A MacBook is usually a choice of the heart. That makes it all the more disappointing when your beloved MacBook doesn't work the way it should. The most common problems MacBook owners report to us have a simple fix. Read on to find out what to try before you tuck your Mac under your arm and set off for our repair shop.
RECOMMENDATION: before you start on our tips, back up the data on your MacBook. You can read how to back up your data here.
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Your MacBook keeps crashing or freezing out of the blue
Only a black screen appears at startup
The camera doesn't work in Skype
An external device doesn't work
The Mac's screen flickers
The sound cuts out
The MacBook is slow
The MacBook won't charge
MacBook Air – Wi-Fi problems
Bluetooth won't turn on
Your MacBook keeps crashing or freezing out of the blue
The MacBook freezes and for a while nothing works at all. Then the screen goes black and the system usually restarts. Not only is this annoying, you usually lose any unsaved work in progress as well.
How to fix it
STEP 1: check that your MacBook is charging properly. If it isn't, skip straight to our tip on what to do when a MacBook won't charge. But if the Mac crashes even when it's fully charged, that points to a different problem.
STEP 2: when the Mac crashes, restart it with the power button. As soon as macOS has started up again, restart the Mac once more. This way the MacBook goes through a proper, full system recovery.
STEP 3: now reset the SMC (System Management Controller). It controls many important hardware processes such as battery charging, sleep modes and more. You can read how to reset the SMC in our guide.
STEP 4: if this procedure doesn't work, it's time to visit a repair shop – the problem will be a more serious one.
A problem with your MacBook? Come and see us! We specialise in Apple products.
✆ 607 855 558
✉ info@appleguru.cz
Only a black screen appears at startup
When startup fails, screens of various colours can appear, each indicating a different problem. If you see a black or blue screen that doesn't go away, it's most often a sign that the Mac froze while launching a problematic app or login item.
How to fix it
STEP 1: restart the Mac by holding down the power button for about 6 seconds.
STEP 2: uninstall the apps or login items that may be causing the problem. How do you find out which ones they are? Try a program such as CleanMyMac, for example.
The camera doesn't work in Skype or the picture quality is very poor
If the camera works in other apps, the problem is usually not the hardware but the program itself, or rather its compatibility.
How to fix it
STEP 1: check that you have the latest version of the program. If not, update Skype.
STEP 2: if the problem persists, restart the Mac and test Skype again.
However, if the camera doesn't work in any program, it's a hardware problem, and then a visit to a repair shop is in order.
An external device (e.g. an external hard drive) doesn't work on my Mac
How to fix it
STEP 1: first check whether the external device works properly on another computer.
STEP 2: does it work? Then make sure it's plugged into the correct port on your Mac, and check whether the USB port on your computer is damaged or blocked in some way.
STEP 3: restart the Mac and, if need be, the device.
STEP 4: if the connection still doesn't work, make sure the device is compatible with your MacBook and is plugged into the correct USB port. This problem typically occurs with older USB ports and newer types of device. You can try plugging a different device into the same port to find out whether the port is the problem.
STEP 5: If everything seems to be in order, try resetting the PRAM/NVRAM and SMC by following our guide.
The Mac's screen keeps flickering
Flickering shows up as intermittent dimming of the screen or a loss of resolution that repeats very quickly. There can be several causes.
How to fix it
STEP 1: check the screen for physical damage.
STEP 2: check that you have the latest version of macOS. If not, update your computer.
STEP 3: do you use Chromium or Firefox? Both of these programs are known for ‘flickering’ on Mac computers. Uninstall them and see whether that solves the problem.
STEP 4: if the problem hasn't gone away, reset the PRAM/NVRAM and SMC by following our guide
The sound cuts out
How to fix it
STEP 1: find out whether the problem is caused by a particular app you're using. Do other apps (e.g. iTunes) work without any trouble? If so, update the app, or uninstall and reinstall it.
STEP 2: the sound problem isn't tied to just one app? Then try resetting the PRAM/NVRAM and SMC by following our guide
STEP 3: the reset didn't help either? Then it's a hardware problem. Has the computer been physically damaged (by a knock or a spill)? In that case nothing will help but a visit to a repair shop and a thorough diagnosis of the problem. Here at appleguru.cz, fault diagnostics are free of charge.
The MacBook is very slow
In most cases the computer slows down simply because you're doing too much at once. You have too many windows and apps open and your Mac's RAM is overloaded.
How to fix it
STEP 1: optimise the way you work on the computer – keep open only the programs you really need to work with.
STEP 2: tidy up your computer – clear unnecessary files and data off your hard drive and free up space. A regular clean-out benefits the computer in many ways. Don't forget to cut down on the files on your desktop. All those icons really do bleed your computer dry.
STEP 3: restart. Sometimes it's as simple as that.
STEP 4: open Activity Monitor and check whether some app is running in the background and needlessly eating into your memory. This can also be a sign of malware or some other problem.
STEP 5: run an antivirus scan and Apple Diagnostics to see whether they pick up a problem.
STEP 6: if the slowdown is accompanied by unusual noises as well, head for a repair shop. We'll check whether it's a hardware problem or overheating.
The MacBook won't charge
Your Mac is plugged in, and yet the battery is at zero.
How to fix it
STEP 1: start with the simplest things – does the socket work? Is everything plugged in properly? Is the charger or the cable damaged, or is the cable kinked anywhere? Remember that chargers and computers alike can overheat and need to cool down before they start working again.
STEP 2: if all of that is in order, restart the Mac, update the system, or try resetting the PRAM/NVRAM and SMC
STEP 3: still no luck? Hold down the Option key on the keyboard and click the battery icon in your menu bar at the same time. This takes you to the advanced settings for your battery. If the menu indicates that it's time to replace or service the battery, bring the computer in – to us at appleguru.cz, for instance. We're based in Žižkov, Prague, but you can also send us your computer safely by courier.
MacBook Air – Wi-Fi problems
Mac notebooks occasionally have trouble connecting to a Wi-Fi network, and MacBook Air models suffer from these dropouts most often. Wi-Fi trouble is also more common if you don't own an original Apple router.
How to fix it
STEP 1: the fix that helps in 80% of cases – a restart. First try turning Wi-Fi off and on again (the surest way is to unplug the router from the socket for at least 30 seconds and plug it back in). If that doesn't help, restart the Mac.
STEP 2: if the problem still persists, try following this detailed guide from Apple Support.
Bluetooth won't turn on (or off)
How to fix it
STEP 1: go to System Settings (System Preferences) and choose Bluetooth. Check the settings and pay attention to the devices you've paired in the past. And sometimes the fix really is that simple – just turn Bluetooth on in this menu 😊
STEP 2: is everything fine in the settings? Then check that your Mac is up to date, and restart both the computer and the Bluetooth device. Try moving to a more open space. Sometimes the problem can be interference from another device connected via Bluetooth.
STEP 3: open Terminal (the command line) and manually force Bluetooth to restart. Type the command:
“sudo rm -R /Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth.plist” and press Enter. If you're asked for a password, type your password and confirm with Enter again. Now restart the MacBook, turn Bluetooth on and check that it works. If you don't feel up to this more demanding operation, we'll be happy to help you here at appleguru.cz.
Problems with your MacBook? Come and see us! We specialise in Apple products.
