5 Things You Can Do To Make MS Office Apps Run Faster

Imagine you’re working on a crucial project when suddenly your MS Office applications start lagging. This can be really unpleasant when you’re working against a deadline.

There are many ways to make MS Office apps run faster on your macOS, and we’ll coach you through five of the most effective methods.

Tip #1: Update MS Office Apps

When did you last update Microsoft Office? If you can’t recall, it’s probably out-of-date and the reason why your MS office apps are slow. Outdated software can cause performance problems like crashes, sluggish loading times, and errors, and that’s why it’s crucial to keep your MS Office apps updated.

To check for updates, open any MS Office app and click on the “Help” option in the menu bar. Afterward, click “Check for Updates.” To install the most recent update, click “Update” if one is available.

Your MS Office programs will perform better if you update them. You’ll also get the newest features and security patches. For instance, you may be missing out on real-time collaboration or better-formatting options if you’re still using an old version of Microsoft Word.

Tip #2: Optimize MacOS Settings for MS Office

The performance of MS Office programs may be considerably improved by changing MacOS settings. Here are some particular options you may change to enhance the performance of your Microsoft Office apps:

Boost Graphics Performance 

MS Office applications, notably PowerPoint and Excel, rely significantly on graphics. Your older machine could have trouble meeting these apps’ requirements. Follow these steps to increase the graphics’ performance:

1. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen.
2. Click “System Preferences” and select “Displays.”
3. Click “Display” and set the “Resolution” to “Scaled.”
4. Choose a resolution that suits your needs while also maintaining optimal graphics performance.

Activate Automatic Graphics Switching 

Newer Macs feature two separate and integrated graphics processors. Your computer can automatically transition between the two depending on the needs of the program, lessening the load on its CPU. To enable automatic graphics switching, follow these steps:

1. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen.
2. Click “System Preferences” and select “Energy Saver.”
3. Click the checkbox next to “Automatic graphics switching.”

Adjust the Energy Saver Settings

The Energy Saver settings significantly influence your computer’s performance, so adjust them accordingly. Here’s how to do it:

1. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen.
2. Click “System Preferences” and select “Energy Saver.”
3. Move the “Computer sleep” slider to “Never” or a longer duration.
4. Deselect “Put hard disks to sleep when possible” and “Enable Power Nap.”
5. Choose “High Performance” in the “Power Adapter” tab to maximize your computer’s performance.

Tip #3: Clean up your MacOS

Imagine you’ve been using MS Word to generate and modify documents for weeks. MS Word could’ve kept temporary files, such as cached copies of your document or auto-recovery files, on your machine during this period. These files might slow down or possibly crash MS Word if they become outdated.

You may use a cache cleaner to resolve this problem or simply delete your cache and temporary files for various MS Office applications. Here’s how:

1. Open Finder and click on “Applications.”
2. Review your applications and uninstall any that you don’t use.
3. Click on “Documents” and delete any files or folders that you don’t need.
4. Empty your trash can to free up space.

Tip #4: Disable Add-ins and Plug-ins

Third-party programs called add-ins and plugins give your MS Office apps more functionality. For instance, the well-known Word plugin Grammarly will verify your work for grammatical and spelling problems. Although these plugins have their uses, they can also use precious system resources and cause your MS Office software to run slowly.

Follow these steps to remove add-ins and plugins:

1. Open the MS Office app you want to modify.
2. Click on “Preferences” from the top menu bar.
3. Click on “Add-ins” or “Plug-ins” depending on the app.
4. Uncheck the boxes next to any add-ins or plug-ins you don’t need.
5. Restart the MS Office app for the changes to take effect.

Tip #5: Keep Your Software Up to Date

It’s not just MS Office applications that require routine updating. Updates are also necessary for MacOS to increase security and speed. Imagine you’re using outdated version of MacOS that’s incompatible with the newest MS Office release. You may encounter problems like crashes, sluggish performance, or missing functionality. By keeping your MacOS software up to date, you ensure that your system is compatible with the latest MS Office updates and that your apps run smoothly.

To check for MacOS updates, go to the Apple menu and click on “System Preferences,” then select “Software Update.” Your system will check for any available updates and prompt you to install them. Make sure to back up your important files before installing any updates, just in case.

We trust that this guide has been useful in teaching you some efficient ways to speed up Microsoft Office applications on your macOS. You may increase your productivity and do more in less time by using the methods outlined above.