It’s no surprise you’re using a MacBook. After all, Apple devices are known for their reliability. You can use an Apple product for years and never experience any issues.
However, that doesn’t mean you will never experience problems in the future. Below are eight common MacBook problems that you can expect to see when using a Mac.
Table of Contents
1. Failed Startup
One of the most common MacBook issues happens when your device doesn’t start correctly. When this happens, you’ll see a blank or gray screen where your system should start.
If you want to solve this problem, the first thing to do is boot up in safe mode. When your MacBook is first starting, hold the shift key during the process. You can release the key when the Apple logo disappears and the login screen appears.
Once you boot into safe mode, run a diagnosis on your system disk. This process will tell you if anything is wrong with your disc and will repair it if it can.
2. Lengthy Login Times
When you first get your MacBook, your login time will be blazing fast. Your system is optimized for performance, so the last thing that should happen is for your computer to boot slowly.
Things change as time goes on and you start installing software on your device. Many applications add themselves to your startup list so they can launch when you boot your MacBook. While this does make starting these programs quicker, it slows down your login process.
If you think your login time is too long, you’ll need to look through your startup items for anything you don’t want to start on boot. You can find this list in your system options under the users & groups section.
3. Slow MacBook
Your login time isn’t the only thing that can slow down as your MacBook gets older. As time goes on, you might notice that you’re running a slow MacBook that makes it challenging to get anything done.
The first thing to check on is your memory use. If you leave web browsers open all the time, the memory they consume can grow and slow down your computer. Restarting your MacBook or web browsers will clear that memory and return things to normal.
If this doesn’t help, you can look at what’s using your memory on your MacBook. Check out https://setapp.com/ to learn more about clearing out programs from memory that are slowing things down.
4. Loud Fans
It’s essential to keep your MacBook running at a reasonable temperature during use. That’s why the devices use fans to blow hot air out of the units.
Typically, you don’t hear these fans when they run. They can, however, start getting loud when they have to work hard to cool down your MacBook.
One of the most common reasons this happens is because of dirt and debris. Check your vents for dust or anything else that could cause obstructions. Clean out as much as you can and leave your MacBook to see if the fans start working less.
5. Kernel Panic
Is your MacBook randomly rebooting? If so, the chances are good that you’re receiving kernel panic messages before the MacBook restarts.
A kernel panic happens when your MacBook fails to operate as intended. Part of the operating system crashes, and that causes your whole system to go down.
One of the most common issues that cause kernel panics is external devices. Unplug everything you have and use your MacBook as usual. If you don’t get any more kernel panics, start plugging in devices until you find one that causes a kernel panic.
If unplugging devices doesn’t work, you’ll need to reboot to safe mode to run diagnostics. If the scans don’t find anything, it might be necessary to reinstall the Mac operating system.
6. Wrong File Associations
You’ll deal with a lot of files as you work with your Mac. Most of the time, you won’t have a problem getting files to open with the correct application. However, that won’t always be the case.
This usually happens when you download a new file type that your Mac has never seen before. It doesn’t know what application to use, so it needs help to find the right one.
To change the default application for a program, select the file you want to open. Press the Cmd+I combination to open the application select window. Once here, you can change the default program, so the file opens correctly in the future.
7. No WiFi
While many regular computers still use ethernet connections to connect to the internet, Apple has started moving in a different direction. There are many types of MacBooks, and not all of them use Ethernet connections any more. While it is simpler for users, it’s a problem when the WiFi connection fails.
Luckily, there are a few simple things you can do to fix this problem. The easiest way is to reset your WiFi connection. Go to your system preferences and click on network settings. From here, find your WiFi connection and tell your computer to forget it.
You can add the connection again once it disappears. In most cases, your connection will reconnect and start working again.
8. No Bluetooth
Bluetooth is becoming much more common in consumer tech products today. Wireless connections haven’t always been reliable, and Bluetooth solves that problem. However, they don’t always work correctly.
If your Mac’s Bluetooth connection isn’t working, the first thing to check is your individual product. Find any other Bluetooth device you have to see if it connects. If so, you’ll need to troubleshoot your specific product and not your Mac’s Bluetooth to find the problem.
If that doesn’t work, try restarting your Mac. The Mac’s memory can cause issues for Bluetooth products at times, so restarting will clear out any problems.
Learn How to Fix MacBook Problems Before They Happen
The last thing you want is to get stuck with a broken MacBook and have no way to figure out what’s wrong. If you learn about common MacBook problems beforehand, you can learn how to fix issues yourself. Keep learning how to take care of things, so you’re prepared for the future.
If you found this post helpful, check out our latest posts for more great tech tips.
