macOS Monterey is running slow: fixes & solutions

If you’ve just upgraded your macOS only to discover that Monterey is slow, you'll need some quick troubleshooting tips to get your Mac back up to speed.  

We've put together the best fixes to resolve the Monterey slow performance issue. We'll also add some bonus tips on what to do if macOS Monterey is freezin. Let's take a closer look.

What's new with macOS Monterey?

Mac fans worldwide have been waiting for Monterey since it was announced earlier in June at the Worldwide Developers Conference 2021. Let's look at some of the eagerly anticipated new features;

• Major FaceTime upgrades, including Share play and spatial audio

• Complete Safari revamp

• New Shortcuts app

• Privacy upgrades and enhancements

• Universal control

• Focus modes

• Live Text

There are some significant new enhancements on this latest update, but many fans are frustrated that Monterey is slower than Big Sur.

Why is Monterey so slow?

If you're wondering why Monterey is slow, like most new releases, they come with imperfections, and unfortunately, the new macOS Monterey is no exception; thankfully, we've got an abundance of tips to get your Mac purring like new.

Is your Mac compatible with macOS Monterey?

As with most new macOS releases, minimum hardware requirements are needed for it to work correctly.

Before we go diving into solutions, check that your Mac is compatible first.

As a general rule, Macs released before 2012 are not compatible with the macOS Monterey. 

Devices that support macOS Monterey

• iMac - late 2012 onwards

• Mac Mini - late 2012 onwards

• MacBook Air - Mid 2012 onwards

• MacBook Pro - Mid 2012 onwards

• Mac Pro - Late 2013

• MacBook - Early 2015 onwards

• iMac Pro - 2017 or onwards

If your Mac is not in one of the categories above, that is likely graphics processing power can't support macOS Monterey. 

Monterey slow performance solutions

1. Check your disk space

Let's start here because if you haven't got enough free disk space to handle macOS Monterey, then you, of course, will encounter many issues, including freezing and stalling. Here's how to check your disk space:

1. Select the Apple menu icon > About This Mac > Storage.

2. Here you'll see how much available space you have.

If you're good with space, then skip to the next step, but if capacity is your issue, try these tips to free up space and speed up your Mac. 

1. Check your Downloads folder and delete old and forgotten files.

2. Empty your Trash.

3. Remove videos and images to cloud storage or external storage.

Manage storage with Apple

From the Storage tab we previously had open when we checked disk space, you can optimize your storage using Apple's built-in tool to select the Manage button. 

Check out Apple's recommendations and follow the on-screen instructions. This won't solve all your storage problems, but it is a good start.

Manage disk space the smart way

If you want to reclaim a lot of free space, you need to spend some time removing system junk, cache, temporary and broken files. If, like me, you don't have the time to waste on hunting through your Mac, I can highly recommend CleanMyMac; its Cleanup feature can remove gigabytes of the unwanted junk in just a matter of clicks. Here's how you can save time and clear up your Mac:

1. Open the app — get your free trial here.

2. Select Cleanup from the sidebar and press Scan.

3. Once complete, press Clean.

Say goodbye to all your system junk and hello to free space! 

2. Disable your auto startup items

Another reason for Monterey slow performance could be your startup items. 

These programs automatically start whenever your Mac is turned on; they can cause your Mac to slow down as they use background resources. Here's how to disable them:

1. Select the Apple Menu > System Preferences > Users & Groups.

2. Select your username and then login items.

3. Press the lock icon and enter your admin password to make changes.

4. Click any items from the list and press the "_" button to remove them.

Talking of background apps, move on to the next step.

3. Manage app background activity

Many apps run silently or unknowingly in the background; of course, they can drain resources and cause your Mac to slow down. If you've noticed that Monterey is slower than Big Sur, it's worth checking your background activity, here's how:

1. Open a new Finder window > Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor.

2. Select the CPU tab at the top.

3. Sort by % CPU to see what applications are hogging resources.

4. To kill an application, select it and press the “X” button at the top.

4. Reset PRAM or NVRAM

Depending on which Mac model you have, a quick reset of your PRAM or NVRAM can often solve many Mac issues, including speed problems.

PRAM - Parameter Random Access Memory holds information about your Mac control settings; newer Macs no longer use PRAM. Instead, they use NVRAM - Non-volatile Random Access Memory, which controls your startup disk, time zone, kernel panics, and volume settings.

The method to reset is the same for both PRAM or NVRAM; here's how:

1. Shut your computer down, wait for a moment and turn it back on.

2. Hold down the Option-Command-P-R keys.

3. For Intel-based Macs, release keys after you hear the startup sound.

4. For Apple Silicon, hold the keys until the Apple logo appears for the second time. 

Simple! 

5. Reset SMC

Resetting your SMC - System Management Controller could increase speed after the macOS Monterey Update.

