Having a slow Finder on your Mac running High Sierra can be frustrating. In this article, I will provide you with effective solutions to fix, update, and optimize your Mac Finder for High Sierra.
Troubleshooting Slow Finder Issues
If you are experiencing slow Finder issues on your Mac running High Sierra, there are several steps you can take to fix, update, and optimize your Mac Finder. Here are some troubleshooting tips to help you resolve the issue:
1. Check your Mac’s specifications: Make sure your Mac meets the minimum requirements for High Sierra. Ensure that you have enough RAM, a fast processor, and sufficient storage space.
2. Update macOS: Keeping your macOS up to date can improve the performance of your Mac. Go to the Apple menu, select “System Preferences,” and click on “Software Update” to check for any available updates.
3. Use Disk Utility: Disk Utility is a built-in tool that can check and repair disk errors. Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder in the Applications folder, select your disk, and click on “First Aid” to perform a scan and fix any issues.
4. Clear Finder preferences: Sometimes, corrupted preferences can cause slow Finder performance. To reset Finder preferences, press the “Option” key and right-click on the Finder icon in the dock. Select “Relaunch” while holding the “Option” key.
5. Remove unnecessary files: Cluttered storage can slow down Finder. Use a tool like CleanMyMac X to scan and remove unnecessary files, including cached data, temporary files, and old backups.
6. Disable iCloud syncing: If you have a large number of files syncing with iCloud, it can impact Finder performance. Go to the Apple menu, select “System Preferences,” click on “Apple ID,” and uncheck “iCloud Drive” to temporarily disable syncing.
7. Restart Finder: Sometimes, simply restarting Finder can resolve slow performance. Press “Option” and right-click on the Finder icon in the dock, then select “Relaunch.”
Optimizing Mac Storage and Performance
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Slow Finder performance | 1. Clear Finder preferences 2. Disable unnecessary Finder extensions 3. Restart Finder 4. Check for macOS updates |
| Low storage space | 1. Delete unnecessary files and applications 2. Use iCloud Drive for file storage 3. Optimize storage by enabling automatic storage management 4. Use external storage devices |
| Outdated macOS version | 1. Check for software updates and install the latest version 2. Enable automatic updates for future releases |
| Disable unnecessary visual effects | 1. Go to System Preferences > Accessibility > Display 2. Enable “Reduce motion” and “Reduce transparency” |
| Reset PRAM and SMC | 1. Shut down your Mac 2. Press and hold Command + Option + P + R keys 3. Release the keys after hearing the startup sound |
Resolving Finder Relaunch and Resetting Issues
If you are experiencing issues with Finder relaunching or resetting on your Mac running High Sierra, there are a few steps you can take to resolve the problem.
1. Restart Finder: Sometimes, simply restarting Finder can fix the issue. To do this, open the “Force Quit Applications” window by pressing Command + Option + Esc. Then, select Finder from the list and click on the “Relaunch” button.
2. Reset Finder Preferences: If restarting Finder doesn’t work, you can try resetting its preferences. Go to the “Go” menu in Finder and select “Go to Folder.” Enter “~/Library/Preferences/” and click “Go.” Look for the file named “com.apple.finder.plist” and move it to the trash. Then, restart your Mac.
3. Clear Finder caches: Clearing Finder caches can help resolve performance issues. Open a Finder window and press Command + Shift + G. Enter “~/Library/Caches/” and click “Go.” Locate the folder named “com.apple.finder” and move it to the trash. Restart your Mac.
4. Run Disk First Aid: Disk First Aid can fix any disk errors that might be causing Finder issues. Go to “Applications” > “Utilities” > “Disk Utility.” Select your startup disk and click on the “First Aid” tab. Click “Run” to start the process.
5. Use CleanMyMac X: If the above steps don’t work, you can try using a reliable macOS maintenance tool like CleanMyMac X. It can help optimize your Mac, including resolving Finder issues.
6. Seek professional help: If you’ve tried all the above steps and are still experiencing problems with Finder, it may be time to seek professional assistance. Contact Apple Support or visit an authorized service center for further assistance.
Overcoming Finder Unresponsiveness
- Quit any applications that may be causing Finder to become unresponsive.
- Restart your Mac to refresh the system and resolve any temporary issues.
- Check for macOS updates and ensure you are running the latest version of High Sierra.
- Clear Finder preferences by navigating to ~/Library/Preferences and removing com.apple.finder.plist.
- Reset Finder settings by holding the Option key and right-clicking on the Finder icon in the Dock, then selecting “Relaunch”.
- Remove unnecessary files and free up disk space to improve Finder’s performance.
- Repair disk permissions using Disk Utility to fix any potential errors affecting Finder.
- Check for malware using reliable antivirus software to eliminate any potential threats causing Finder slowdowns.
- Disable unnecessary Finder extensions that may be conflicting with the system.
- Reset NVRAM/PRAM to clear any stored settings that might be affecting Finder’s responsiveness.
- Reindex Spotlight to ensure Finder can perform searches efficiently.
- Consider upgrading hardware components, such as adding more RAM or upgrading to a faster solid-state drive (SSD).
