Macbooks are great when it comes to durability and overall performance. However, there will come a time when you will notice a dip in its performance, especially if you were to compare how things were when you first bought it.
Does this mean that the only solution is to purchase a new computer? That is an option, but not everyone can afford to spend money every time their Macbook experiences performance problems. No, there are plenty of things that you can do, and the tips in this article should be more than enough to create a solid strategy.
Tip #1 – Free up Disk Space
Lack of disk space on a Mac is more common than you may think. The hard drives do not provide that much storage, to begin with, so a lot of users struggle to fit every file on the computer.
Having only a few gigabytes of free space will not do you any good. You need to remove old files, like downloads and email attachments. Make better use of cloud services. And if you are still having issues, consider investing some money in external storage devices.
Tip #2 – Remove Junk Files
Getting rid of useless junk files like caches or backups will also free up some disk space. However, the main purpose of this cleanup is not related to the storage of the hard drive.
The number of files that your system has to process can become out of control. And these junk files are not visible immediately, so you cannot remove them like you would with regular data.
A cleanup utility tool is your best bet. Removing junk data will relieve the system of unnecessary processes and will significantly improve the performance of your Macbook.
Tip #3 – Prevent Memory Leaks
Tip #4 – Scan for Cybersecurity Threats
You can find a lot of information about cybersecurity and what threats are prominent these days. However, when it comes to an average Macbook user, a solid anti-malware tool should be more than enough to prevent potential viruses and malware running rampant in the system.
If the Mac has started to underperform all of a sudden, it is probable that you are dealing with a virus or malware. Scan the system to make sure that it is free of the threats.
Tip #5 – Check Activity Monitor
Activity Monitor gives an idea about applications that consume the most resources. You can sort processes by either CPU or memory usage.
There will be apps that are integral to the system and have to run all the time. On the other hand, you should notice some applications that are in the background for no reason and can be shut down or replaced with something that does not require as many resources.
Tip #6 – Trim Startup Item Menu
Waiting for the computer to load after each restart can be a pain, especially if you are restarting it regularly to prevent memory leaks and stabilize the performance.
The delay is usually caused by applications that need to load every time. Go to the Users and Groups and find your profile. Log in it, and you will see a list of startup items. Remove applications from that list, so you no longer have to wait for them to load after restarting the computer. Enabling the auto-login feature can also save you time.
Tip #7 – Clean Dust and Dirt Inside the Macbook
Also, if you are not confident in your skills to take the computer apart and put it back together after you are finished with the cleaning, take it to a service store and leave the work to someone who has enough experience.
Tip #8 – Install Updates
System updates are meant to introduce improvements to the overall stability, performance, and patch some security issues. And while Apple continues to be innovative and add various features in new models, you should remember that these system updates are released and will improve even older models.
In most cases, the system updates automatically, but you should still check now and then to ensure that the version is up to date, and you are benefiting from all that the most recent updates offer.