The SMC looks after things like battery management, thermal management, keyboard lighting, and more. Here's how to do a quick reset:

1. Shut your Mac down.

2. Hold the left-side Control-Option keys with the right-side Shift.

3. After 7 seconds, add the power button.

4. Wait another 7 seconds and release the keys. 

5. Press the power button once again to turn on your Mac as usual.

And you've completed an SMC reset.

6. Adjust the UI Experience

macOS Monterey comes with an improved user interface and more customizable settings. Some effects like motion and transparency can negatively affect your Mac's resources. If the UI is using too many resources, this can cause macOS Monterey to slow. Here's how to adjust motion and transparency:

1. Select the Apple Menu > System Preferences > Accessibility.

2. Select Display, check the boxes next to Reduce transparency and Reduce motion.

7. Check your Wi-Fi Connection

It sounds like another obvious one, but are you experiencing the slowness when you're using your browser? This could be a Wi-Fi issue rather than a macOS Montetry issue. 

Check if your internet connection is stable. 

8. Close down tabs and windows

If your browser has a million tabs or windows open, this will also cause issues for your Mac; take a quick look now, and close what you're not using for a quick performance boost. 

9. Run maintenance scripts

If the Monterey slow problem is still not fixed, try running maintenance scripts to improve overall performance and remove broken and temporary files. 

You could do this using Terminal, but I personally like to use the app I mentioned previously, CleanMyMac. They have a dedicated Performance feature, which does all the hard work for you. Here's how:

1. Open the app and select Performance from the sidebar.

2. Press Scan > View All Tasks.

3. Select Run Periodic Scripts and click Run.

It's really that easy. While I'm talking about improving performance, you should also try check login and background items using the same feature. 

10. Do a clean install of macOS Monterey

A clean install is worth a shot if nothing else seems to help at this point. This will simply convert your Mac back to factory settings while removing all customizations, user accounts, preferences, third-party apps, personal files, and data. 

So you will need first to do a backup of all your data before you try this option.

macOS Monterey freezing solutions

1. Restart your Mac

It is painfully apparent, but it needs to be top of the list; a simple restart can do wonders for your Mac and solve multiple issues like macOS Monterey freezing up or stalling. So before we get into anything else, give your machine a quick restart. 

Select the Apple Menu > Restart. Also, follow the steps above to reset NVRAM and SMC.

2. Disconnect from all connected devices

If the restart didn't work, the next step is to disconnect all devices, so think headphones, mouse, keyboards, speakers, and external drives. Remove them all safely and test your Mac to see if it still freezes. Reconnect devices one-by-one. This can often solve macOS Monterey freezing issues.

3. Check for malware

If a restart, resetting NVRAM and SMC, and disconnecting devices don't help, it's worth running a check for viruses or malware. Issues with Mac slowness and freezing, after all, is a common symptom. 

It's the dreaded subject no Mac owner wants to deal with, malware gets more sophisticated by the day, so it's worth checking that nothing malicious is at play.

I use CleanMyMac to manage my Mac protection and security; they have a dedicated Protection feature that not only locates and removes malware but offers real-time protection.

It's easy to use, and Apple notarizes it, so for those nervous about using third-party cleaner tools, rest assured this is safe and verified. Here's how you can check for malware in just a few clicks:

1. Open the app.

2. Select Protection and press Scan.

3. Wait for the scan to finish. If malware is found, follow the on-screen instructions to remove it.

If you're malware-free, move on to the next step.

4. Run Apple Diagnostics 

If, after trying all of the above, macOS Monterey freezing persists, it's time to run Apple Diagnostics (formally Apple Hardware Test); here's how:

Prepare for diagnostics

1. Shut your Mac down.

2. Disconnect from all external devices and make sure your Mac is connected to power. 

3. Make sure your Mac is on a flat surface with good ventilation.

Apple silicon

1. Turn your Mac on, pressing and holding the power button as your Mac starts.

2. When the startup options window appears, release.

3. Press Command-D.

Intel processor

1. Turn your Mac on, immediately pressing and holding the D key.

2. When you see a progress bar or are asked to choose a language, release.

When the test is complete, you will see the results, including reference codes; you can find out exactly what they all mean here.

Then, you can choose the following:

• Repeat the test - press Command-R.

• Restart your Mac - press R.

• Shut down your Mac - press S. 

If Apple Diagnostics doesn't find anything, keep on reading.

5. Launch your Mac in safe mode 

Launching in safe mode is another excellent way of fixing annoying issues, but it also confirms the integrity of your startup disk and stops specific processes from running.

To check if macOS Monterey freezing still happens in Safe mode:

1. Select the Apple menu > Shut Down.

2. Wait 10 seconds, then restart your Mac, immediately press and hold the Shift key.

3. When you see the login window, release.

To leave safe mode, simply restart your Mac without holding any keys during startup. 

If you've tried everything in the list, but macOS Monterey is slow, you might need to hang in there for the next Monterey update or contact Apple support if you think your hardware is damaged.