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MacBook Pro is slow

Hey guys

So my MacBook Pro is fully update to mountain lion 10.8.2. It keeps lagging and being slow. When I start the computer up its fine for a little while, then it starts again. It acts as if I have a bunch of applications open. The umbrella shows up alot. Also I have 1.6 gb of free space out of 4gb. In spotlight it is constantly indexing the admin. Whats wrong? And how can I fix it?

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Mar 5, 2013 3:41 PM

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22 replies

Mar 5, 2013 3:48 PM in response to TandyMan

First, back up all data immediately, as your boot drive might be failing.


There are a few other possible causes of generalized slow performance that you can rule out easily.


  • If you have many image or video files on the Desktop with preview icons, move them to another folder.
  • If applicable, uncheck all boxes in the iCloud preference pane.
  • Disconnect all non-essential wired peripherals and remove aftermarket expansion cards, if any.


Otherwise, take the steps below when you notice the slowdown.


Step 1


Launch the Activity Monitor application in any of the following ways:


☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)


☞ In the Finder, select Go Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.


☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Activity Monitor in the icon grid.


Select the CPU tab of the Activity Monitor window.


Select All Processes from the menu in the toolbar, if not already selected.


Click the heading of the % CPU column in the process table to sort the entries by CPU usage. You may have to click it twice to get the highest value at the top. What is it, and what is the process? Also post the values for % User, % System, and % Idle at the bottom of the window.


Select the System Memory tab. What values are shown in the bottom part of the window for Page outs and Swap used?


Next, select the Disk Activity tab. Post the approximate values shown for Reads in/sec and Writes out/sec (not Reads in and Writes out.)


Step 2


If you have more than one user account, you must be logged in as an administrator to carry out this step.


Launch the Console application in the same way you launched Activity Monitor. Make sure the title of the Console window is All Messages. If it isn't, select All Messages from the SYSTEM LOG QUERIES menu on the left. If you don't see that menu, select

View Show Log List

from the menu bar.


Select the 50 or so most recent entries in the log. Copy them to the Clipboard (command-C). Paste into a reply to this message (command-V). You're looking for entries at the end of the log, not at the beginning.


When posting a log extract, be selective. Don't post more than is requested.

Please do not indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into this discussion.

Important: Some personal information, such as your name, may appear in the log. Anonymize before posting. That should be easy to do if your extract is not too long.

Mar 5, 2013 4:44 PM in response to Linc Davis

3/5/13 7:40:40.701 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[1746]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:40:40.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1746 [SleepServicesD]

3/5/13 7:40:45.074 PM WindowServer[73]: CGXDisableUpdate: UI updates were forcibly disabled by application "Console" for over 1.00 seconds. Server has re-enabled them.

3/5/13 7:40:46.270 PM WindowServer[73]: reenable_update_for_connection: UI updates were finally reenabled by application "Console" after 2.28 seconds (server forcibly re-enabled them after 1.08 seconds)

3/5/13 7:40:51.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1750 [SleepServicesD]

3/5/13 7:40:55.879 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.502[143]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.agent[1753]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:40:56.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1753 [cfprefsd]

3/5/13 7:40:56.931 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.daemon[1754]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:40:57.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1754 [cfprefsd]

3/5/13 7:41:07.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1755 [SleepServicesD]

3/5/13 7:41:07.217 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[1755]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:41:14.570 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.daemon[1756]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:41:14.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1756 [cfprefsd]

3/5/13 7:41:22.456 PM Safari[1378]: Couldn't contact spell checker for Multilingual

3/5/13 7:41:22.457 PM Safari[1378]: Suppressing further spell checker launch failure warnings

3/5/13 7:41:30.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1761 [SleepServicesD]

3/5/13 7:41:35.805 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.502[143]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.agent[1759]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:41:36.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1759 [cfprefsd]

3/5/13 7:41:40.762 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[1763]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:41:41.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1763 [SleepServicesD]

3/5/13 7:41:52.117 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[1768]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:41:52.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1768 [SleepServicesD]

3/5/13 7:41:52.397 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.daemon[1766]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:41:52.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1766 [cfprefsd]

3/5/13 7:41:59.527 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.502[143]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.agent[1765]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:41:59.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1765 [cfprefsd]

3/5/13 7:42:03.332 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[1772]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:42:03.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1772 [SleepServicesD]

3/5/13 7:42:09.553 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.502[143]: (com.apple.pbs[1758]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:42:09.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1758 [pbs]

3/5/13 7:42:14.363 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[1773]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:42:14.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1773 [SleepServicesD]

3/5/13 7:42:25.504 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[1778]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:42:25.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1778 [SleepServicesD]

3/5/13 7:42:27.733 PM WindowServer[73]: CGXDisableUpdate: UI updates were forcibly disabled by application "Console" for over 1.00 seconds. Server has re-enabled them.

