The last thing any Mac user wants to be faced with is a computer that doesn’t seem to work properly. Whether you use your device for personal reasons or for work, a computer that doesn’t work is essentially a large paperweight. Therefore, by learning the major issues that arise in the hardware or software of a Mac, a person can be better prepared to troubleshoot issues as they arise.
Hardware vs. Software: What is the Difference?
For those unfamiliar with the terminology, hardware of a device refers to all of the components that are physical. On a Mac, this includes the screen, keyboard, interior components such as hard drives or microchips, and more. Software, on the other hand, is the set of instructions that computers use to manipulate data, run programs, and manage the operations of a device.
Problems with a Mac can occur to both the hardware and software. Developing an understanding of which type of issue you are having can help a person troubleshoot and solve the problem faster.
5 Key Issues Seen in Macs
While there are a variety of different types of issues that can arise in a Mac, a number of problems tend to be quite common. Keep an eye out for the following five problems:
- Lack of permissions
When trying to manipulate data on your Mac, receiving a notice that you don’t have permission to perform the action can be frustrating, especially considering that the Mac is yours. There are a number of ways to change ready only file mac documents or other non-permission error messages, with going through system preferences being the best strategy.
- Mac will not turn on or charge
Attempting to turn on your Mac only to be met with a blank screen is a frustrating and worrisome experience. Equally as concerning is the situation where your Mac refuses to charge. The best way to try and troubleshoot this issue is to attempt a hard restart on the device, but also check to see if the indicator light on your Mac charger is illuminated or not. If nothing seems to work, you will need to take your device into the shop to be fixed.
- External devices won’t connect properly
Going to connect your Mac to a printer, hard drive, or some other device only to see nothing occur is troublesome. In most cases, the problem is with the device you are trying to connect to, rather than your Mac. Try to plug the device into your Mac again and, if it doesn’t work, research whether or not your Mac is compatible with the device.
- The Mac screen starts flickering
A flickering screen may not seem like a major problem, but it can quickly become a nuisance. The most common culprit for this issue is a damaged physical screen that can come from a variety of reasons. However, if the screen is fine, you may need to reset the PRAM on your device or see if there is a software update.
- The Mac is running slower than normal
There is a slew of reasons for why a Mac is running slower than normal but using up too much RAM is a common cause. Check to see how much data has been used on your device and erase nonessential information to clear up space.
Tips for Troubleshooting a Mac
All of the above problems can prove to be extremely frustrating when trying to use your computer. Fortunately, there are a few beneficial tricks and tips that can be used to solve the problem quickly. The next time you run into an issue with your Mac, specifically a software issue, use the following tips:
- Attempt to turn your device off and back on again via restart
- Restart the WiFi your device is connected to if possible
- Force quit any apps that may be taking up too much data
- Boot your computer up in safe mode
- See if there is a new software update
The Bottom Line
The average Mac will likely take years before it develops a major hardware issue, but small software issues can occur at any time. Unless it is a problem with the operating system that requires a full update from Apple, you will likely have to troubleshoot the issue yourself. All of the above issues can potentially occur, so keep an eye out for the common signs and then attempt to troubleshoot with the above tips. In a worst-case scenario, take your device into Apple for professional servicing.