Cut down on utilities and services that run in the background
You can also just drag and drop files and folders over to an external hard drive-a good idea for those who are also backing up files that no longer fit on their Mac-or use an online cloud-based service. A full Time Machine backup is one option, and is probably the easiest way to clone your entire hard drive for easy restoring later on. Making it a habit to back up your data every week or two can save you the heartbreak of having something go wrong and losing a slew of files that you can’t salvage from anywhere else. (Once you’re done checking out this page, be sure to see our 2021 macOS Big Sur setup guide for even more Mac security, privacy, and performance tips) Backup your data regularlyĮven Macs can crash, run into hard drive problems, or contend with other issues that could put your data at risk. Use the eight tips listed below to keep your Mac running like a well-oiled machine for years after first use. Like all other computers, though, your Mac is not immune to slowdowns, bugs, and other problems, and it’s up to you to keep your machine happy, healthy, and safe. Macs are sleek and slick computers that can run well for years after you take them out of the box.