For seasoned MacBook users, experiencing common issues isn’t a big deal. Things like flickering screens or external devices not connecting aren’t usually very hard to fix yourself, and they’re definitely nothing to worry too harshly about.
When it comes time to fix a MacBook screen on your own for the first time, it’s easy to get worried, but it’s usually quick to resolve and doesn’t take a lot of time. Still, though, if you don’t know what to do, then it’s hard to fix things when it’s needed.
Luckily, we can help you out. Keep reading for 10 common Mac problems and their solutions.
- MacBook Keeps Suddenly Dying
If your Mac is shutting down suddenly, even with a healthy charge, there are a few things that could be wrong with it.
The first thing you should do is hold the power button down until MacOS loads. Once that screen appears, you’re going to choose to restart it again. That might seem redundant, but it’s going to allow your MacBook to perform its full, normal shutdown process.
From there, you’re going to reset the System Management Controller (SMC). This controls a lot of things, including your Mac’s battery charging.
If neither of those steps works, you should take it into the Apple Store.
- Fix MacBook Screen When It’s Blank
There are a few things a blank startup screen can mean, and it all depends on the color that you’re seeing.
A gray startup screen with the Apple logo in the middle usually means your MacBook is having trouble getting important software to work correctly. You should start with attempting to restart your MacBook by holding down the power button for around six seconds.
Once your MacBook is restarted, enter into safe mode. Once there, apply any MacOS updates you can, or try using the disk utility tool to locate and fix any disk problems.
If your screen is blue or black, it might mean that your Mac froze while trying to load a problematic app.
First, you’re going to manually restart your Mac. Then, remove any troublesome apps that you’re aware of. If you’re not aware of any problematic apps that might be present, you can download a program like CleanMyMac to help out.
- External Devices Won’t Connect
First, you’re going to want to check to see if the device is working on other computers. If you find that it is working with other devices, then you’ll know your Mac is the actual problem and not the device itself.
Next, you’ll want to make sure the device is properly plugged into any port on your Mac, and that the port and cable themselves aren’t blocked or broken in any way. Then restart both devices.
If none of those work, then you’re going to want to ensure the device is actually compatible with your Mac. With some older USB ports and newer external devices, this can be a common problem. If everything seems OK with your devices, then you should try resetting the PRAM and SMC.
If that doesn’t work, then you should make sure there isn’t anything internally wrong with the port itself. There could be an internal issue with the port on your Mac that’s keeping it from working. If that’s the case, then it’s time to take it into the Apple Store to get the issue fixed.
- Mac Screen Keeps Flickering
A flickering screen problem often looks like intermittent dimming or even a repeated loss of resolution. There are a few things that can cause this, but there are a few things you’ll need to check in order to be sure.
First, check for any physical screen damage. If you don’t see anything, then you can move to these next few steps.
Check for updates that need to be made, and apply them if you can. If you’re using Firefox, that’s a browser that’s been known to cause flickering in the past.
If you update or delete these apps and nothing changes, then you should attempt to move into safe mode. This will allow you to isolate any other that might be causing the problem.
- FaceTime Camera Has Poor Quality
This problem is noticed the most on any version of MacBook Air models. The FaceTime image is distorted and grainy, but the camera might be fine with other apps.
If you’re having issues with your Mac camera not working for any apps, then you might have to take it into the Apple store. However, if it’s only FaceTime that it’s not working for, then it could be something else.
Usually, a non-working FaceTime camera isn’t linked to any particular hardware issues. It usually has to do with the software itself, and all you can really do is wait for an update to come out for it.
- Mac Isn’t Charging When Plugged In
With this one, you’re going to ensure everything is working properly before you look at the device itself. Is everything plugged in properly? Is the outlet working?
Is your Mac or the charger damaged at all? Has something overheated? If everything is hot, you should step away for a few minutes to allow the Mac to cool down and try again.
If nothing else you try is working, you can go to the battery icon on your screen to see if your battery needs anything. The menu might say it’s time to replace the battery itself.
Fix Your MacBook on Your Own
Luckily, a lot of the problems we discussed today are easy enough to fix on your own. However, if problems become consistent and you find it impossible to fix a MacBook screen or any of the other issues we’ve discussed, it might be smart to take into the Apple Store to have it looked at.
Sometimes, the issue is a quick fix. But other times it might need a little TLC from the Genius Bar.
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