Is your Mac downloading more slowly than it should be? It could be that a large file has stalled. Perhaps streaming content buffers longer than usual.
Regardless of the cause, slow download speeds can adversely affect all aspects of internet usage. Fortunately, where there’s a cause, there’s a cure.
The correct troubleshooting steps will help you to isolate the issue and get your internet back on track. So, let’s discuss how to troubleshoot slow downloads on a Mac.
1. Troubleshoot the Network
When you are experiencing slow download speeds, your network is the first thing to check. If your Wi-Fi or internet connection is causing the issue, there’s no point wasting time troubleshooting your Mac.
Follow these steps to identify and resolve a network problem.
If your Mac continues to download slowly on another network, it is most likely that the problem is with your device. This is the case. In such cases, you can jump to step 3 in this troubleshooting manual: Close unnecessary apps and tabs.
2. Turn off all other devices
Slow downloads may be occurring on one network only. This could be due to other devices hogging the bandwidth. It could be that a relative or friend is downloading large files on their PC. This will impact the speed of everyone on the network.
Follow these steps to determine if another device is slowing down download speeds.
If the issue continues with only the Mac connected, you’ll need to Continue troubleshooting the Wi-Fi network.
3. Close unnecessary apps and tabs
Once you’ve ruled out a network issue, you can move on to troubleshooting your Mac. If you haven’t restarted your device since the problem occurred, you should try that first. Sometimes, a simple reboot can fix the problem.
Next, we need to Close any unneeded apps from your Mac Any open tabs in your browser. An indicator dot should be placed below any open apps in the Dock.
The majority of browsers show an open tabs option. X you can click to close any you don’t need. To reveal the tab in Safari, hover over it. X.
Closing any tabs or applications that slow down your download speed should be the solution.
4. Try another browser
If you’ve ruled out apps and tabs, your browser could be responsible for slow downloads. Problems could arise with the extension or the application itself.
Try another browser to pinpoint the problem. If you’re using a third-party app, you can test with Apple’s in-built Safari browser. However, if you’re already on Safari, you can test with an Alternative Mac browser.
If the issue doesn’t occur in another browser, you can either switch to that app long-term or troubleshoot the original application. If, however, the issue continues, you’ll need to isolate further.
5. Activity Monitor is a tool that can help you identify apps that are using high bandwidth
Activity Monitor can be used to isolate any background processes or applications that are causing problems on your Mac.
To check your Activity Monitor bandwidth usage, you can follow these steps:
If you identify a rogue process or app, you’ll need to troubleshoot that software further. Generally, you could look at removal if it isn’t needed or follow the developer’s advice.
It is possible to also try Safe Mode: Boot your MacIt will block any third-party processes and apps from being launched at startup.
What if your Mac still downloads slowly?
Most cases of slow download speeds should be resolved by following the troubleshooting steps.
Some causes may require additional troubleshooting. For example, in the case of a confirmed network issue, you may need to contact your internet service provider (ISP) if you can’t resolve the problem yourself.
If slow download speeds are a result of a deeper problem with your Mac you might need to do more detailed troubleshooting such as reset your macOS network settings.