Why macOS Sequoia Feels Sluggish
macOS Sequoia has been plagued with performance complaints since launch. Users report slow startup times, laggy animations, and general system sluggishness that wasn't present in previous versions. The good news? Most of these issues are fixable.
The performance problems typically stem from background processes, misconfigured settings, or apps that haven't been optimised for Sequoia's changes. Here's how to get your Mac running smoothly again.
8 Fixes for Slow macOS Sequoia Performance
1. Disable Unnecessary Background Apps
Sequoia introduced changes to how background apps are managed, and some apps are now consuming more resources than they should.
How to check:
- Open Activity Monitor (Applications > Utilities)
- Click the CPU tab and sort by "% CPU"
- Look for apps using high CPU when they shouldn't be
- Quit unnecessary apps or remove them from startup items
2. Reset Spotlight Indexing
Corrupted Spotlight indexes are a common cause of system slowdowns in Sequoia.
Steps to fix:
- Go to System Settings > Siri & Spotlight > Spotlight Privacy
- Add your entire hard drive to the privacy list
- Wait a few minutes, then remove it
- This forces Spotlight to rebuild its index from scratch
3. Check for Problematic Window Management
Sequoia's new window tiling feature is notoriously buggy and can cause system lag, especially with multiple monitors.
Quick fixes:
- Disable window tiling in System Settings > Desktop & Dock
- If you need window management, consider using a dedicated app like Layoutish, which handles window positioning more efficiently than Sequoia's built-in system
- Layoutish's smart positioning and display profiles can actually improve performance by reducing the system overhead of Sequoia's buggy implementation
4. Clean Up Audio Processes
Sequoia changed how audio routing works, and some users report audio-related processes consuming excessive CPU.
What to do:
- Check Activity Monitor for "coreaudiod" using high CPU
- If so, open Terminal and run:
sudo killall coreaudiod - The process will restart automatically
- Consider using a dedicated audio manager like Soundish instead of relying on system audio switching, which can be resource-intensive
5. Disable Visual Effects
Sequoia added new animations and effects that can slow down older Macs.
Settings to adjust:
- System Settings > Accessibility > Display
- Enable "Reduce motion" and "Reduce transparency"
- System Settings > Desktop & Dock
- Turn off "Animate opening applications"
6. Fix SMB Network Issues
Many users report "macOS Sequoia slow SMB" problems when accessing network drives.
Network fixes:
- Open Terminal and run:
sudo sysctl -w net.inet.tcp.delayed_ack=2 - For permanent fix, add this to
/etc/sysctl.conf - Consider using AFP instead of SMB if your network supports it
7. Reset Login Items and Background Tasks
Sequoia changed how login items are managed, and some apps might be launching unnecessarily.
Clean up process:
- System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions
- Review "Open at Login" and "Allow in Background" sections
- Remove apps you don't need running at startup
- Pay special attention to apps that were working fine in previous macOS versions
8. Check Storage and Memory Pressure
Sequoia seems more sensitive to low storage and memory pressure than previous versions.
Storage management:
- Apple menu > About This Mac > More Info > Storage Settings
- Use "Recommendations" to clean up space
- Ensure you have at least 15% free space
- Consider upgrading RAM if you're frequently seeing memory pressure warnings
When to Consider App Alternatives
If Sequoia's built-in features are causing performance issues, sometimes switching to dedicated apps can actually improve performance:
- Window management: If Sequoia's tiling is causing lag, Layoutish uses less system resources and offers more reliable performance
- Audio control: Instead of constantly switching system audio outputs (which can cause coreaudiod issues), use a tool like Soundish for per-app audio routing
Long-term Performance Tips
Regular maintenance:
- Restart your Mac at least once a week
- Keep an eye on Activity Monitor for resource-hungry processes
- Update apps regularly — many developers have released Sequoia-specific performance fixes
Monitor system health:
- Check Console app for error messages
- Use built-in memory pressure monitoring
- Consider a clean install if problems persist after trying these fixes
The Bottom Line
While macOS Sequoia's performance issues are frustrating, most can be resolved with these targeted fixes. The key is identifying whether your slowdown is caused by indexing, background processes, or Sequoia's new features conflicting with your workflow.
Start with the Spotlight reset and background app cleanup — these solve the majority of performance complaints. If you're still experiencing issues with specific features like window management or audio routing, dedicated apps often provide better performance than Sequoia's sometimes-buggy built-in alternatives.
Originally published at appish.app
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