Help with Late 2012 iMAC running slowly

Hey there!

I agree that if you'd like to continue using this Mac, operating it using an external SSD as the startup disk will dramatically increase performance. An external SSD as a startup disk can give your Mac additional performance for system responsiveness, apps, startup, and more. To learn more, see: Use an external SSD as your startup disk … - Apple Community.

If you'd prefer to replace this Mac with a newer model, Apple has lots of great options. You can explore the different models and get shopping help here: Apple Store Online - Apple.

-Jack

Your obsolete 2012 iMac should be replaced, it has a very old HDD that likely is failing. Before you do ANYTHING aback up the computer using Time Machine before you lose all of your data!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To confirm my hunch of a failing HDD download DriveDX after you backup and test the HDD. If ANY errors appear that confirms a failing HDD.

My recommendation for such an old machine is to replace it.

Either change your HDD or storage, it’s falling most likely and it’d commonly slower than SSD. Replacing with a new SSD could solve the issue. Or buy a new computer

Should you wish to keep it, or need it for certain Software, booting from an external SSD will smooth things & much faster.