My iMac desktop runs slow

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I get the spinning wheel often when I download from the internet or switch from one program to another. I have 8gbs of ram and a 1 tb ssd internal drive & Ventura 13.0.1 iOS. I've been told that increasing the ram won't help



[Image Edited by Moderator to Remove Serial Number]


Posted on Dec 23, 2022 12:15 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 23, 2022 3:27 PM

You've installed what most of the experienced users here consider to be akin to malware: CleanMyMac.


First, there is no reason to ever install or run any 3rd party "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up", anti-virus, VPN or security apps on your Mac.  This documents describe what you need to know and do in order to protect your Mac: Effective defenses against malware and other threats - Apple Community and Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support.  


There are no known viruses, i.e. self propagating, for Macs.  There are, however, adware and malware which require the user to install although unwittingly most of the time thru sneaky links, etc.   


Anti Virus developers try to group all types as viruses into their ad campaigns of fear.  They do a poor job of the detecting and isolating the adware and malware.  Since there are no viruses these apps use up a lot of system resources searching for what is non-existent and adversely affect system and app performance.


There is one app, Malwarebytes, which was developed by a long time contributor to these forums and a highly respected member of the computer security community, that is designed solely to seek out adware and known malware and remove it.  The free version is more than adequate for most users.  


Therefore, uninstall CleanMyMacX and Trusteer according to the developer's instructions. You can check to see if you've removed all of the supporting files by downloading and running the shareware app Find Any File to search for any files with the application's or the developer's name in the file name.  For the two items referenced above you'd do the following search(es): 


1 - Name contains cleanmymac

2 - Name contains macpaw

3 - Name contains trustees


Any files that are found can be dragged from the search results window to the Desktop or Trash bin in the Dock for deletion.


FAF can search areas that Spotlight can't like invisible folders, system folders and packages.  


I have the same model iMac as you and your read and write speeds are about ⅕th of what I'm getting:


Your iMac:

Write speed: 442 MB/s

Read speed: 522 MB/s


My iMac:


 Write speed: 2036 MB/s

Read speed: 2823 MB/s


The only difference is that I have a 500 GB SSD.


If removing the two A/V apps doesn't bring up your read and write speed then you may have a failing SSD. It's doubtful however.


You may have to reinstall the system by Boot into the Recovery volume (boot with the Command + R keys held down  - Intel Macs) and reinstalling the system f rom there. Your user data is not affected but you should have a full and current Time Machine backup just in case.


3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 23, 2022 3:27 PM in response to DAYALA

You've installed what most of the experienced users here consider to be akin to malware: CleanMyMac.


First, there is no reason to ever install or run any 3rd party "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up", anti-virus, VPN or security apps on your Mac.  This documents describe what you need to know and do in order to protect your Mac: Effective defenses against malware and other threats - Apple Community and Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support.  


There are no known viruses, i.e. self propagating, for Macs.  There are, however, adware and malware which require the user to install although unwittingly most of the time thru sneaky links, etc.   


Anti Virus developers try to group all types as viruses into their ad campaigns of fear.  They do a poor job of the detecting and isolating the adware and malware.  Since there are no viruses these apps use up a lot of system resources searching for what is non-existent and adversely affect system and app performance.


There is one app, Malwarebytes, which was developed by a long time contributor to these forums and a highly respected member of the computer security community, that is designed solely to seek out adware and known malware and remove it.  The free version is more than adequate for most users.  


Therefore, uninstall CleanMyMacX and Trusteer according to the developer's instructions. You can check to see if you've removed all of the supporting files by downloading and running the shareware app Find Any File to search for any files with the application's or the developer's name in the file name.  For the two items referenced above you'd do the following search(es): 


1 - Name contains cleanmymac

2 - Name contains macpaw

3 - Name contains trustees


Any files that are found can be dragged from the search results window to the Desktop or Trash bin in the Dock for deletion.


FAF can search areas that Spotlight can't like invisible folders, system folders and packages.  


I have the same model iMac as you and your read and write speeds are about ⅕th of what I'm getting:


Your iMac:

Write speed: 442 MB/s

Read speed: 522 MB/s


My iMac:


 Write speed: 2036 MB/s

Read speed: 2823 MB/s


The only difference is that I have a 500 GB SSD.


If removing the two A/V apps doesn't bring up your read and write speed then you may have a failing SSD. It's doubtful however.


You may have to reinstall the system by Boot into the Recovery volume (boot with the Command + R keys held down  - Intel Macs) and reinstalling the system f rom there. Your user data is not affected but you should have a full and current Time Machine backup just in case.


Dec 23, 2022 12:28 PM in response to DAYALA

Download and run Etrecheck.  Copy and paste the results into your reply. Etrecheck is a diagnostic tool that was developed by one of the most respected users here in the ASC and recommended by Apple Support  to provide a snapshot of the system and help identify the more obvious culprits that can adversely affect a Mac's performance.


Copy the report



and use the Additional Text button to paste the report in your reply.



Then we can evaluate the report to see if we can determine the cause of the problem.


This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

My iMac desktop runs slow

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