iMac and MacBook users cannot imagine that their devices can run into problems. So when this happens, users are disheartened.
Unfortunately, no matter how amazing Apple products are, they are not flawless, and they do come with their share of issues. But, of course, the problems you will encounter with an iMac are rare and different from those with other products. Plus, the solutions are readily available.
So before you lose your mind, here are some problems you must prepare for and their solutions.
Frozen iMac
Is your iMac frozen? Although iMacs are powerful devices, they can become unresponsive if there are too many apps running simultaneously or too many browser tabs open. In addition, when many items fight for system resources, the result is a frozen device.
You can quickly fix this by trying these:
- Check for unresponsive apps and force quit them.
- Close the browser tabs you don’t need anymore.
- Uninstall apps or remove large files to create storage space.
- Go to the Activity Monitor and stop the demanding processes.
- Clean your desktop and organize the files.
Power-related Issues
If you are facing problems related to your device’s power settings, the quick fix is resetting SMC and NVRAM/PRAM.
SMC and NVRAM/PRAM are essential components responsible for processing and storing essential startup functions.
NVRAM/PRAM is responsible for screen resolution, speaker volume, time zone information, and startup disk selection. In addition, all the power-related settings are controlled through the SMC.
You can reset NVRAM/PRAM by shutting down your computer > turning it on, and pressing the Command + Option + P + R keys > release the keys after twenty seconds or when you hear the start-up sound.
You can reset the SMC by shutting down your Mac > pressing the power button to turn it on, and holding the Shift + Control + Option keys. Then, boot your Mac by releasing all the keys.
Battery Problems
Battery drainage is a common iMac and MacBook problem. If your battery drains faster than expected, restart your system and reset Power Management. You can also reset the SMC, and that will do the trick.
However, before trying to reset anything, check if the battery is having some trouble and if it is time to replace it. Also, you must check the charging cable and adapter to ensure they are not damaged. If that’s causing the problem, you must replace them.
The External Drive is Unrecognized
An annoying problem you would not want to encounter is mounting the external drive but your system not recognizing it. It might be severely troubling if you cannot find the external drive in Finder. But then, how will you access the files?
You must unplug the external drive and then restart your system. Then, connect the drive again. If this doesn’t solve the problem, boot your system in Safe mode to verify whether unnecessary plugins are causing the problem.
You can also try and connect the external drive to a different port. Finally, check if there are any pending drive updates and if there are, click to install them.
If the problem persists, swap the hard drive enclosure.
Kernel Panics
Is your computer starting up for the umpteenth time? Or, is the screen going black, and an error message is seen on the screen? If you encounter this, it means your system is encountering kernel panic.
If you have used a Windows computer before, you must be aware of the blue screen of death. Kernel panics in Mac are similar to this. Unfortunately, the issue occurs without prior warnings and will not let you save your work. So if you are in the middle of a document or project, your work won’t be saved when this problem happens.
The reasons for kernel panics are:
- Outdated drives, plugins, and firmware
- There’s not enough memory space and RAM on your device
- The disk permissions are broken
- The peripherals connected to your system are incompatible
You can fix kernel panics in the following ways:
- Update all the firmware and software by going to System Preferences. Install all the updates and then check if the problem is resolved.
- Check all the peripherals and ensure they are compatible with your system.
- You can start your system in Safe mode so that the apps and software causing problems are disabled
- Upgrade RAM and memory space to overcome kernel panics
- Run First Aid and also Repair disk permission via Disk Utility
You can contact your nearest Apple service center if you need help solving kernel panics. However, underlying issues might need to be resolved, and a technician should handle this task.
Conclusion
iMacs are robust devices that can help you finish tasks and enhance productivity. However, they do run into trouble now and then. The problems mentioned above are common, and now you know their solutions. So it should not be a daunting task working around them.