3/5/13 7:42:28.054 PM WindowServer[73]: reenable_update_for_connection: UI updates were finally reenabled by application "Console" after 1.45 seconds (server forcibly re-enabled them after 1.13 seconds)

3/5/13 7:42:28.437 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.iCloudHelper[1774]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:42:28.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1774 [com.apple.iCloud]

3/5/13 7:42:36.653 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[1780]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:42:37.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1780 [SleepServicesD]

3/5/13 7:42:37.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1779 [tccd]

3/5/13 7:42:37.649 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.502[143]: (com.apple.tccd[1779]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:42:40.678 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.xpcd.F6010000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000[1767]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:42:41.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1767 [xpcd]

3/5/13 7:42:43.269 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.iCloudHelper[1781]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:42:43.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1781 [com.apple.iCloud]

3/5/13 7:42:48.114 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[1783]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:42:48.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1783 [SleepServicesD]

3/5/13 7:42:52.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1782 [accountsd]

3/5/13 7:42:59.177 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[1785]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:42:59.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1785 [SleepServicesD]

3/5/13 7:43:02.581 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.daemon[1777]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:43:02.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1777 [cfprefsd]

3/5/13 7:43:04.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1775 [cfprefsd]

3/5/13 7:43:04.166 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.502[143]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.agent[1775]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:43:10.431 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[1788]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:43:10.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1788 [SleepServicesD]

3/5/13 7:43:15.297 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.502[143]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.agent[1791]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:43:15.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1791 [cfprefsd]

3/5/13 7:43:15.842 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.daemon[1792]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:43:15.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1792 [cfprefsd]

3/5/13 7:43:16.641 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.xpcd.F6010000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000[1790]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:43:16.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1790 [xpcd]

3/5/13 7:43:21.774 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[1793]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:43:22.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1793 [SleepServicesD]

3/5/13 7:43:25.981 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.iCloudHelper[1789]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:43:25.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1789 [com.apple.iCloud]

3/5/13 7:43:32.823 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[1794]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:43:33.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1794 [SleepServicesD]

3/5/13 7:43:43.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1798 [cfprefsd]

3/5/13 7:43:44.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1799 [SleepServicesD]

3/5/13 7:43:44.247 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[1799]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:43:46.998 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.daemon[1796]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:43:47.000 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.502[143]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.agent[1795]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:43:47.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1796 [cfprefsd]

3/5/13 7:43:47.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1795 [cfprefsd]

3/5/13 7:43:57.590 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[1800]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:43:57.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1800 [SleepServicesD]

3/5/13 7:44:01.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1802 [cfprefsd]

3/5/13 7:44:02.157 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.daemon[1801]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:44:02.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1801 [cfprefsd]

3/5/13 7:44:08.751 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[1805]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:44:09.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1805 [SleepServicesD]

3/5/13 7:44:20.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1807 [SleepServicesD]

3/5/13 7:44:31.133 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[1810]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:44:31.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1810 [SleepServicesD]

3/5/13 7:44:39.602 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.502[143]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.agent[1808]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:44:40.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1808 [cfprefsd]

3/5/13 7:44:41.238 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.xpcd.F6010000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000[1812]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:44:41.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1812 [xpcd]

3/5/13 7:44:42.476 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[1813]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:44:42.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1813 [SleepServicesD]

3/5/13 7:44:42.954 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.daemon[1809]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:44:43.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1809 [cfprefsd]

3/5/13 7:44:52.975 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.iCloudHelper[1811]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:44:53.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1811 [com.apple.iCloud]

3/5/13 7:44:53.855 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[1814]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:44:54.987 PM WindowServer[73]: CGXDisableUpdate: UI updates were forcibly disabled by application "Console" for over 1.00 seconds. Server has re-enabled them.

3/5/13 7:44:54.991 PM WindowServer[73]: reenable_update_for_connection: UI updates were finally reenabled by application "Console" after 1.01 seconds (server forcibly re-enabled them after 1.01 seconds)

3/5/13 7:45:05.331 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[1817]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:45:05.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1817 [SleepServicesD]

3/5/13 7:45:05.611 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.daemon[1816]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:45:05.886 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.502[143]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.agent[1815]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:45:06.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1816 [cfprefsd]

3/5/13 7:45:06.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1815 [cfprefsd]

3/5/13 7:45:16.349 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[1820]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:45:16.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1820 [SleepServicesD]

3/5/13 7:45:27.560 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[1821]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/5/13 7:45:28.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1821 [SleepServicesD]

Mar 5, 2013 5:25 PM in response to TandyMan

OK, I think we've gone as far as we can with that. Here's what I can tell you based on the information provided. Your problem is excessive swapping of data between physical memory and virtual memory.


That can happen for two reasons:

  • You have a long-running process with a memory leak (i.e., a bug), or
  • You don't have enough memory installed for your usage pattern.

Tracking down a memory leak can be difficult, and it may come down to a process of elimination. In Activity Monitor, select All Processes from the menu in the toolbar, if not already selected. Click the heading of the Real Mem column in the process table twice to sort the table with the highest value at the top. If you don't see that column, select

View ▹ Columns ▹ Real Memory

from the menu bar.

If one process (excluding "kernel_task") is using much more memory than all the others, that could be an indication of a leak. A better indication would be a process that continually grabs more and more memory over time without ever releasing it.

If you don't have an obvious memory leak, your options are to install more memory (if possible) or to run fewer programs simultaneously.

The next suggestion is only for users familiar with the shell. For a more precise, but potentially misleading, test, run the following command:

sudo leaks -nocontext -nostacks process | grep total

where process is the name of a process you suspect of leaking memory. Almost every process will leak some memory; the question is how much, and especially how much the leak increases with time. I can’t be more specific. See the leaks(1) man page and the Apple developer documentation for details:


Memory Usage Performance Guidelines: About the Virtual Memory System

MacBook Pro is slow

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