This article explains how to perform routine maintenance on a Mac to prevent system deadlocks or malfunctions from occurring. While there are specific solutions for every type of problem that can arise during normal use of a Mac, performing preventative maintenance is always the best solution.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Preventing Critical Blocks
Step 1. In general, avoid running more than one program simultaneously
While Macs are known for their multitasking abilities, any computer or device experiences a physiological drop in performance when the number of programs running exceeds a certain limit. This is especially true in the case of applications that are very demanding in terms of hardware resources, such as those for video editing.
The same goes for browser tabs or windows
Step 2. Identify the programs causing the operating system freezes
Corrupted files, documents, and programs are the systematic cause of a Mac crash. If you notice that your Mac crashes when you use a certain program, file or document, delete that element to fix the problem. Alternatively, move it to an external storage drive on your Mac, such as a USB hard drive.
Once you have determined that a specific program is the cause of the problem, you can force it to close if it no longer responds to normal commands. This way, the Mac will resume normal operation
Step 3. Empty the system recycle bin
Any files you delete from your Mac are actually moved to the trash, where they will remain stored until you permanently delete them. This means that they will continue to take up valuable disk space, even though they are no longer needed. To empty the system recycle bin follow these instructions:
- Click on the app icon Trash can visible on the Mac Dock;
- Click on the item Empty the trash… from the context menu that will appear;
- Click on the button Empty the trash when prompted to confirm.
Step 4. Make sure all installed apps are always up to date
An outdated program could easily be the cause of a malfunction of an electronic device, for example a Mac, an iPhone or a Smart TV. You can update the apps installed on your Mac directly from the App Store. In the case of third-party applications or programs that are not present in the App Store, you will need to update them by visiting the specific website to download the latest version available.
Most programs are designed to automatically notify you when there is a new updated version
Step 5. Use safe mode
When your Mac is in safe mode, you can carry out all the diagnostic checks necessary to identify possible problems with the hard drive or with the structure of the files and folders it contains, since the number of programs running will be reduced to a minimum. This mode of operation is very useful for solving problems that arise when starting the computer.
In safe mode, you can update your Mac's operating system, which may solve problems caused by using a version of the operating system that is no longer supported by Apple
Step 6. Format the Mac hard drive
If all other solutions have not worked and the problem persists, try formatting the hard drive and reinstalling the operating system. In this case, all the data on the Mac will be deleted, so make a full backup of your personal data to an external drive or a clouding service.
- Before adopting this extreme solution, try all the ones described in the article.
- Once the Mac hard drive is finished formatting, you will be able to install the latest version of the operating system available.
Method 2 of 5: Update a Mac
Step 1. Access the "Apple" menu by clicking on the icon
It features the Apple logo and is located in the upper left corner of the desktop. A list of options will be displayed.
Step 2. Click on the About This Mac item
It is one of the options listed at the top of the drop-down menu that appeared.
Step 3. Click on the Overview tab
It is located in the upper left corner of the appeared window.
The "About This Mac" window always displays the "Overview" tab by default
Step 4. Click the Software Update… button
It is located at the bottom right of the "Overview" tab. In this way, the Mac will check for new updates.
Step 5. Wait for the updates to be installed
If there are new updates for the Mac, they will be installed automatically. Alternatively, you will be prompted to update the entire operating system.
Method 3 of 5: Find and Remove Files You No Longer Need
Step 1. Access the "Apple" menu by clicking on the icon
It features the Apple logo and is located in the upper left corner of the desktop. A list of options will be displayed.
Step 2. Click on the About This Mac item
It is one of the options listed at the top of the drop-down menu that appeared.
Step 3. Click on the Storage tab
It appears at the top of the "About This Mac" window.
Step 4. Click the Manage… button
It is located on the right side of the "Storage" tab.
Step 5. Review the current hard drive status
In the left pane of the Mac hard drive occupancy management window, the types of data are listed (for example Applications, Documents, Photo and so on), along with the amount of space they take up on the disk.
For example, you may find that apps installed on your Mac take up 40GB. If the total disk capacity of your computer is 250GB, that is a very large amount
Step 6. Select a data type
Click on one of the items listed in the left panel of the window to view the list of matching files in detail.
For example, you can click on the option Applications to review the complete list of all apps currently installed on your Mac.
Step 7. Delete items that are no longer needed
Select a file or app you no longer use, then click the menu Edit and choose the option Delete. Repeat this step for all files, folders, and programs you no longer need.
Step 8. Empty the trash
Click on the system trash icon visible in the lower right corner of the screen, then click on the option Empty the trash… from the menu that will appear. At this point, click on the button Empty the trash when prompted to confirm your action. All files in the Mac's recycle bin will be permanently deleted.
Method 4 of 5: Check the Hard Drive for Errors
Step 1. Restart your Mac
Click on the Apple logo
located in the upper left corner of the screen, click on the option Restart …, then click the button Restart when required.
Step 2. Press and hold the key combination ⌘ Command + R right after you hear the beep that indicates the start of the Mac startup phase
Step 3. Release the ⌘ Command + R keys when the Apple logo appears on the screen
An advanced menu will be displayed.
Step 4. Select the Disk Utility item
It features a stylized hard drive icon. It is located at the bottom of the window.
Step 5. Click the Continue button
It is located in the lower right corner of the window.
Step 6. Select the Mac hard drive
It is one of the items listed in the left panel of the window, in the section called "Interior".
Step 7. Click on the S. O. S
It is listed at the top of the "Disk Utility" window.
Step 8. Click the Run button when prompted
In this way, the "Disk Utility" diagnostic program will scan your Mac's hard drive for errors.
Step 9. Wait for any errors on the disk to be automatically corrected
At the end of this phase, click on the button end to restart the Mac.
If there are any errors that haven't been fixed, restart your Mac and run the scan again using the "Disk Utility" app. If after scanning more than 4 times, the errors found were not corrected, contact a Mac repair and support service
Method 5 of 5: Force Quit a Locked Program
Step 1. Access the "Apple" menu by clicking on the icon
It features the Apple logo and is located in the upper left corner of the desktop. A list of options will be displayed.
If you can't use the mouse, refer to the final part of the last step of this method
Step 2. Click on the Force Quit… option
It is listed in the center of the drop-down menu that appeared. The "Force Quit Applications" dialog box will be displayed.
Step 3. Select the app or program that no longer responds to commands
Click on the name of the application that you think is the cause of the current Mac problem.
Step 4. Click the Force Quit button
It is located in the lower right corner of the window.
Step 5. Click the Force Quit button when prompted
This will close the app in question. If the Mac resumes normal operation, it means that the program you just closed was the actual cause of the problem. Normally, you can permanently fix the problem by uninstalling the program and reinstalling it.
