MacBook Air 2019 Sonoma 14.8.1 Running Extremely Slowly

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MacBook Air 2019 Sonoma 14.8.1 Running Extremely Slowly

I received a MacBook Air from my employer, which I've been running as a new computer. I haven't downloaded any major apps, but I did update to Sonoma right away.

Things seem to slow down significantly each day to the point where typing starts to lag behind, and switching from one Safari tab to the next takes ~2 seconds. Similarly, when navigating System Settings, it sometimes takes up to 5 seconds to register what I've clicked on.

I'm coming from a PC with similar specs, but more RAM (24 instead of 16), and that machine is lightning fast compared to this one.

It's pretty disappointing because I've had and used Macs before (my wife is still using my 2015 MacBook Pro for work), and they've all worked well.

I can't figure out why things are running so poorly.

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 14.8

Posted on Nov 4, 2025 6:50 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Owl-53

Level 10

102,193 points

Nov 4, 2025 8:00 AM in response to eddiegrinwald

eddiegrinwald wrote:

I received a MacBook Air from my employer, which I've been running as a new computer. I haven't downloaded any major apps, but I did update to Sonoma right away.

Most semi large to big Companies that supply computers also enrol their Computers in a Mobile Digital Management Services to help organizations secure, monitor, and manage mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops

Check in System Setting / Preferences >> Profiles

What is appearing in that location

ie illustration below

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Answer 2

HWTech

Level 9

68,444 points

Nov 4, 2025 8:28 AM in response to eddiegrinwald

Also, an Intel MBAir is a low end laptop with a very poor cooling system.

Did you install any anti-virus apps, cleaning/optimizer apps, or third party security software? Or were they installed by the employer? These types of apps can cause all sorts of problem including poor system performance.

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Answer 3

Owl-53

Level 10

102,193 points

Nov 4, 2025 9:03 AM in response to HWTech

HWTech wrote:

Also, an Intel MBAir is a low end laptop with a very poor cooling system.

Did you install any anti-virus apps, cleaning/optimizer apps, or third party security software? Or were they installed by the employer? These types of apps can cause all sorts of problem including poor system performance.

Ouch, if any of those applications were mandated by HQ

🦉-53

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