What Are Some Common Mac Issues You Can Expect to Encounter?
It is easy to fall into the belief that MacBooks are not prone to certain performance problems. If you were to scroll through Apple community forums, you would notice that most people are praising Macs for their sleek design, built-in tools, and light weight, in addition to great performance.
However, MacBooks are just like other computers. Sooner or later, you will notice that it takes longer for the system to load after booting the laptop. In some instances, your Mac may even freeze or crash randomly. And these are just a few potential issues that could ruin your work or entertainment on the computer.
Do not expect the MacBook problems to solve themselves. If you neglect to keep the computer in good condition and fail to deal with its issues in time, you will have to pay for it later.
Knowing what to expect and how to deal with various troubles will give you an advantage. Here are some of the most common Mac problems and solutions to them.
Flickering Screen
A screen that flickers for an instant and goes back to normal is not that much of a problem. However, if the flickering becomes too frequent, you will struggle to do anything on the MacBook since the problem can be quite disruptive.
As a rule of thumb, screen flickering occurs when the graphics processing unit becomes incompatible with macOS. If things were okay before you downloaded and installed the latest macOS update, you would need to downgrade to an older version and wait for a hotfix.
Apple engineers receive multiple support tickets about this issue when it happens, and they tend to release hotfixes quite quickly. Once a hotfix is live, you can go back to using the most recent macOS version.
Loud Noise and Overheating
Even though most MacBook applications do not require that many resources, the problem of overworking the internal fans is still quite noticeable because the overall hardware of the computer is pretty lackluster.
If you have too many applications running simultaneously, the system will not keep up. And the longer these applications are active, the more of a strain they put on the computer. That is why it is recommended to keep tabs on Activity Monitor to close redundant background applications.
Other than conserving system resources, you can also reduce the problem by cleaning the filth that accumulates inside. Dust and other small particles inside the laptop can snowball out of control. You should clean the dust regularly. And if you are reluctant to take the MacBook apart yourself because of potentially damaging the hardware, take the laptop to a computer service store and leave the work to someone with experience.
Finally, if you have some money to spare, invest in a cooling pad. An accessory that costs no more than 50 dollars is a great asset to have as it provides cool air to the MacBook and lessens the burden of the internal laptop fans.
Poor Battery Lifespan
A poor battery lifespan could be present for a few reasons. The first is redundant background applications. A backlit keyboard and other visual effects are another common cause.
If you have a habit of putting the MacBook to sleep instead of shutting it down, change that. The sleep mode is not battery-friendly.
Lastly, do not leave the charger plugged in after the battery is at 100% life. Once the MacBook finishes charging, unplug its charger.
Slow Internet Browser
A slow internet browser performance could be the result of too many extensions and multiple open tabs. Clearing the browser’s cache regularly should help with the overall speed as well.
Of course, the issue could lie with your internet rather than the browser. Call your internet provider and ask them whether things are okay on their end. If there are no issues coming from them, check whether the internet connection is working properly for you.
There might be some third-party devices interfering with the signal. If you use wireless internet, microwave ovens or wireless printers could be the reasons behind a poor internet signal.
FPS Drops in Games
Even if Macs are not optimal for playing video games, some MacBook owners still like to enjoy their hobby. However, if you run into performance issues, such as random FPS drops, or crashes, there are a few things to improve the gaming experience.
First of all, lower in-game settings without sacrificing the visual aspect too much. The MacBook should also perform better if you free up your RAM, especially if a video game is resource-heavy.
Also, make sure that there is enough available storage on the MacBook’s drive. Only a few gigabytes of free space will not cut it.