Mac’s smooth and stable experience makes them a favorite among many. As you strive to enhance your productivity, you will likely consider an external monitor. It is a smart move, considering the much larger screen that improves your multitasking endeavors.
Despite being a great productivity hack, using an external monitor could drag your progress. You may notice that your Mac is running slow after connecting the external monitor. Nonetheless, you should dive deeper before concluding that the monitor is the primary culprit behind the performance dip.
Why is my Mac running so slow? Does the performance improve after disconnecting the external monitor? Your Mac is running slow could be due to a myriad of reasons, such as running out of space or having too many apps active taking up its resources.
A slow Mac could also indicate a malware issue. While not as common, Macs can still be affected by malware, which you can catch by running a scan using reliable software. If, after running your diagnostics, you establish that an external monitor is the main cause, here are ten measures to consider.
- Software update
One of the most overlooked yet critical Mac maintenance measures is routine software updates. Software updates are not simply about getting new features. The updates are loaded with bug fixes and performance improvements.
Routine updates enhance stability and user experience. The updates could solve the software and hardware compatibility issues that could be causing crashes or slowing your Mac when using an external monitor.
Besides performance, the updates enhance your security. This is because fixing bugs minimizes the chances of malware and vulnerable apps that could be used to compromise your Mac.
Before running software updates, ensure your Mac is connected to the internet. Here is a quick step-by-step guide on updating your Mac’s software:.
- On the Apple menu, select System settings.
- Click General.
- Select Software Update (If the Software Update option is unavailable, click System > Preferences > Software Update).
- Click Update (this will only show if there are compatible updates available).
- During the installation, you’ll be required to input your Mac password. It may also restart.
Software updates enhance compatibility with new software and hardware. The simple measure can significantly improve your Mac experience, including better speeds when connected to an external monitor.
When on the updates, pay more attention to graphics drivers. This is more so if the Mac has a dedicated graphics card or you use an external GPU. Updating the drivers facilitates optimal performance, including resolution, refresh rate, and speed, even when running high-intensity applications on Mac.
- Check the display settings
Is the built-in and external monitor refresh rate the same? A lower refresh rate could be behind the lagging you are experiencing on the larger external monitor. Ideally, setting all monitors at the same refresh rate helps.
The display drivers and graphics cards take on extra load when the monitors are set at different refresh rates. They need to adjust to the different refresh rates, which can cause lagging or freezing in certain cases. This could be why your Mac is running slow when connected to an external monitor, which you can easily rectify. Here is how to change the display settings:
- Go to System Settings.
- For Ventura and later versions, go to Displays.
- You can preview the connected external monitor and built-in screen here. The default option often works best since it uses the native display resolution.
Consider setting the highest refresh rate available since you are using an external monitor. You may have to use an HDMI cable or display port for the external monitor to provide a higher refresh rate. Once you set a favorable refresh rate, the external monitor won’t keep lagging. You will enjoy smooth performance, allowing you to improve productivity by using a bigger screen.
- Reset NVRAM/PRAM or SMC
PRAM (Parameter Random Access Memory), or, in newer Macs, NVRAM (Non-Volatile Random Access Memory), is a small amount of memory used to store and quickly access certain system
settings. These settings include display resolution, sound volume, time zone, and startup-disk selection. Unlike RAM, PRAM/NVRAM are not volatile, meaning they do not lose stored data when you shut down your Mac.
SMC (System Management Controller) manages hardware-related functions. These include charging batteries, cooling fans, and backlighting keyboards. While serving different purposes, issues with either SMS PRAM/NVRAM can cause display issues, which could affect your Mac when using an external monitor. Issues you could experience include incorrect resolution, display flickering, or does not go on correctly.
To reset NVRAM/PRAM:
- Shut down the Mac and disconnect the peripherals.
- Press the Power Button.
- Immediately press and hold the Option > Command > P > R keys. Hold them until you see the Apple logo appear and disappear twice or hear the startup sound twice.
