17 MIN READ TIME

COMMON MAC PROBLEMS SOLVED

We reveal some of the scariest, most common Mac problems and show you how to solve them

AREYOU EXPERIENCING problems with your Mac? If so, don’t be scared and freak out because there may be a quick and easy way to solve the problem. Over the following pages, we cover the most common problems that people experience with their Macs and outline possible solutions to fix them. Of course, nothing is 100 per cent guaranteed to work perfectly, and you may have to try multiple work–throughs to solve a particular issue, but hopefully we have all of the possible solutions outlined here in some shape or form.

Before you do anything, though, try working through the quick–fix solutions on the right, as often something as simple as restarting your Mac can resolve certain problems, especially if you aren’t in the habit of doing so. Not having hundreds of apps open at the same time can also improve your machine’s responsiveness, as every process can have an impact on your Mac’s processing speed. Hopefully, with our help you can get your treasured computer firing on all cylinders again.

QUICK–FIX SOLUTIONS

Perform these simple steps first to see if they resolve any problems you’re having with your Mac

1 RESTART YOUR MAC

Turn it off and on again. Yes, that may sound like a tired old cliche, but often minor issues are resolved with a quick restart — especially if you haven’t done so in months.

2 UPDATE YOUR MAC

Launch System Preferences and then click on the “Software Update” option to check that your system software is up to date. Sometimes an out–of–date OS can affect your apps.

3 FORCE QUIT APPS

If certain apps are sluggish or unresponsive, then consider force– quitting them. To do this, click on Apple > Force Quit, select the app and then click on the “Force Quit” button.

4 CLEAN YOUR DESKTOP

Having hundreds of files loose on your Mac desktop can cause it to perform sluggishly over time. Right–click on the desktop and choose “Use Stacks” to restore some order.

5 RUN FIRST AID

Open your Mac’s Disk Utility app, select your Mac HD, then click on the “First Aid” button to run and check to see if any obvious problems are flagged.

6 BACK UP EVERYTHING

At the first sign of trouble, and if you don’t already, connect an external drive to your Mac and go to System Preferences > Time Machine to start backing up your files.

DRIVE SHARING

I HEARD THAT IT’S POSSIBLE TO RIP CDS TO MY MUSIC LIBRARY, EVEN IF MY MAC DOESN’T HAVE A CD DRIVE, BY SHARING THE DRIVE OF ANOTHER MAC. HOW IS THIS DONE? You’re right that you can share the CD/DVD drive of another Mac (see below). However, this sharing feature doesn’t actually work with audio CDs or copy–protected DVDs (most commercial DVDs), making it useless for your requirements. It can be useful for accessing creative projects from disc, though. For ripping CDs you will need to connect an external drive, like the Apple USB SuperDrive, to your Mac.

Unlock this article and much more with
You can enjoy:
Enjoy this edition in full
Instant access to 600+ titles
Thousands of back issues
No contract or commitment
Try for 99c
SUBSCRIBE NOW
30 day trial, then just $9.99 / month. Cancel anytime. New subscribers only.


Learn more
Pocketmags Plus
Pocketmags Plus

This article is from...


View Issues
Mac|Life
February 2021
VIEW IN STORE

Other Articles in this Issue


START
IT’S BEEN SWELL, INTEL…
The old saying that “history repeats itself” never
START
FEED YOUR MIND. FEAST YOUR EYES
MacBook Air
Apple’s most popular Mac just got better
Mac mini
The tiny Mac is now faster and cheaper, with great connectivity
13–inch MacBook Pro
The M1 chip makes its debut in the latest update to the pro’s favorite
CRAVE
THE GEAR WE’RE LUSTING AFTER
Feature
POWER UP YOUR MAC
How well do you know macOS? With Big Sur newly arrived, follow our tips and brush up on the basics that can save you seconds every, well, second
Make Big Sur work for you
Get more efficient access to macOS’ bits and bobs
Commands at your fingertips
Via keyboard, mouse or trackpad, there are cleverer ways to do things
Finder, files, and apps
Navigate your storage and software with macOS’ convenience features
A place for everything
Make more room for your docs and data with extra storage or cloud magic
Pep up your performance
Keep your Mac running smoothly and find its weak spots to see where tweaks could help
REVIEWS
REVIEWS
TOUGH TESTING, TRUSTED RATINGS
HomePod mini
The little speaker with a big, big sound
iPhone 12 mini
Finally — smaller hands get the iPhone they deserve
iPhone 12 Pro Max
Capture stunning stills and richly detailed HDR clips with this top–of–the–range device
Luminar AI photo editor
A great way for novices and experts to enhance images
Plugable Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station
The TBT3–UD1–85W provides compact connectivity
Twobird
Get your email under control: this is Gmail done right
AUSDOM AW635 webcam
An affordable way to upgrade a lower resolution webcam
Papalook PA452 webcam
A decent upgrade for most in–built Mac cameras
The best iPhone 12 cases
Magnetic cases to keep your iPhone protected
OWC Envoy Pro Elektron portable SSD
Rugged, fast data storage for people on the go
Logitech MX Anywhere 3
Have magnetic scroll wheel, will travel
TripMode 3
Control Big Sur internet use
Nanoleaf Shapes Hexagon
Colorful, configurable panels that’ll light up your home
APP LIFE
APP LIFE
THIS MONTH’S MOST INTERESTING iPHONE & iPAD APPS
Reeder 5
A superb RSS reader
Craft
A terrific tool for writing and editing
Streaks 6
Start and stick to good habits
Unmemory
A murder mystery like no other
BestPhotos 3.0
A powerful time–saving app for photographers
6 apps to declutter your iOS device
Clear out the cruft and bring some order to your digital life
Best of the best
Can’t find the hardware or app you’re looking for in our reviews section? Then check in here — we’ve highlighted the best in every major category, as voted for by us
HOME LIFE
HOME LIFE
BETTER LIVING THROUGH SMARTER TECHNOLOGY
CREATE
Ask
TECH SUPPORT & TECHSPLANATIONS
CREATE
HOW TO DO ANYTHING ON YOUR MAC, iPHONE & iPAD
Enjoy Music in full screen
Your Mac’s Music app doesn’t just have a Mini Player, you know
What’s new in Ulysses 20
One of our favorite writing apps is more useful than ever
Overhaul your Mac audio with SoundSource
Your Mac has never sounded as good as this app makes it
Run an older OS in a Virtual Machine
Keep using older apps when you’ve upgraded to Catalina or Big Sur
Picture–perfect video calls
Your Mac’s webcam is terrible — improve it with the help of your iOS device
iOS system maintenance
Use iMazing’s tools to keep your iOS device spick and span
Spatial audio
Directional audio for AirPods Pro
RAM
Macintosh LC
Adam Banks remembers the pizza–box Mac that brought the Apple experience to the masses
Chat
X
Pocketmags Support