A handy guide to getting the best out of your Apple machine
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Macbooks are powerful devices capable of performing many jobs. However, over time, those abilities begin to flounder. The technologies that power them are continuously moving forward, especially in the computer industry.
Luckily you won’t have to upgrade straight away though, as MacBooks have a bit of a reserve in to cope with most jobs. Even older generation machines can still easily complete daily tasks such as web browsing, text editing, presentations, etc.as long as they are well maintained.
If your Macbook has started showing the first symptoms of slowing down, don’t panic! Here are some tips and tricks you can use to make your computer perform better and stay in good shape longer:
Monitor storage space
The first place to look when you suffer from lack of performance is your storage. Especially if you are using an older version MacBook, there is a high chance it will have a smaller hard disk. Whatever the reason is, having your drive fully stuffed, can be bad for your mac.
As mentioned above, one thing that you will feel is a decrease in performance. Another thing that can have bigger consequences are system crashes. Since the system will not have enough space to write temporary files, required for proper operation, it might start working poorly, until something goes wrong and your computer will crash.
Perhaps the best way to protect yourself from this is using software like clean my mac, which not only makes your disk drive clean but helps to monitor system status too. With only a couple of clicks, you will be able to optimize your system and let it run smoothly.
Perform restarts regularly
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Every time you turn on your computer, it loads a bunch of files required for system initiation. In addition to that, while you are using your MacBook, it continually creates temporary files necessary for faster performance of applications. Although, they may be critical in saving your current work progress.
That being said, if you tend to put your mac to sleep mode at the end of the workday, over time, your computer might get slow due to all those generated files. But that is not the worst scenario. Your system even may fail, causing you to lose valuable data.
The best practice to prevent that from happening is to shut down your system entirely every time you finish your work.
Upgrade your MacBook
Some MacBooks can be upgraded by adding extra RAM and changing the existing HDD to a newer version known as a solid-state drive (SSD). This is certainly a cheaper alternative to buying a new one!
Adding more RAM can improve app performance. If you are editing photos or videos often, adding more memory should give you a noticeable boost in speed too.
If you choose to upgrade your HDD to an SSD, you will feel an overall boost in system performance. It will not only load faster from shut down but also be faster by switching between applications windows.
Reset SMC
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If your computer starts to act strangely, for example, by entering sleep mode unexpectedly, USB ports stop working, the lid does not respond to opening or closing, etc., you might want to look into resetting your SMC, also known as System Management Controller. It is a piece of hardware integrated into the motherboard and responsible for a set of primary functions.
To reset the SMC, first, you need to shut down your Macbook and simultaneously press and hold the left Shift + left Control + left Option keys. Then, while holding these keys, press the power button for 10 seconds. After that, release all the buttons and run your computer as usual. Notice that this method is only suitable for Macbooks that have non-removable batteries.
For those who have an older generation MacBook with a removable battery, all you need to do is to remove the battery, press and hold the power button for five seconds and release it. Then reinstall the battery and run your laptop like always.
If your Macbook was introduced after 2018, do the process as follows: shut down your computer, hold the power button for 10 seconds, and release it. Turn on the Macbook using the power button.
After the reset of SMC, your macbook should be cleared from all the problems mentioned above and work correctly again.
Take security seriously
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Security in the twenty-first century should be taken very seriously. If earlier MacBooks were known for their safety and a relatively small amount of virus targeting them, in recent years, that has changed considerably.
Relying solely on common sense might not be the best choice when everything is so advanced. Hackers try to exploit every flaw in the system, whether it be bugs in system updates, applications, or even online games. So, using antivirus software should be critical for protecting your computer against various types of malware.
Also, if you sometimes tend to install apps from unknown sources or have to transfer data from public computers, using an anti-malware scanning tool should be a must.
