Tune-up a MacOS Device

This article is...

	Show some love to your Mac by giving it a tune-up OR visit the help desk and we’re happy to help you out!
	Intended for Employees, Students and Parents
	Categorized under Google
	Maintained by Rob Shin
	Up-to-date for the 2022-2023 school year.

General Maintenance Tips

• Prevent data loss: Time Machine backups OR put everything into Google Drive
• Upgrade the operating system to the latest version
• Keep your software up-to-date in the App Store and elsewhere
• Reboot the machine regularly (once per week is good)
• Delete stale wireless preferred networks in Network Preferences.
  • NOTE: If you use iCloud Keychain, any wireless networks you have connected to, on any Apple device also connected to iCloud Keychain, will appear in the list of preferred networks.
• Zap the PRAM (also called NVRAM)
  • Reboot, then hold command-option-P-R until you hear the chime twice
• Boot into Safe Mode by holding Shift during the startup chime
  • This will clear the Mac's cache files; just log in (twice if you have FileVault turned on), and then restart once more
  • For M1 and M2 Macs,
    • Shut down the laptop
    • Power on while HOLDING the power button
    • Options and disks will appear
    • Hold SHIFT key and click "Continue in Safe Mode"
• Install anti-virus software (we use Sophos at RCS)
• Review the Trash and empty it
• Review contents of Downloads folder and delete files that you don't need
• NOTE: You're also welcome to open a ticket and we can assist you with a performance tune-up!

Browser Fixes

• Chrome Task Manager - like the Activity Monitor, but for Chrome (if you use Chrome)
• Check browser extensions / add-ons: Running a lot of them can slow down your browsing
• Clear your browser (especially Chrome): history, cache, passwords - these things can dramatically speed up Chrome
• Restart your browser: Especially after clearing things above
• Reset your browser: This is a last-case fix, so come discuss with the Tech Dept before doing this