DONM1146 Author

Level 1

23 points

2023 24-inch iMac running slow

My iMac is running slow, and I see the spinning beachball quite often. Tahoe 26.1, 24-in, 2023. What should I do?

iMac 24″, macOS 26.1

Posted on Nov 30, 2025 3:39 PM

Top-ranking reply

Owl-53

Level 10

102,379 points

Posted on Dec 8, 2025 1:56 AM

Thank you for the new report, that was suggested by my good colleague @ den.thed 👍

Below some are the findings

Your iMac hardware is fine. The real issues are:

1 - Carbonite is overwhelming your Mac

CarboniteDaemon is using 117% CPU

CarboniteStatus is using ~10% CPU

Both together are using almost ¾ of your available RAM.

2 - Your Mac only has 8 GB RAM, and Carbonite is using most of it.

This alone will cause constant beachballing, freezing, and slow apps.

Your Mac is out of RAM and using almost 7 GB of swap

Swap Used: 6.90 GB

This indicates RAM exhaustion, which forces macOS to use the SSD as temporary memory — causing slowness and spinning beachballs.

When your Mac runs out of available RAM, it moves some inactive data from RAM to the swap file on disk.

This frees up RAM for active apps and helps prevent slowdowns or crashes

3 - Your internal drive is low on space

You’re at 41 GB free, but macOS with 8 GB RAM performs much better with 70–100 GB free.

4 - Many background processes (Adobe, Carbonite, HP, Malwarebytes, Coupons utility, etc.)

Your Mac has hundreds of background agents.

Most are harmless, but combined they strain an 8 GB system.

What to do:

If you prefer to use Time Machine only (which you already have working), uninstalling Carbonite will immediately free resources.

5 - Reduce background apps / login items

These add up and drain RAM.

Recommended to disable from System Settings → Login Items:

Adobe Creative Cloud

Canon Extended Survey

HP Product Research

Coupons launcher

Menu World Time (if unused)

Skype ShareAgent (or remove it completely) Microsoft and discontinued Skype

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/skype/skype-is-retiring-in-may-2025-what-you-need-to-know-2a7d2501-427f-485e-8be0-2068a9f90472

6 - Free more disk space

You currently have:

41 GB free

macOS reports 77 GB “Available” (this includes purgeable space)

Purgeable Space is controlled by the Operating System and not the user

Get detailed information about a disk in Disk Utility on Mac

To stop beachballing you want at least 70 GB actually free, not purgeable.

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31 replies

DONM1146 Author

Level 1

23 points

Dec 4, 2025 9:23 PM in response to DONM1146

Good suggestions all.

Just about the time I made my post, I was sent to the ER and diagnosed with a mild form of leukemia. While it's not life-threatening, it has taken up a lot of my time. As soon as things get back on an even keel, I will run EtreCheckPro and follow through.

I just wanted you all to know that I appreciate your help, and I'm not ignoring you.

Thanks,

DONM1146

DONM1146 Author

Level 1

23 points

Dec 7, 2025 1:51 PM in response to DONM1146

OK. It looks like my photos library is 48.55 GB. Is there any reason I couldn't move that to a 64 GB USB drive that I keep connected to the iMac at all times? I also have them backed up elsewhere.

Thanks

DONM1146 Author

Level 1

23 points

Dec 8, 2025 3:20 PM in response to DONM1146

Here is what I've done in response to your last list of suggestions:

Disabled Adobe Creative Cloud

Couldn't find Canon Extended Survey in System Settings; moved it from Applications to Trash (but didn't empty).

Disabled HP Product Research

Coupons Launcher was already disabled, but additionally moved it from Applications to Trash (but didn't empty).

Disabled Menu World Time

Could not find Skype in System Settings or Applications

Beachballing has diminished or disappeared already.

I can send another etrecheck report if you would like.

Thanks for the help.

DONM1146 Author

Level 1

23 points

Dec 8, 2025 9:41 PM in response to den.thed

The trash is empty. I see I show 8.11 GB tied up with Music files. I'll click on the link that explains how to move those files, and put them on the same external drive as the photos. I won't do that until tomorrow, in case there's something I'm missing that makes it inadvisable.

Thanks Again...

DONM1146 Author

Level 1

23 points

Dec 9, 2025 5:01 PM in response to den.thed

Beachballing

Here is what I hope will be my last EtreCheck report. I'm sure that there's more that can be done to help my situation, but for now it seems to be pretty much under control. Knowing my level of comfort and expertise, I think that this may be a good place to stop before I inadvertently mess something up.

Many, many thanks to Owl-53 and den.thed for all the help, and for being so patient.

DONM1146

DONM1146 Author

Level 1

23 points

Dec 11, 2025 9:22 AM in response to den.thed

I agree, but based on my level of computer expertise, I'm not sure how to go about that. I don't have an Apple service center near me - the closest is 100+ miles away. I would welcome any suggestions and guidance on where to find that 20GB to free up, and how to go about it.

Thanks Again.

den.thed

Level 10

90,874 points

Dec 5, 2025 7:08 AM in response to DONM1146

Sorry to hear that DONM1146, you take care.

No problem, there are plenty of doctor's and intern's around here.

DONM1146 Author

Level 1

23 points

Dec 6, 2025 4:15 PM in response to den.thed

EtreCheck Report

I hope I did this correctly. Thanks again for all the help.

DONM1146

den.thed

Level 10

90,874 points

Dec 6, 2025 4:55 PM in response to DONM1146

Sorry, but did not work.

Try again following Old Toads directions,

at > How to use the Add Text Feature When Post… - Apple Community

DONM1146 Author

Level 1

23 points

Dec 6, 2025 9:16 PM in response to den.thed

Etrecheck Report

Hopefully it will work this time.

Thanks for your patience,

DONM1146

den.thed

Level 10

90,874 points

Dec 7, 2025 2:01 PM in response to DONM1146

If you are referring to a USB Flash Drive, yes you can. Just keep in mind, that a USB Flash Drive is no where near as reliable as a USB External Drive.