For the most part, Macbooks are one of the most reliable computers. Nevertheless, less experienced users and people who neglect to take proper care of their laptops are likely to encounter various issues.
Sure, a small freeze now and then or frame drops while gaming may not be too bad, but what about when things get out of control? At some point, your Mac could become so slow that you cannot do any work on it.
Knowing the most common Macbook performance issues and how to deal with them would save you some time. Remember these tips mentioned below, and they will come in handy when you encounter a problem with your computer.
Issue #1 – Slow Internet Connection
Before you start blaming your ISP, check to make sure that things are okay on your end. If you are using a wireless network, then there may be some third-party peripherals interfering with the connection. For example, a microwave oven or a wireless printer.
Ideally, you should get an ethernet cable. If that is not an option, try different locations in your house to determine whether there is any difference in how fast the internet connection is.
There are instances when the problem lies with the internet browser rather than the connection. People install too many extensions or do not clear the browser cache.
Issue #2 – Spinning Beach Ball
A spinning beach ball may appear occasionally and disappear right away. On the other hand, if it becomes too persistent, you will have a hard time using the Macbook.
Check the Activity Monitor to see which processes are consuming the most resources. Limiting background apps should free up memory and GPU and make the spinning beach ball less frequent visitors on your Macbook.
Issue #3 – Lack of Drive Space
Do not run out of free drive space. If there are only a few gigabytes of free storage, you are bound to encounter performance issues. In some instances, a Macbook may not even start if the drive is too cluttered.
Ideally, there should be at least 10 or 15 percent of free storage. If you are struggling to free up disk space, try the following suggestions:
- use streaming platforms instead of keeping large media files on the MacBook
- delete temporary storage junk, old applications, and downloads
- transfer data to iCloud, Dropbox, or external hard drives
Issue #4 – Overheating and Loud Fan Noise
There could be a few reasons why your Macbook is overheating, or you hear loud fan noises. For starters, make sure that your room is properly ventilated. Not enough air circulation makes it difficult for a computer that has to run at full capacity in the first place.
Besides poor room ventilation, the amount of dust and dirt inside the computer may also be too much at this point. You need to get in the habit of cleaning that filth regularly. Otherwise, it will not be too long before the internal Macbook hardware is damaged.
In case you are reluctant to take the laptop apart yourself because of the risks, take the Macbook to a local computer service store and leave the work in the hands of those who have the experience.
It is also worth mentioning that a cooling pad can help fight to overheat. An accessory provides a source of cool air that comes in handy when the internal Mac hardware becomes too hot, and the fans cannot keep up with the hardware demands.
Issue #5 – Flickering Screen
A flickering screen is usually the result of incompatibility between the operating system and the graphic processing unit.
If the problem appeared after you downloaded the latest macOS version, expect to wait for a bit until the developers release a hotfix. Or, if you do not wish or cannot afford to because you need to use the computer for work or studies, switch back to a previous operating system version.
Issue #6 – Poor Battery Lifespan
A poor battery lifespan is also quite common, especially for those who have older Macbook models.
Limiting resource consumption is one of the best ways to deal with the issue. For instance, you will need to disable visual effects and quit redundant background applications.
It is also recommended to unplug the charger once the battery is at 100%. Lastly, instead of putting the Macbook to sleep mode, shut it down properly.
Issue #7 – Memory Leaks
Memory leaks occur when your computer has been running for a while. The system starts to distribute memory incorrectly, and it causes the system to slow down.
Regular restarts are a simple solution to the memory leak problem. Restart your Mac every few hours, and you should notice significant performance improvements.
Final Thoughts
Encountering certain Mac performance problems and dealing with them should not be that difficult for the most part. However, if you are experiencing trouble, there is an option to take the Macbook to a computer store and have professionals check it.
Besides the suggestions mentioned in this article, you should also keep an eye on potential malware attacks. Finally, investing in hardware upgrades like additional RAM is also worth considering.
