Macbook Maintenance Tips to Extend Its Lifespan & speed it up!

Have you recently purchased a new Mac and would like to use it for a very long time? If that is the case, you will have to create a maintenance strategy and stick to it. Otherwise, it will not be too long before you have to deal with various performance problems.

The consistency should be your main focus. If you do not wish to spend money on a new computer sooner than you want, continue reading this article, and you will find out about some of the best tips for maintaining your Macbook in top shape.

Tip #1 – Remove Junk Files

Junk files are a good place to start. Temporary backups, app plugins, extensions, and caches do not take the most hard drive space, but the sheer number of files that the system has to deal with will require a certain amount of computer resources.

You can look to remove the junk manually, but be ready for some time-consuming work. It will also require backups since there is a chance you may delete something accidentally.

On the other hand, you can simply get a cleanup utility tool and use it to remove the unwanted data. Look at what is available on the official app store. Or you can find more cleaners here and pick one that would suit you the best.

Tip #2 – Get a Reliable Antivirus

There are always potential risks of getting your Macbook infected with malware or virus. Cybersecurity threats are dangerous even if this is your personal computer and not one related and connected to a company you work for. 

Make sure that your antivirus is reliable and will remove any potential threats the moment they are detected. Also, be more wary about the websites you browse. Consider installing an ad blocker extension. It will help to avoid pop-ups that could redirect you to malicious landing pages.

Tip #3 – Manage Applications

Pay more attention to applications that are running in the background. Activity Monitor will allow you to sort processes by resource usage. You will not be able to remove some apps as they are part of the system and cannot be replaced.

At the same time, you could have installed stuff that is no longer of any use, and having it run in the background makes no sense. Shut down such apps without any hesitation.

Tip #4 – Keep Hard Drive Free

Hard drives have to have more than just a few gigabytes of free space. You will run out of disk space quite soon if you are not careful. Macs have their cons as well, and the available storage space is not something that everyone can with simply.

You will have to transfer some of your data to clouds or external storage devices. The files that are useless, like old downloads and email attachments, can also be removed without worrying about it too much. 

Tip #5 – Prevent Memory Leaks

Memory leaks are a phenomenon that you should not be worried too much about, but paying attention to it should still be something important.

Applications that you do not close and let run in the background will start to distribute memory to locations that they should not. It is not something you can notice immediately. However, when the computer starts to stutter and slows down, it would be better to restart it.

That is correct. The easiest solution to memory leaks would be to simply restart the computer. If you do this every few hours or so, it will help with keeping things in check.

Tip #6 – Clean Dust and Dirt Inside

Taking the Mac apart yourself is a bit risky, especially if you have no experience. Thus, it would probably be better to ask a professional in a repair shop to do the work for you. 

Clearing all the filth that accumulates inside should be a regular thing. Do not neglect it, even if the work itself is a bit dirty. Otherwise, it will not be too long before you have to deal with damaged hardware.

Loud fan noise and heat coming from the computer are giveaways that there is too much dirt inside. You should take care of the problem at your earliest convenience. 

Tip #7 – Declutter Desktop

Some have a habit of cluttering their desktop with random files and are too lazy to clean it after. It may be convenient to have access to data with a single click, but you are not doing the computer system any favors.

Each icon on Mac’s desktop will consume resources. You should have a clutter-free desktop and keep the files in proper locations.

Tip #8 – Reinstall the OS

Reinstalling the OS is not something you should consider too often. On the other hand, if you have tried other suggestions and things are not working in your favor, giving the system a fresh start could be a good idea. But remember to back up files you want to save because everything gets wiped after the reinstallation.