Tune-up a MacOS Device

Summary	Refresh your MacOS device and help it run better
Author	Maintained by Rob Shin
Help	Get help with this article
Status	Up-to-date for the 2024-2025 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)
- For M version Macs: Shut down the computer. Leave it off for several seconds and the M chip is supposed to detect if there's anything wrong and reset it. Then power it back on. There is no actual keyboard command to reset it anymore.
- 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 M version 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!

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