Have you noticed your Mac slowing down lately? With so many apps running simultaneously, it’s easy for your Mac to become sluggish and unresponsive. But before you panic and start shopping for a new computer, there are a few tricks you can try to speed up your Mac using Terminal commands. In this article, we’ll cover the top three tips to help you speed up your Mac and improve its overall performance.
Detailed Discussion on 3 Tips Using Terminal Commands to Speed Up Your Mac
1. Cleaning Up Your Mac’s Hard Drive
One of the most common reasons why a Mac slows down is due to a cluttered hard drive. The more files, photos, and apps you have on your Mac, the slower it will run. Fortunately, you can use several Terminal commands to clean up your Mac’s hard drive, freeing up valuable disk space and improving its performance.
These Terminal commands include:
sudo find / -name "*.DS_Store" -delete
: This command deletes all .DS_Store files on your Mac, which can take up a lot of space over time.sudo find / -name "*._*" -delete
: This command removes all files beginning with “._”, which are usually temporary files created by apps.sudo periodic daily weekly monthly
: This command runs maintenance scripts on your Mac to keep it running smoothly.
2. Disabling Dashboard
Dashboard is a feature in macOS that provides quick access to widgets such as a calculator, weather reports, and more. While it may add some convenience to your Mac, it can also slow it down. If you don’t frequently use Dashboard, you can disable it using Terminal, which can significantly improve your Mac’s performance.
Follow these steps to disable Dashboard using Terminal:
- Open Terminal.
- Type in the following command:
defaults write com.apple.dashboard mcx-disabled -boolean YES
- Press
Enter
to execute the command. - Type in the command
killall Dock
and pressEnter
to restart the Dock.
Dashboard is now disabled, and your Mac should be running faster.
3. Speeding Up Your Mac’s Animations
MacOS has many animations and effects that make it look great, but they can also make it feel sluggish. If you want to speed up your Mac’s animations, you can use Terminal to reduce animation duration, thus making it appear faster.
Here are a couple of Terminal commands you can use to speed up your Mac’s animations:
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSWindowResizeTime .01
: This command reduces the time it takes for windows to zoom in and out when opening or closing them.defaults write -g QLPanelAnimationDuration -float 0
: This command reduces the animation duration of Quick Look panels.
Concluding Thoughts on 3 Tips Using Terminal Commands to Speed Up Your Mac
By following these three tips, you can significantly improve your Mac’s performance without having to spend a dime on hardware upgrades. Remember to run periodic maintenance, clean up your hard drive, and streamline your Mac’s animations, which can all impact its performance.
Try out these tips yourself to ensure that your Mac is up and running faster than ever before.
FAQs About 3 Tips Using Terminal Commands to Speed Up Your Mac
What is Terminal on Mac?
Terminal is a built-in program on macOS that allows you to access and control your Mac with text commands instead of a graphical interface. It’s an essential tool for advanced users who want to perform specific tasks that aren’t possible with a regular graphical interface.
Is it safe to use Terminal to speed up my Mac?
Yes, it is safe to use Terminal commands to speed up your Mac. However, it’s essential to be cautious with certain commands as they have the potential to cause damage to your system. Always check the commands you want to use beforehand to ensure that they’re safe and haven’t been miswritten.
Can I undo Terminal changes if I make a mistake?
Yes, most Terminal commands are reversible. However, it’s crucial to back up your files beforehand and keep a record of any changes you make so you can quickly revert them if needed.
In conclusion, using Terminal commands to speed up your Mac is an effective way to boost its performance without breaking the bank. Follow the tips outlined in this article, and you’ll be amazed at how much faster your Mac is running in no time.