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5 Tips to Improve your MacBook Performance

Haruna Hosokawa Updated by Haruna Hosokawa

Below are five tips to improve your MacBook performance and keep your computer running smoothly.

Please contact the BPSTechnology Service Desk at 617-635-9200 if you have any questions about these tips or if you have tried these steps but your computer is still having performance issues.

1. Keep your software updated.

Check your applications and operating system for the latest updates. Go to your menu bar on the top of your screen and click on the application name. Most applications have a "Check for Updates" link that will locate any available updates.

You can also check for updates by clicking on the Apple icon on the top left corner of your screen and going to System Settings > General > Software Update.

Screenshot of system settings window

You may also be prompted to update if you have the application set up to automatically download updates. Be sure to accept the updates as they come.

The Chrome browser will alert you with an "update" icon at the top right corner when there is an update available. Click on the icon to update it.

If an application is damaged or not working, you can also try to reinstall it.

2. Clear your browsing data and review browser extensions.

Both Safari & Chrome can experience issues with too much stored browsing history, downloads, and cached data. Clearing the data regularly can help resolve common browser issues and improve speed.

Removing or disabling unused extensions will also make your computer run more smoothly. Free software like PDF converters sometimes bundle and install unwanted extensions that take over your browser and need to be removed.

3. Keep your computer free of extra files and applications.

Your computer will slow down if it is low on memory. Keep your device clear of extra files and applications so that they do not take up extra memory.

Click on the Apple icon on the top left, go to About This Mac, and select the Storage tab to check how much storage you have remaining on your computer.
  • Close tabs and applications when they are not in use. If you need help managing your tabs, OneTab is a Google extension that helps you save and organize all of your important tabs. It is useful if you need to close tabs and reboot your device. You can also check out Google Chrome Tab Groups. Tab groups allow you to close your tabs and access them at a later date.
  • Refrain from installing applications for personal use. All applications use up memory and processing power. Keeping personal applications off your device will help ensure your MacBook runs smoothly by not using up extra resources.
  • Back up and delete extra data to free up storage. Follow these tips for backing up if your device is running short on memory.
  • Empty trash periodically. Files in your "trash" are not deleted until you empty the trash. Right-click the trash icon and select "Empty Trash" to delete the files. Be careful as this action can not be undone.
  • Monitor your Downloads folder. Downloaded files stay in the Downloads folder until they are deleted. Look through your folder and delete any unused files.

4. Shut down your device routinely.

Quitting all applications and shutting down your device periodically clears unused data (cache) and helps keep your device running smoothly.

5. Check for malware.

Be careful when downloading and/or installing free software and only install downloads from trusted sources.

Malware is software designed to cause issues on your computer or steal data. At times, it is bundled with free applications and is unintentionally downloaded and installed on your computer.

If you believe that your computer has been infected, you can use a program like Malwarebytes for personal use to scan and remove any potentially malicious files. Please also review your installed applications in your Applications folder for non-standard/unknown software.

Please contact the BPSTechnology Service Desk at 617-635-9200 if you suspect that you may have malware on your device.

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