How to Keep Your Mac in Tip Top Shape While Savings on Costs

When it comes to popularity among electronic devices, Apple products win hands down. In fact, a whopping 64 percent of Americans own some kind of Apple device. As reported by AppleInsider, “Apple becoming America’s favorite company, as 64% own iPhone, Mac, iPad, iPod or watch“.

One of the reasons Apple products are so popular is the fact that they have long lifespans and are known for their reliability.

Apple products may have long lifespans, but, if you want to get the most out of products like your Macbook, you need to make sure you’re taking good care of it.

Read on for some great tips that will help you extend your Macbook’s lifespan without spending an arm and a leg.

Clean Out Old Files

This is especially important if you have a slimmer Macbook model like a Macbook air. Regularly cleaning out your old files helps preserve space on your hard drive and ensures that your computer runs as smoothly as possible.

As a general rule of thumb, you ought to have a minimum of 10 percent of disk space free at all times. For example, if you have a 500-gigabyte hard drive, keep at least 50 gigabytes free. If you can spare it, free up even more room.

Keep Your Desktop Clean

Do you keep all your frequently used apps and documents on your desktop for easy access? This habit makes perfect sense, but it could actually be slowing down your computer.

Macs have to contribute RAM to display every icon on the desktop. The more cluttered your desktop is, the fewer resources your computer has to devote to other tasks.

If you want your computer to run smoothly and have fewer issues, keep your desktop clear. A few folders are fine, but the less clutter, the better.

Run Disk Utility Regularly

All Mac computers come with a Disk Utility program. You’ll find it in the “Utilities” folder, which is located within the “Applications” folder.

This program has two primary functions:

• Repairing disk permissions
• Repairing the disk itself

Running this program a few times per year helps ensure your hard disk remains functional and healthy.

Delay Your Software Updates (for a Couple Days)

As you know, software updates are needed on a regular basis to keep your Macbook running efficiently.

It is important to update your software. But, you may want to delay your software updates for a couple of days after you receive the notification that a new update is ready.

If you wait a few days, any bugs or issues with the update will likely have been taken care of.

This ensures your device will work properly and will prevent any damage that could slow down your computer.

Protect Your Screen

Just like many of us already have screen protectors on our mobile devices, don’t neglect your Macbook’s screen, either. Avoid touching the display, especially if your device’s screen has a matte finish.

Wipe down the screen on a regular basis, too, and consider using a Macbook air screen protector to protect it from fingerprints, dirt, and other issues.

Just like how simple it is to apply a protective covering to your mobile device, the same can be done for your laptop, tablet, or desktop computer — and many of these protectors won’t require a spray to make them stick!

Take Care of the Battery

Be sure to take care of your Macbook’s battery, too. Some good practices to extend the battery life and keep your entire device running smoothly include:

• Use them regularly (run through a full charge cycle once per month) to prevent dead spots
• Avoid using your device in extreme temperatures
• Charge the battery until it’s half-full before storing your device for a long time

If you want to go the extra mile, you can also calibrate the battery regularly to keep it in tip-top shape.

Shut Down Your Apps

Remember to shut down your apps when you’re done with them. Don’t just use the red “X” button. Be sure to “Force Quit” so that you’re not accidentally running programs when you’re not using them.

If you’re not sure which apps you have open, click on the Apple menu in the top left-hand corner. From there, select the “Force Quit” option. Then, shut down all the apps you aren’t using to preserve computer resources.

When it comes to saving memory and battery space on your Mac, it’s all about knowing what applications are pulling the most resources. There are plenty of plugins and tools that can make this monitoring process quite simple.

The more you know about your Mac, the better you can start protecting it — both physically and internally.

Care for Your Power Cord

Many people don’t think about their power cord when they think about keeping their computer in good shape. In reality, though, a worn out or damaged power cord can disrupt your computer’s operating system and lead to data corruption or other damages.

For your MacBook, be sure to buy a new power cord on a regular basis, especially if you notice your current power cord beginning to fray or show wear and tear.

Use a Gentle Touch

Do you have a tendency to pound on the keys when you type? Do you press on the trackpad a bit harder than necessary when clicking on something?

In addition to being obnoxious to anyone sitting near you when you’re using your computer, using a heavy hand can also wear down your computer faster.

Make an effort to use a gentle touch as much as possible. Be sure to avoid multiple presses or repeated clicking when things slow down or aren’t working optimally. This just overwhelms the system and makes matters worse.

Keep It Clean

When’s the last time you gave your Macbook a good cleaning? Can’t remember? You’re not alone.

As reported by many of the top Apple fan blogs, most people aren’t in the habit of cleaning their computers regularly. They also, in many cases, don’t realize how grimy their computer actually is.

Not only is dirt and grime unsightly, but it also can make its way into your vents and ports. This can lead to a variety of serious issues and can even make it shorten your computer’s lifespan.

Use a dry, microfiber cloth to wipe down the screen and keys on a regular basis. You can also use a can of compressed air to get rid of dust and ensure your vents and fans are working as efficiently as possible.

Want More Tips for Extending Your Macbook’s Lifespan?

As you can see, there are lots of things you can do to make sure your Macbook’s lifespan lasts as long as possible.

If you’re looking for more tips to ensure you can continue using your Macbook on a regular basis, we’ve got lots of resources available.

Start by checking out this article on protecting your Mac from ransomware.