Quick Start
This book describes a step-by-step process for maintaining your Mac. You may do the tasks within a chapter in any order, but I strongly suggest first following the steps in Start on the Right Foot.
Get ready:
- Get your Mac into the best possible shape by updating software, getting rid of old files, setting up a backup system, and performing other preliminary tasks. Read Start on the Right Foot.
Perform periodic maintenance tasks:
Every day, update your backup, download software updates, and empty your inbox. See Perform Daily Tasks.
Once a week, perform maintenance such as cleaning up your desktop, backing up your disk, and installing software updates. See Perform Weekly Tasks.
Once a month, empty your Trash, check your disk for errors, test your backups, do some light cleaning, and exercise your notebook’s battery. See Perform Monthly Tasks.
Once a year, give your Mac a good cleaning inside and out, make extra archival backups, get rid of extraneous files, check your UPS battery, and more. See Perform Yearly Tasks.
Save time by skipping unnecessary work:
- Learn why you can probably avoid six common maintenance tasks in Maintenance Tasks to Skip.
Handle macOS upgrades with ease:
- Learn what you need to know to be ready for the next version of macOS in New Releases of macOS.
Avoid or fix problems:
- Catch potential problems early, or troubleshoot them if need be. See Monitor Your Mac’s Health and Learn More.