- Release the keys for the Mac to continue starting up as usual.
Resetting the SMC depends on the Mac model, as provided in the Apple support guide. Resetting either of the memories can resolve the lagging, incorrect, and other display issues you experience when using your Mac, whether connected to an external monitor or the built-in screen.
- Reduce transparency and motion effects
Visual effects and animations consume CPU power yet are usually unnecessary considering your Mac usage. Reducing transparency and motion effects helps lower system graphics’ load, which can speed up your Mac.
To reduce or turn off visual effects, go to System Preferences > Accessibility > Display. From here, check the Reduce Motion and Reduce Transparency options.
- Check the connections
A faulty cable can slow down the connection. You could assume that the Mac or external monitor has an issue, yet it is as simple as using a bad cable. Invest in quality HDMI, USB, or VGA cable that facilitates smooth connection. Also, ensure that the cable is securely plugged in.
- Try a different monitor
Updating Mac software improves compatibility. Still, your Mac model and the external monitor you want to use may not be compatible. Hardware compatibility issues can significantly slow your Mac.
This is keeping in mind that the external monitor requires more graphic processing power, which could be putting excessive strain on your Mac. Try a different monitor to pinpoint whether hardware compatibility is the concern.
- Force quit application
The external monitor takes up resources that could already be restrained. This could be the primary reason why your Mac is running slow. You can address this by checking and closing unnecessary applications and background processes to free up more resources. You can do this by:
- Got to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor.
- From Activity Monitor, select the app or process you want to quit.
- Click the Stop button.
- Select Quit (close the app/process normally when it is safe) or Force Quit (shuts down the app/process immediately, meaning you could lose data if you were using the application or experience issues if the process is used by other apps/processes).
Once you free more resources, your Mac’s performance, connected to an external monitor, can improve.
- Consider mirror display
You can use various ways to connect an external monitor on your Mac. HDMI is the go-to for many since it facilitates a higher resolution. Nevertheless, it would help if you considered alternatives like mirroring if your Mac is slow with an external monitor.
For instance, when connecting to high-resolution monitors like 4K TVs, you can experience lag, often due to low performance and hardware limitations. This is mainly if your Mac model is older or has lower specifications. In such cases, a mirror display can help since it reduces the number of resource-demanding apps running on the Mac.
Mirroring your Mac is easy, and you can choose to show the whole desktop on each display or extend and select what each displays. Here is a quick mirror display guide for Mac:
- Ensure the external monitor is on.
- On the Mac, go to System Settings.
- Select Displays and locate the external monitor.
- Look for the checkbox labeled Mirror Display and click it to enable mirroring.
Once set, you can opt for additional settings such as resolutions and arrangements. Mirroring does not consume additional resources when connecting your Mac to an external monitor. This allows you to enjoy bigger screen space and faster performance.
- Disconnect other peripherals
How many peripherals are connected to your Mac, and are you actively using them? Each peripheral consumes some resources. Moreover, they could cause conflicts as the Mac manages all of them with limited resources. Simply disconnecting that external keyboard or mouse could help speed up your Mac when connected to an external monitor.
- Restart the Mac
Restarting your Mac is arguably the simplest yet often discounted solution. A simple restart helps resolve certain performance issues by clearing out temporary files and processes taking up resources.
Conclusion
The allure of using your TV’s big screen to work or game with your Mac is quite irresistible. Nonetheless, it might not go smoothly. The resolution may not be as good as you would like, and the screen can lag and slow your Mac. If your Mac is slow with an external monitor, you do not have to give up or call a technician. Even the least tech-savvy individuals can follow the steps highlighted above and resolve the issue.
If straightforward options like restarting, changing display settings, or updating the software do not work, consider scanning for malware, cleaning your Mac, and optimizing its performance by getting rid of clutter. You can also contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store for further assistance.
