MacBook Pro running slow after a few minutes of inactivity

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Level 1

4 points

MacBook Pro running slow after a few minutes of inactivity

Hi,

I've been having an issue with my MacBook Pro where after a few minutes of not using it, it becomes very slow and takes a few minutes of "waking" it back up to function properly again. Once it starts functioning properly again, I don't have any issues with it running slow until I don't use it again for a few minutes. I never used to have this issue, and I haven't installed or done anything to it that seems like it would cause it to function this way. I feel this happened after I updated the system software. I've ensured there is no spyware or viruses on my computer. I have attached an EtreCheck report. Can you please let me know how I can fix this issue? Thanks!

-Dave

EtreCheck report

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 15.6

Posted on Sep 18, 2025 07:40 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Luis Sequeira1

Level 9

72,126 points

Sep 19, 2025 01:56 AM in response to JimmyJoMoFo

You have Trusteer, which is not needed and conflicts with built-in system security.

You have an external disk that is quite full (some 39GB free out of 500+GB, so less than 8% free).

I would experiment without this disk connected to see if that has an impact.

You have a system extension that was not completely uninstalled - probably this:

System Extensions:

[Running] AdGuard Network Extension - version 2.12.1 (Adguard Software Limited - installed 2023-10-18)

Application: Not found!

Description: AdGuard Network Extension

You have some VPN software. Unless used as instructed to connect to your work or school network, VPN do not provide the sort of security that many people believe they do, and in fact may reduce security, by exposing all your data to your VPN provider.

Kernel Extensions:

/Applications/ExpressVPN.app

[Not Loaded] ExpressVPNSplitTunnel.kext - com.expressvpn.splittunnel (1.0.2 - SDK 10.12)

You have google updater, a known resource hog.

AND...

Many of the software agents and extensions that you have were installed a very long time ago, and migrated from OS to OS, some for a decade.

Consider making full backups followed by a clean system install and then installing only the stuff that you do use.

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Answer 2

Sep 19, 2025 01:59 AM in response to JimmyJoMoFo

STOP! WAIT!...

You also have this:

[Not Loaded] MemoryCleanHelper (App Store - installed 2021-09-09)

Modern Login Item

/Applications/Memory Clean.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/MemoryCleanHelper.app

Even though it says it is not loaded, stuff like this should NEVER be used in macOS (at least not since 10.9 Mavericks...).

Do not install anything that tries to handle memory. macOS tries to use all the available memory in order to speed things up. Stuff that "clears" memory is working against the OS, and can only cause trouble, besides making your system far LESS efficient.

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Answer 3

steve626

Level 6

13,221 points

Sep 21, 2025 10:51 AM in response to JimmyJoMoFo

Removal of all those items as well as removal of other items you may have already tried to remove, should be accomplished with an UNINSTALLER from the developer. The reason is that manual deletion of files associated with these software packages is sometimes unsuccessful due to hidden files and residual leftover processes that are still running automatically at startup in the background.

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