Apple’s macOS is a reliable operating system but it does encounter issues from time to time which require attention.
Issues with macOS often lead to problems with a MacBook or iMac and we are here to show you how you can troubleshoot some of the most common MacBook repair issues, such as a slow system, or crashing or unresponsive applications. These Mac repair tips include Boot into Safe Mode and Reset SMC. Check them out!
1. Reboot Mac
Rebooting your Mac, whether it is a MacBook or iMac, is oftentimes the simplest and quickest Mac repair solution.
This solution is particularly effective if a single application is acting up. For example, if Photoshop is not responding by closing and reopening, you can reboot your iMac or Mac to fix this problem. As you already know, Macs reboot quickly, so you will get your MacBook or iMac up and running in no time!
2. Reset the System Management Controller (SMC)
In short, SMC plays roles in controlling thermal and power management, battery charging, video mode switching, sleep and wake, hibernation, and LED indicators. It also enables enforcement of the macOS End User License, allowing macOS to identify when it is running on non-Apple hardware. If your MacBook or iMac is slow at responding or not turning on properly, you can reset the SMC.
To reset the SMC, take these steps:
How to Reset the SMC On an iMac
- Power down your Mac.
- Unplug the power cord.
- Wait for 15 seconds.
- Plug the power cord back in.
- Wait five seconds, then press the power button to turn on your Mac.
How to Reset the SMC On a MacBook With a Non-Removable Battery
- Power down your MacBook.
- Unplug the MagSafe or USB-C power adapter from the MacBook.
- Using the built-in keyboard, press Shift-Control-Option on the left side of the keyboard, then press the power button at the same time. Hold these keys and the power button for 10 seconds.*
- Release all keys.
- Reconnect the power adapter.
- Press the power button again to turn on your Mac.
*If you have a 2016 MacBook Pro with Touch ID, the Touch ID button is also the power button.
To learn more about resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac, check out this Apple support article.
3. Change into Safe Mode
To change into Safe Mode, restart your Mac and immediately press and hold the shift key until you see a progress bar at the bottom of the screen. This indicates that your Mac is booting into Safe Mode, which deletes a couple of additional caches. Once your Macbook or iMac is in Safe Mode, reboot normally without holding the Shift key.
To learn more about Safe Mode, check out this Apple support document.
4. Reset PRAM and NVRAM
iMac and MacBook store certain settings in a special memory area even if it is turned off (unless there is a battery issue). On an Intel-based MacBook or iMac, this is stored in a memory known as NVRAM; on PowerPC-based Macs, this is stored in a memory known as PRAM.
To reset PRAM and NVRAM, take the following steps:
- Turn off your computer.
- Turn on the computer.
- Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys before you hear the startup sound.
- Hold the keys down until the computer restarts, and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
- Release the keys.
To learn more about how to reset NVRAM on your Mac, see this Apple support article.
5. Delete Cache Folders
Your Mac and most applications make heavy use of caching, but the cache files can become corrupted, causing a wide variety of odd issues.
To clear your caches, open Finder, press Command + Shift + g, and type in ~/Library/Caches. Inside the Library, you will see a Caches folder. Go into that folder and drag its contents to the trash (Command + Shift + Delete). Make sure you do not delete the contents of the Library folder, but only the content of the Caches folder.
Repeat the same steps with the following Caches folders:
- /Library/Caches
- /System/Library/Caches
For the two Caches folders above, macOS will ask for permission by requiring you to enter your user password. Once the contents of all three Caches folders are dragged into the trash, restart your Mac and only then empty the trash.
6. Update to the Latest Version Of macOS
Apple fixes bugs and issues during every new release of macOS. If you are experiencing problems with an older version of OS X or macOS, Apple will likely address these problems in their newer release.
To update to the latest version of macOS, click on the Apple icon on the top left hand side and select System Preferences.
Then, select Software Update.
Still searching for “MacBook repair near me” or “iMac repair near me” after these tips? Book a Mac repair appointment at a Mac repair shop near you! We have Mac repair stores across Greater Vancouver in Burnaby and Surrey, and across Calgary. We offer a complimentary diagnostic assessment so you know exactly what you are paying for. We look forward to seeing you then!