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While Mac computers are a powerful and reliable tool, they end up encountering glitches now and then. These glitches can completely throw you off your game if you don’t have the knowledge to tame the Mac problems without running out to the nearest Apple service center. Luckily, this guide is put together to equip you with a toolbox of solutions to tackle the common issues and stay on track.
Use Recovery Mode
Mac Recovery mode is designed to recover your Mac if you are facing problems. This software loads before macOS starts, and hence, you can fix your system if you cannot boot the OS. The steps to enter Recovery mode on Mac vary according to the Mac model you are using. You can look it up in the device’s manual or Apple’s support page.
Reboot
Rebooting is often the simplest way to fix problems. Whether you are facing issues with unresponsive apps or want to give your system a fresh start, rebooting is the way to go.
You must make it a habit to reboot your system once a week to ensure it runs smoothly.
Force Quit
Are you experiencing unresponsive or frozen apps? If all you see is the beach ball or the spinning wait cursor, you can bring up the Force Quit window and close the apps that are misbehaving. Press Command + Option + Escape to bring up the Force Quit window, choose the application, and click the X button. Then, try launching the application again and see if the issue is solved.
Safe Mode
If your Mac is running sluggishly or any of the apps are giving you trouble, you need to check which of the apps loading at startup is the culprit. To do this, you have to boot your Mac in Safe mode. In this mode, the Mac computer will start up in a stripped-down version of the Mac operating system. The apps listed in Login Items will not load in this mode. So, you can check whether any one of those apps is causing your Mac computer to perform poorly. Also, in this mode, your computer will automatically perform a quick scan to check whether the startup disk is all right, and if not, it will repair corrupt file systems.
Reset SMC and NVRAM/PRAM
The SMC is responsible for managing the charging, battery, fans, keyboard, MagSafe indicator light, display backlights, hibernation or sleep/wake states, and so on. Resetting the SMC will not only fix the battery but also other issues.
If your Mac is showing the wrong time or you have encountered kernel panics, resetting the NVRAM/PRAM is the solution. Also, resetting this will help solve other configuration problems.
When it comes to resetting SMC and PRAM/NVRAM, you must refer to your device’s manual. The steps vary according to the Mac model.
Update macOS and Apps
Outdated applications and macOS versions are the culprit behind most of the problems you are facing. If you simply update them, you will see most of the problems disappearing.
Software updates are released with bug fixes, security patches and performance enhancements. This helps to make the software work better and without issues.
So, if it is an application giving you trouble, go to the App Store and check if there are updates you haven’t installed. Install the updates.
Go to the System Settings to check if there are pending macOS updates. Install the updates and see that your system’s performance has improved. Also, if there is a new version of macOS that you haven’t installed, check whether your device is compatible and download it. You can also turn in automatic updates so that you never miss another update.
Run Apple Diagnostics
Running Apple Diagnostics is the quickest way to find out whether the problem you are trying to troubleshoot is related to hardware or software. Apple Diagnostics will help you determine the problem and if it is hardware-related, it will even offer recommendations to repair the issue so you can get back on track.
If the recommendations don’t work, you will need to take your Mac to the nearest Apple service center and have it repaired. If your Mac passes all the tests, it means the problem is software related and then you can follow the steps that have been mentioned before.
The Bottom Line
So, these are some of the troubleshooting tips that successfully handle the common Mac frustrations encountered by users. Knowing these methods will ensure that you don’t ever have to panic when your Mac suddenly stops working, or you see the spinning beach ball on the screen.
However, it is important to remember that implementing preventative measures is key to ensuring your Mac functions at its optimal. You must make it a habit to declutter the storage and occasionally restart your Mac so that your system gets a fresh start and enough resources to run apps and processes.
