Compared to laptop PCs, MacBooks have a much longer life. They can last twice as long as PCs, and even longer than some, surviving five years or more. But just because they have the potential to last a long time, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have to look after them. They can only live up to their full potential if you give them a chance and care for them to make them last longer.
There are lots of things you can do to improve the lifespan of your MacBook and ensure that it doesn’t die before it needs to. By being careful with it when you’re transporting it and using it, as well as keeping both the hardware and system clean you can keep your MacBook for years.
Laptop Bags
Firstly, although laptops are designed for you to transport them, you need to be careful when you’re carrying yours around. It’s a good idea to get a bag that’s specially designed for carrying a laptop and, even better, one for MacBooks. A laptop bag will have appropriate padding and hug your laptop to protect it. If you don’t use a laptop bag, try a protective case. Check in your bag for anything that could damage your MacBook and even get inside it, like coins or pens.
Clean Outside
Cleaning the outside of your laptop will stop dust and other dirt getting into the insides of your machine. Turn off your Mac before cleaning it and use a soft cloth to wipe around the outside. It’s best not to introduce any moisture into your laptop, but you could use a wipe if there are marks that refuse to budge. Clean the keyboard and pay attention to ports and fans to make sure your system keeps operating well.
Clean Inside
You need to keep your MacBook’s system clean on the inside too. It’s already well-protected from viruses and other malicious material. But you might want to install additional anti-virus software. To keep your MacBook running quickly, you can also use a tool to clean all of the junk files regularly from your computer. These include tools such as CleanMyMac and MacKeeper, which will safely remove any files that you aren’t using.
Set it Up Properly
Where you choose to store your laptop when you use it at home or work is just as important as how you treat it while you carry it around. Put your MacBook in a cool place, away from direct sunlight where it could get too hot. It should be on a flat and stable surface to allow the fans to work, and you should keep it away from any liquids. Make sure it’s protected from any adverse weather conditions and that nothing can get stuck in any of the ports or openings.