users and small businesses across London and the South East UK. Telephone: 07800 940756. Open 09:30 am – 20:30 pm, 7 Days a Week. Established 2010.
Why Has My Apple Mac Computer Become Slow?
Most Apple Mac computers become slow because the internal storage volume is no longer able to read and write data quickly enough for modern versions of macOS. When the internal storage becomes slow, macOS cannot index Mail, Photos, iCloud Drive, Spotlight or system files efficiently, and the entire computer becomes slow or very slow.
Older Intel‑based Apple Mac computers are most affected, especially iMac models with older hard drives or Fusion Drives. Modern Apple Silicon computers use fast SSD and flash storage, which is why an iPhone or iPad often feels faster than an older iMac or MacBook.
Is you Apple Mac computer slow after a macOS system software update?
If you have just updated the macOS operating system software on your Apple Mac computer, even after the macOS system software has been updated, then in the background macOS has to compete a few more tasks like Spotlight Indexing, Apple Mac Mail database optimisation, Apple Photos for Mac database update, and many other tasks that need to run. You won’t notice this so much if you are updating an Apple Mac computer to macOS Golden Gate, however, some software application like Apple Mac computer security software tools can make the performance even more slow. See MacOS Storage is Full if macOS seems to be slow or very slow. See macOS Golden Gate Help.
Why Read and Write Performance Makes a Mac Slow
macOS depends on fast read and write performance for Mail indexing, Photos library indexing, iCloud Drive syncing, Spotlight indexing, app launching, system updates and background tasks. If the internal storage is slow, macOS cannot complete these tasks quickly, and the computer becomes slow, unresponsive or stuck.
Keith Thomas provides on‑site Apple Mac computer help across London to diagnose whether slow performance is caused by macOS software, storage performance, iCloud syncing, Mail indexing, Photos indexing, browser extensions or background apps.
Simple Free Checks if Your Apple Mac Computer Has Suddenly Become Slow
If an Apple Mac computer has suddenly become slow or very slow, a few simple checks can help you understand what macOS is trying to do in the background. These checks do not fix hardware issues, but they can show whether the slowdown is caused by macOS software, indexing or iCloud syncing.
- Restart the Mac to clear background tasks.
- Close unused apps to reduce memory pressure.
- Check available storage space in System Settings.
- Check if Mail is indexing a large number of messages.
- Check if Photos is indexing or syncing a large library.
- Check if iCloud Drive is syncing a large amount of data.
- Check for browser extensions that may slow down Safari or Chrome.
If the Mac shows a spinning wheel or “beachball” frequently, see the Mac Spinning Wheel page for more information. Frequent spinning wheels usually indicate slow internal storage or macOS indexing delays.
Slow iMac (2019 or Older)
If an iMac 2019 or older has become slow, the cause is often ageing Intel hardware or older drives that no longer meet modern macOS requirements. In many cases, the most practical and cost‑effective action is to replace the computer rather than attempt temporary software fixes.
Keith Thomas provides guidance on whether an older iMac can be improved or whether a new Apple Mac computer is the better long‑term solution.
Slow MacBook Air or MacBook Pro
Slow performance on MacBook Air or MacBook Pro models is usually caused by software rather than hardware. Keith Thomas provides on‑site Apple Mac computer help in London, including macOS performance checks, storage review, iCloud Drive and Photos syncing issues, Mail indexing problems, browser extensions, background apps and Wi‑Fi checks.
When a New Apple Mac Computer Is the Right Choice
If an existing Apple Mac computer is too old or too slow to run modern macOS versions effectively, Keith Thomas provides advice on choosing a new Apple Mac computer. This includes guidance on model selection, storage and memory options, Apple Silicon benefits, migration from the old Mac and what to expect during setup.
Many people select too little storage when buying a new Apple Mac computer, which causes slow performance later. Keith Thomas provides guidance on choosing the correct storage and memory options for long‑term macOS performance.
New Apple Mac Computer Setup and Installation in London
When a new Apple Mac computer is purchased, Keith Thomas provides on‑site installation and setup across London. This includes macOS setup, Apple ID and iCloud configuration, Mail, Photos and Calendar setup, Wi‑Fi and home network integration, Migration Assistant, app installation and updates.
On‑Site Apple Mac Computer Help Across London
Keith Thomas provides in‑person Apple Mac computer help across London, visiting homes and offices within the service area. Appointments are arranged directly with clients, seven days a week.
Pricing for On‑Site Apple Help
On‑site Apple Help is charged at £135.00 for the first hour and £95.00 for each further additional hour. VAT is not added or charged.
There are No Hardware Repairs and No Call‑out fees.
All on‑site visits are paid on-site by bank transfer or contactless card to cover travel and the first hour of service.
A No Fix, No Charge service is not available.
Pricing for Independent Apple Telephone Help
Apple Telephone Help is charged at £1.35 per minute, with no minimum charge and paid via bank transfer.
On-site Apple Mac Computer Support and Help – On‑site Apple Mac Computer Appointments – Apple Mac Computer Installation Service – On-Site Apple Mac Computer Training – On-Site Apple iCloud Support and Training – Apple Mac Computer Data Backup and Time Machine Support – Independent Apple Telephone Help for Apple Mac computers, iPhones, iPads and Apple iCloud issues.
Contact: Keith Thomas by Telephone: 07800 940756 or by Text Message to: 07800 940756, or simply complete an online website contact form 24/7
Apple Disclaimer
Keith Thomas is an independent Apple Mac computer software support specialist. Keith Thomas is not affiliated with Apple Inc. Services are provided for software support only and does not include hardware repairs or Apple‑authorised servicing.