If you are a long-term MacBook user, you must be facing certain performance and functionality issues. Apple devices are known for their outstanding performance; however, similar to any other device, they also turn problematic in due course of time.
Though these problems are not major, they hamper productivity in several ways, and it becomes important to take resolution actions immediately. The earlier you remediate common MacBook issues, the better will be the performance, and higher will be the chances to save significant bucks on repairing the device.
Sluggish MacBook Performance
Have you ever been stuck in a situation where you click an app icon and wait for nearly five minutes till it opens? This usually happens when you do not optimize your device for months or even years. Another reason can be that you are trying to open an outdated application. Moreover, the chances are that your laptop is more than two years old and needs to be updated.
DIY Resolutions:
- Disable Startup Programs: The programs that start automatically every time you turn on your laptop can be the potential cause of the slowdown. You can disable the login items by navigating to Users & Groups under System Preferences from the Apple menu.
- Identify Resource-Hungry Processes: You can quit the processes or programs that are consuming higher system resources. Activity Monitor on your MacBook will allow you to Quit or Force Quit these processes. To check if the process is used by another program, click View, then select All Processing, and finally click Hierarchically.
- Scan for Malware Attack: A security threat or virus might be causing the sluggish performance; so, installing an antivirus application can resolve the problem. This could be a serious issue as you might lose access to your important data files or applications, so make sure to resolve it immediately.
Slow Battery Charging
You might get an error message that says, “Low Battery: Your Mac will sleep soon unless plugged into a power outlet.” If there’s a power outlet nearby, the warning does not have much impact. Pull out your Macbook charger, plug it in the power outlet, and switch it on, and your laptop is all set to normal. Try the following resolutions if it’s not charging even after plugging into the wall outlet.
DIY Resolutions:
- Close Battery-Consuming Apps: If your laptop battery seems to be draining twice as fast, it’s simply because you are consuming it twice as much. Click on the battery icon available in the top-right corner of your screen to check the apps that are using the most battery power.
- Tweak Battery Settings: Incorrect battery settings can be the reason behind the cause. Turning off BlueTooth, dimming the screen brightness, or disabling keyboard backlighting can help improve your MacBook’s battery life. Moreover, you can enable the Energy Saver option from System Preferences for better battery performance.
- Check Power Outlet: You might be charging your laptop by connecting it to the wall outlet that itself is not working. Try to connect your phone’s charger to see if there’s a problem with the outlet. If not, you need to replace your wall power outlet; else, it may damage the laptop charger beyond repair.
Poor or No Audio Sound
Are you trying to play your favorite music track and not hearing any sound? There can be a problem with your internal speakers. Check the volume controls to determine that they are not turned down or try to play another track as there might be an issue with the audio output itself. Alternatively, check if your laptop is connected to the right device that you are trying to play audio in. If still, you are not able to hear anything, try the following workaround:
DIY Resolutions:
- Check Internal Speakers: To check that the internal speakers are working appropriately, first remove all additional sound devices such as the headphones, or speakers connected to the device. Go to the Apple menu, click System Preferences, tap Sound, then select Output. Make sure that the internal speakers are highlighted and the Mute checkbox is not selected.
- Connect External Speakers: If the internal speakers are not working, you can connect external or BlueTooth speakers. Make sure that the external speakers are plugged into the right audio port and volume adjustments on the speaker are selected appropriately.
- Connect via Digital Output Port: If you’re using a digital output port, click the Apple menu, tap System Preferences, tap Sound, and then click Output. In the output devices list, ensure that Digital output is selected. Alternatively, make sure that your laptop is connected to a digital-ready receiver through an optical digital cable.
