Is your Mac downloading slower than it should?

Perhaps that large file download appears to have stalled.

Or maybe streamed content is buffering for longer than normal.

MacBook with Green Arrows towards it

Whatever the symptoms, slow download speeds can negatively affect every aspect of internet use.

Fortunately, where theres a cause, theres a cure.

If your Wi-Fi or internet connection is causing the issue, theres no point wasting time troubleshooting your Mac.

Google speed test results in Safari

If you havent restarted your unit since the problem occurred, you should try that first.

Sometimes, a simple reboot is enough to fix the issue.

The next step is toclose any unnecessary apps on your Macand any open tabs in your surfing app.

Firefox for Mac with open tabs

Open apps should appear in the Dock with an indicator dot beneath them.

When it comes to open tabs, most browsers display anXyou can click to close any you dont need.

In Safari, you may need to hover over the tab itself to reveal theX.

Activity Monitor with network tab selected

If any apps or tabs were affecting your download speed, closing them should deal with the issue.

The issue could be with the tool itself, or an extension could be causing problems.

The best way to isolate the issue is to try another internet tool.

If youre using a third-party app, you might test with Apples in-built Safari net web surfer.

However, if youre already on Safari, you’re free to test with analternative Mac web client.

If, however, the issue continues, youll need to isolate further.

Generally, you could look at removal if it isnt needed or follow the developers advice.

What if Your Mac Is Still Downloading Slowly?

However, some causes may require additional troubleshooting steps.