7 Common Issues on Mac and How to Troubleshoot Them

While Mac computers are extremely efficient and user-friendly machines, they still have their issues. Here are some common ones and how to fix them.

Mac’s are popular computers. They’re long-lasting life, powerful processing, and offer a wonderful user experience.

Like all computers, your Mac is just as susceptible to complications and small issues that can throw off your entire day. Many of these stem from the computer’s age as older computers will experience more problems. Other issues come from outdated software or running out of memory!

The good news is there are plenty of Mac troubleshoot tips that don’t require a trip to the Mac Store. That gives you more time to focus on your work rather than fixing your computer.

Are you experiencing tiresome issues on your Mac? Check out these helpful Mac troubleshoot tips to get your Mac running like new.

  1. Startup Is a Struggle

When a MacBook starts, it should automatically show your desktop. A blank or gray screen means you’ll need to reboot it using Safe Mode. Safe Mode allows your Mac to reboot but only with the essential drives and software made available.

Enter Safe Mode by pressing and holding the Shift key as you start it. Keep holding the Shift key until the Apple logo disappears from the screen, which can take anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. During this time, your Mac is automatically running diagnostics.

Leave Safe Mode by restarting your computer without pressing any keys. Your Mac should start as usual.

  1. The Spinning Wheel of Annoyance

This spinning wheel is a sign of a slowdown or a frozen app. If it’s happening more often, you’ll need to find out what’s causing it before it gets worse.

Start by opening the Activity Monitor, which you can Spotlight search or find under Utilities in your Applications folder. You’ll see a list showing all of the apps currently running and how much of your computer’s resources they’re using. That should include CPU and memory used.

Find and click the app that’s giving you issues. Click the X in the upper left corner of the screen. A dialogue box will pop up, asking to confirm the action. Press Quit or Force Quit to close the app.

You should be able to restart the app and be good to go.

  1. Mac Battery Charging Trouble

Even the newest MacBooks run into battery charging trouble. You should note that you can’t remove or replace your MacBook battery. If you do need to replace it, have a professional from Apple do it for you.

First, check the outlet, cord, and adapter. Try charging your computer in another outlet. If that doesn’t work, then try another charging with another cord and adapter.

If it works, you may need to replace your charging cable or adapter.

If the above doesn’t work, reset the System Management Controller (SMC) in your Mac. There are several different ways to do this based on your Mac. If the problem persists, you will need to take your MacBook to Apple Support.

  1. Bluetooth Connection Issues

Today, most Mac accessories are Bluetooth compatible. Yet, the accessory you’re trying to pair your Mac with doesn’t show up under your Bluetooth devices.

Learning how to pair your devices and how to fix mac Bluetooth not available problems is a straightforward process. Click above to learn more.

  1. The WiFi Conundrum

Your phone, tablet, or other devices have zero trouble connecting to the WiFi. Your Mac, on the other hand, decides to throw a tantrum and say there’s “No Internet Connection.”

The quickest solution to this common Mac issue is to forget the network. Navigate to your Network page through System Preferences or a Spotlight search. In the lower-left corner of the page, click Advanced to view your Preferred Networks list.

It is the list of the WiFi networks you’ve connected to in the past. You Mac stores them for future use.

Scroll through and find the name of the network you’re trying to use. Click to highlight it and press the minus button below the window. That will remove the network from you Mac’s memory.

Now you can click on your WiFi icon at the top of your screen and reconnect to the network. Secure networks will require you to re-enter the password.

  1. Insufficient Storage Space

Running out of space in your Mac is never a fun situation. Fortunately, there are many Mac laptop tips to fix and prevent this in the future.

Begin by deleting old files and apps you don’t need. Photos and videos, for example, take up a lot of memory. If you don’t need ‘em, trash ‘em! The same goes for unused apps, which you can always reinstall should you need them later.

You can view what items are taking up the most space by navigating to the Apple icon at the top left of your screen and selecting “About This Mac.” In the dialogue box, select Storage from the list at the top. You’ll get a breakdown of the different apps, software, and media that’s eating up space.

Click the Manage button to review your memory-saving options. You can empty your Trash, export to iCloud, or manually manage files.

If you can’t part with your work, invest in an external hard drive. Transfer all of your important media and documents to the external drive and remove them from your Mac. It also makes for a great backup if your computer crashes.

  1. Mac Refuses to Shutdown

A disgruntled app is the most common reason why your Mac won’t shut down. A bouncing icon in your dock will tell you what app is causing the problem.

One option is to continue holding the power button until your computer shuts down. But this can cause accidental deletion of any open documents.

You can Force Quit the app by clicking Option (control + click) on the icon in the dock. Pressing Command + Option + Esc will bring up a list of all active apps for you to Force quit.

Sometimes, it may take your Mac several minutes to close down as the Mac will automatically save and close programs. That is normal on older Macs or if you left several apps open.

Make Life Easier with These Mac Troubleshoot Tips

Are you tired of experiencing small issues with your Mac? By following these Mac troubleshoot tips, you’ll be able to fix the most common Mac issues in no time!

Check out our latest Science and Technology articles to learn more great tips to make your life easier!