Is Your Mac Acting Up? Here's What to Try First

We've all been there. You're in the middle of something important and your Mac decides to freeze, run slow, or just act weird. Before you panic, here are some simple things you can try yourself.

Quick Fixes That Often Work

Restart your Mac. I know, it sounds too simple. But a restart clears out temporary files and resets things that might be causing problems. Hold the power button for 10 seconds if it's completely frozen.

Check your storage. Click the Apple menu, then "About This Mac," then "Storage." If you're running low (less than 10% free), your Mac will struggle. Try emptying the Trash or moving big files to an external drive.

Close apps you're not using. Right-click on app icons in the Dock and quit anything with a dot underneath that you don't need. Some apps are memory hogs, especially web browsers with lots of tabs open.

Check for updates. Go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs) and look for Software Update. Sometimes bugs get fixed in updates.

Related Things to Think About

If your Mac is running slow, it's also a good time to think about backing up your files. Problems can sometimes be a warning sign, and you don't want to lose your photos and documents.

Also consider whether it might be a security issue - weird pop-ups or your browser acting strange could mean something unwanted got installed.

When to Get Help

If you've tried the basics and things still aren't right - your Mac keeps crashing, runs hot all the time, or is painfully slow even after a restart - it might be time for a deeper look. Sometimes there are hardware issues or corrupted system files that need professional attention.

Need a hand? We're happy to help folks in Orange County and the Hudson Valley. Drop us a line and we'll figure it out together.