my imac is getting really slow and locking up

My iMac running latest software runs really slow and is constantly locking up. Particularly Google Chrome and Apple News. I keep programs up to date and don’t have high CPU usage programs running. It get to the point where my only option is to do a hard shut down with the power button. Even then a reboot takes 5-10 minutes. Is this thing cooked or is there a way to “defrag” like a PC. I have plenty of storage and really only use this device for internet and basic household use/storage. I also have an external hard drive attached that we use for photos and backups

Posted on Mar 21, 2025 5:35 AM

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Mar 21, 2025 8:42 AM in response to Mac_bug

If kernel_task is using a large percentage of your Mac CPU - Apple Support


Also consider that you may have dust/pollen/smoke particles clogging up the fans and heat sinks, which will cause the Mac to overheat, which will cause the kernel_task to intervene and put the CPU into a low power idle mode that makes the kernel_task appear as if it is using a lot of CPU, which technically it is, but it is also letting the CPU take brief naps so it can cool down.


Applications -> Utilities -> Activity Monitor -> View (menu) -> All Processes -> CPU (tab)

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Mar 22, 2025 4:13 AM in response to Mac_bug

OP wrote " Particularly Google Chrome "


Short and unpopular suggestion for some


Contact Google Chrome for the complete and detailed instructions on Removing " Google "  Chrome 


https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255978513?answerId=261209667022&sortBy=oldest_first#261209667022



Use www.brave.com which is basically Chrome without the overhead of Goolag

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my imac is getting really slow and locking up

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