You’ve finally stepped into Apple’s word by making the transition to a MacBook, and you won’t regret it.
MacBooks are smooth, intuitive laptops with a lot of features that other manufacturers don’t have. There’s a reason they’ve become so popular!
However, it’s important to be prepared. Like any brand of laptop, MacBooks come with their fair share of issues. By being aware of these common MacBook problems, you’ll know what you’re up against and be prepared if any of them do happen.
Some are minor, some are more major, but all of them are fixable — whether by you or someone else.
It Keeps Dying Suddenly
You’re in the middle of something and your MacBook has shut down. Is there anything more frustrating?
Your progress is lost, your windows are gone, and you want to make sure this never happens again.
It can be a one-off issue or it can be recurring.
If it happens more than once, or you want to be sure it’s fixed, it’s time to reset the System Management Controller (SMC). This can help resolve hardware and power-related issue.
To reset the SMC for most models, shut down the computer and hold Shift + Option + Ctrl along with the power button for seven seconds. When you let go, your MacBook should boot and your computer should load back up — hopefully with those pesky power issues resolved.
The Loading Time Has Increased, or the Whole Computer Has Slowed Down
After a while, you may notice that your computer has slowed down. The loading times of internet-related tasks may be slower, or your apps might just take a while to start up.
Although this happens to any computer with age, there’s often a simple fix. Many people put their MacBook into sleep mode overnight and never properly shut it down.
Every now and again, it’s essential that you shut your MacBook down properly to give it a chance to rest and recover.
You can also run programs to check for useless, unnecessary files that are clogging up space. Clearing your laptop of large files you no longer need can be a great way to speed up your MacBook.
The Facetime Camera is Grainy
Certain MacBook air models from 2018 have reported a poor quality Facetime camera, although the quality is often much better when using other apps. If you’re buying an older model, you should be aware that the Facetime software has been reported to have poor picture quality.
So what can you do about that if you already bought one?
You can video chat using apps that aren’t the official Facetime app, such as Zoom or Skype, or you can hook up an external webcam.
That’s not as convenient as using the inbuilt one, but users are still patiently waiting for Apple to reveal a software update that will fix the reported issues.
No Internet Connection
The internet is the main thing used on your MacBook. Presumably you want a good, strong, fast connection!
Sometimes, MacBooks will struggle to find an internet connection. Your phone and tablet might be picking up the WiFi fine, but your MacBook can’t.
Check the obvious first — go into the WiFi settings by clicking on the symbol on the top right of your screen and check that it’s turned on.
If it is, you can click ‘Advanced’ to try to manually set up your network.
If this all fails, there may be something wrong with the hardware of your MacBook. If this is the case, it’s time to find someone qualified in MacBook repairs.
It Won’t Charge
Perhaps the most common problem of all is those who find that their MacBook simply stops charging. There can be a few causes of this.
The easiest to fix is the charger. Try plugging another charger into the device and if it charges, then the problem is the adapter. You can buy a new one from Apple.
It might be tempting to buy a cheaper one from a third party site, but these can ruin your battery. Stick to the official ones.
If your laptop still isn’t charging, there might be dust in the port. Try wiping it with a dry Q-tip.
If all else fails, it’s likely the battery itself that needs replaced. Often the battery has swollen.
It Won’t Recognize External Devices
Another issue might be that your MacBook won’t recognize your external device.
If this happens, the first thing you should do is check that the device is compatible with your MacBook. Some devices aren’t compatible with Apple laptops, so a quick visit to the manufacturer’s website should let you know if this is the issue.
If it is compatible, try another port to determine if it’s a problem with a specific port.
If the device still won’t connect, try it on another laptop to narrow down where the problem is — the MacBook or the device. If it can connect to other laptops, you might have to take your MacBook in for a professional repair service.
The Bluetooth Won’t Turn On
Sometimes it’s not the internet that won’t turn on. Sometimes it’s the Bluetooth.
The first thing you should do is always check the obvious. Click the Bluetooth signal in the top right corner and check that it’s turned on.
Click on the device you’re trying to use and manually click ‘connect’. If it’s still not working, there’s likely a software or hardware problem with your MacBook.
You can try restarting the MacBook to see if that solves the issue and if it doesn’t, you might need to get the laptop fixed.
These Common MacBook Problems Are Annoying but Fixable!
Although these common MacBook problems may seem daunting, any computer comes with its potential issues. Many of these are fixable by the user, and the others can be repaired by a professional.
It’s just important to be aware of them so you know what to do if they occur!
For more tech tips, check out the rest of our blog!
Leave a Reply