There's hardly anything more frustrating than a MacBook that was once lightning fast and now seems to hesitate with every task. The colorful beach ball spins, programs start at a snail's pace, and the entire workflow comes to a halt. The good news is: you don't have to put up with it.
A slow MacBook is not a sign of aging that you just have to accept. It's a symptom for which there's almost always a cause and a solution. We'll guide you through the most common reasons - from simple software brakes you can solve yourself to hardware problems where our expertise is needed.
Quick Self-Help
Before you contact us, you can quickly check these most common causes yourself:
- Hard drive (SSD) too full: At least 15-20% of storage should be free
- Resource-hungry program: A process is blocking the CPU
- Too many startup programs: Unnecessary programs at system startup
If these measures don't help, the problem usually lies in the hardware. This is where we come in.
What You Can Check Yourself Immediately: The Software Basics
Before thinking about hardware, the solution often lies in the software. You can check these points in just a few minutes:
1. Is the Hard Drive (SSD) Almost Full?
This is the most common reason for a slow system. macOS needs free storage space to swap system files and function smoothly. A rule of thumb says that at least 15-20% of storage should be free.
How to check: Click on the Apple menu (🍎) at the top left → About This Mac → Storage. macOS shows you how much space is still free and what's taking it up.
2. Is There a "Greedy" Program?
Sometimes it's not the whole system that's slow, but just a single app or background process that's claiming all the processor power (CPU) for itself.
How to check: Open Activity Monitor (best via Spotlight search with Cmd + Space). Click on the "CPU" tab and sort the list by "% CPU". If a process constantly uses over 80-90% power, you may have found the culprit.
3. Too Many Startup Programs?
Many programs nest in the startup items and automatically start in the background every time you boot up. Each of these programs uses resources.
How to check: Go to System Preferences → Users & Groups → Login Items. Look at the list and remove anything you don't absolutely need right after startup.
When the Brake Goes Deeper: Hardware Causes We Fix for You
If the software tricks don't help, the problem usually lies deeper in the hardware. This is where we come in as your workshop.
1. The Invisible Enemy: Overheating Due to Dust
Inside your MacBook, fans work to keep the CPU cool. Over the years, these fans inevitably suck in dust that clogs the cooling fins. The result: heat can no longer escape. To protect itself from damage, the MacBook drastically throttles its performance - it becomes intentionally slow.
Our solution: We perform professional internal cleaning, remove dust from fans and heat sinks, and renew the thermal paste on the CPU. Often this measure alone works performance wonders.
2. The Upgrade Myth: Upgrading RAM and SSD
With older MacBooks (before about 2016), upgrading memory (RAM) or hard drive (SSD) was the royal road to more speed. However, with almost all modern MacBooks, these components are permanently soldered to the logic board. Upgrading is no longer possible here. So be careful with blanket upgrade promises.
Our solution: We analyze your model precisely. If an upgrade is possible with your device, we'll advise you honestly about the options. If not, we focus on other effective measures to increase performance.
3. An Aging Battery
A heavily worn battery can no longer provide the stable voltage that the processor needs under full load. Here too, macOS can throttle performance to prevent sudden crashes.
Our solution: We can precisely read the condition of your battery and replace it with a high-quality new model if necessary, to give your MacBook full performance again.
When Nothing Else Helps: Problems on the Logic Board
In rarer cases, a defect on the motherboard, the logic board, can be the cause of slowness. This can be a faulty sensor or a damaged circuit. While many workshops directly replace the entire expensive board here, we go a step further.
Our solution: Thanks to our expertise in chip-level repair, we can often identify the exact defective component on the logic board and repair it specifically. This is not only more sustainable but also saves you considerable costs.
Your Path Back to a Fast MacBook
A slow MacBook is not fate. It's a solvable problem. Often it's a combination of several small factors. Instead of groping in the dark, let us perform a professional diagnosis. We'll find the true cause of the performance problems and suggest the best and most economical solution.
Contact us for a free initial consultation. We'll make your MacBook fast again!
Frequently Asked Questions About MacBook Performance Problems
How long does a performance diagnosis take?
A basic diagnosis usually takes 1-2 hours. More complex hardware analyses can take up to a day. The diagnosis is free with us.
Is repair worth it for older MacBooks?
That depends on the model and type of problem. For software problems and overheating, repair is almost always economically sensible. For hardware defects, we advise you honestly about the cost-benefit ratio.
Can I use my MacBook during repair?
For thorough diagnosis and repair, we need the complete device. We recommend creating a backup beforehand. Our data recovery helps with data problems.
Which MacBook models do you repair?
We repair all MacBook models, from the oldest to the newest Apple Silicon models (M1, M2, M3, M4). Even for unsupported models, we often still find solutions.
How much does performance improvement cost?
That depends on the cause. Software optimizations are often free or inexpensive. Hardware repairs start at about €120. After the free diagnosis, you'll receive a transparent cost estimate.
Do you offer warranty on performance improvements?
Yes, we offer 12 months warranty on all repairs performed. For software optimizations, we guarantee a noticeable performance increase or you pay nothing.