Whether you are after Mac for its aesthetic value or its suite of apps that are tailor-made, you should know little about troubleshooting. Although macOS is a reliable operating system, it does not mean that it will not encounter some issues along the way. As a Mac owner, the least that you can do is to be mindful of diagnostics and troubleshooting.
If your Mac starts to act up or become slow and unresponsive, these issues can be fixed easily by following the steps provided below.
Step 1
The first thing that you need to do is consider a reboot. This is by far the simplest fix. When you notice a specific application misbehaving, you should reboot immediately.
Step 2
The next step is to reset the PRAM (Parameter Random Access Memory) and NVRAM (Nonvolatile Random Access Memory) if rebooting did not solve anything. You must understand that Mac stores specific settings even if it is turned off – on Intel-based it is stored in NVRAM and on PowerPC-based Macs, it is stored in PRAM.
To reset PRAM and NVRAM, you should consider the following:
- Turn off your Mac.
- Unplug your Mac’s power cord.
- Wait for fifteen seconds then plug the power cord back.
- Wait for five seconds then turn on your Mac.
- Boot into Safe Mode.
Step 3
You can also try to reset the SMC (System Management Controller). Whether it is desktop or MacBook, you should consider the following:
- Turn off your Mac.
- Unplug USB-C or MagSafe power adapter from your Mac.
- Press Shift + Control+ Option on your keyboard while pressing the power button simultaneously. You just hold the keys for ten seconds.
- Release the keys and then reconnect the power adapter.
- Press the power button to turn on your unit.
Step 4
If you are using OS X Yosemite or older, you should try repairing disk permissions. This seeks to protect the file system permissions automatically. Remember that repairing disk permissions is something that you should regularly do – even if you are not experiencing any issues.
To repair disk permissions, you should consider the following:
- Open Disk Utility.
- Choose the primary hard drive.
- Click on Repair Disk Permissions.
Step 5
Following the repairing of disk permissions, you should verify the integrity of your disk as well as its file system, which are found in Disk Utility. If you have a newer version of macOS, it is called “First Aid”. Ideally, you should not find anything wrong.
However, if you find something wrong, it is important that you repair it. To do this, you should consider the following:
- Reboot your Mac then hold down the Command + R keys until you see an Apple logo.
- You will be directed into the recovery console. After this, you must navigate to the Disk Utility.
- After, you should pick the primary drive of your Mac and then click on Repair Disk or First Aid.
Step 6
You can also try resetting Safari then clear caches. However, you must be aware that this option is not applicable to newer versions of macOS. If you have older macOS, here’s what you should do to reset Safari and clear caches:
- Start Safari then click on Safari, which is typically found on the upper left corner of the screen.
- Select Reset Safari.
- You should also go to Preferences then delete all caches.
If you have newer versions of macOS, you can delete Safari caches by considering the following:
- Go to Safari then Clear History.
- You can alternatively remove website data from specific web pages by going to Preferences then Privacy. Click Privacy then choose Manage Website Data.
Step 7
At the bare minimum, you have to update the latest version of macOS. Keep in mind that every new release allows Apple to fix bugs and issues. If you particularly experience problems with older versions of macOS, chances are Apple already fixed the problems or issues in a newer release.
Step 8
You can also reinstall macOS. This is considered the most invasive but sometimes it is the only solution. Before you reinstall the OS, make sure that you have backups of your data. More importantly, take note of important configuration settings.
When all else fails…
If you tried everything but to no avail, it is time that you think about going to Apple for service or call Apple Support. Before you head to Apple, it is crucial that you determine if your Mac is still in warranty. Knowing the details of your Mac warranty can mean the difference between a free repair and a costly repair.
To recap your standard Apple warranty, here’s a list:
- It offers one year of hardware repairs but excluded to batteries and cosmetic damages (like scratches, wear and tear, and dents). Other exclusions include water damage or other accidents, repairs by unauthorised providers and theft. Moreover, you should remember that the warranty only applies to new purchases.
- It offers ninety days of telephone support.
Bottom Line
Apple computers cost a lot more compared to other PCs but they are truly worth their price. They will not live forever so you should expect that at some point in time your Mac would behave strangely. When this happens, you have to be mindful and if you know something about basic troubleshooting and repair, you can save money, time and effort. Click here for related macbook problems and fixes.