The first two problems can only be fixed by getting your Mac checked by an Apple Authorized Service Provider.
Your Mac's SMC (System Management Controller) needs a reset However, if there isn't much load on your system, and kernel_task is still absorbing too much power, one of the following issues could be the cause:Ī failed or disconnected temperature sensor When this happens, a Mac's fans automatically turn on and are usually very loud, even if the computer isn't hot. This task usually drains a lot of resources when an application is trying to use too much CPU power. One of the functions of kernel_task is to help manage CPU temperatures. You may have noticed a task called kernel_task absorbing a large amount of processing power in Activity Monitor. Similarly, updating all your apps inside the Mac App Store can help reduce memory usage and streamline the performance of your system.
You can check if there are any updates available for macOS by going to System Preferences > Software Update. It is always important to keep your system updated to the latest version of the operating system to ensure optimal performance. Software updates are known to optimize the performance of a machine, and macOS is no different.
Type ~/Library/Caches in the text box, and press Enter. You can easily clear your cache using the following method: These files can clog up your cache and put more strain on your RAM over time. Caching involves temporarily saving small bits of information about an app or a website to help it load faster.
Clear Cache FilesĪnother method to free up memory on your Mac is to clear cache files. For example, kernel_task is a task that is essential for macOS to work.ĭon't quit any tasks if you don't know what they do, since they might be crucial to your Mac working properly. Your best bet is to search for the task on Google. This method can also be used to see if anything suspicious is going on in the system background.Īctivity Monitor lists the processes by their system name, hence you might be confused at what each task actually is. You can use this to take a look at what processes are using the most memory on your Mac. This should sort all the processes on your Mac by the amount of memory used. You can do this from Finder> Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor.Ĭlick on the Memory tab at the top of the window. You can also use Activity Monitor on your Mac to take a look at what processes or applications are using the most RAM on your system.
Related: How to Quit All Your Mac Apps in Seconds Closing extra apps from the Dock can allow you to free up some of the memory being used. RAM helps your Mac complete multiple tasks at once, but we usually only need our Mac to do one or two tasks at a time. Read More: How to Restart or Force Shut Down Any Frozen Mac 2. You may lose unsaved progress in your open apps if you do this. If your Mac is unresponsive, press and hold the Power button to force it to shut down instead. When your Mac restarts, it'll empty the RAM and any disk caches, which should make your Mac run smoother once the system loads up. Restarting your Mac is the simplest way to free up RAM. Luckily, there are also a few software fixes you can perform to free up some memory. However, that usually isn't possible on a modern Mac.
The most effective fix for a lack of available memory is to upgrade your RAM. Some applications require a lot of RAM to work efficiently, such as video editing apps and 3D design software, which is why power users choose to invest more in more RAM for better performance. Old files and cluttered caches can reduce your Mac's RAM memory and cause your system to slow down significantly.
Some users choose to upgrade this to around 16GB or more at the time of purchase, as it is not always possible to upgrade the RAM afterward. Most Macs ship with around 8GB of RAM by default. However, they come with their own limitations. Your hard drive is your internal storage where you keep all your documents and files on your Mac. You may think of it as a "short-term memory" as compared to your hard drive or SSD, which would be the long-term storage. This memory allows a computer to transfer files to and from your system drive while carrying out tasks. RAM-which stands for Random-Access Memory-is a temporary data storage that your system uses to execute programs and process applications.