Mac Repair – ClickAway Provides Value & Expert Apple Repairs

Mac Repair Since 2002

ClickAway professional technicians offer top Mac Repair in San Jose, Los Altos, Sunnyvale, Campbell, Santa Cruz, Watsonville and surrounding Bay Area cities. Whether you work on a MacBook, edit video on an iMac, talk on an iPhone, you are a big fan of Apple’s style, ingenuity, and intuitive user interface. While some tech scribes might think Apple to be infallible, those of us who use it know that a great design doesn’t render it unbreakable. When one of your Mac devices needs help, visit the Apple Mac Repair Store at ClickAway.

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Frequent Mac Repair FAQ

When your computer overheats, your MacBook’s fan kicks into action. But when it runs too long or too loud, there may be another cause to consider. Let’s answer the question “why is my MacBook Air making a fan noise?”

If your MacBook’s fan is running too loud for too long, and too frequently, you may have a problem. For the most part, fans are a part of laptop life. Humans sweat, dogs pant and laptops generally spin fans to keep cool. Unless you have the tiny, fanless MacBook, then your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air will occasionally fire up its cooling fan to keep its thermals in check. But if your Mac’s fan has gone from occasionally spinning to regularly and loudly spinning, you’ll want to quiet it down.

There are five ways to stop a MacBook Air making a fan noise. It might be that you need to go through all of these steps until your fan finally calms down. Whatever you do, don’t ignore the problem. Set aside a little time to genuinely focus on your fan health, and you’ll continue to get a lot of quality life out of your MacBook — without it sounding like you’re at the airfield. Of course. ClickAway MacBook repair technicians can resolve this for you if you prefer

Trouble shooting – MacBook Air making a fan noise

  • Check your apps and tabs

The more apps and browser tabs you’ve got running, the greater the odds are that your Mac will need to employ its fan to keep things cool. Cut down on your multitasking by closing apps when you are done using them, especially when you are using graphics-intensive apps like Photoshop and iMovie. 

To see which apps are using the most CPU resources, open the Activity Monitor and click on the CPU tab. In our experience, Chrome is more of a resource hog than Safari, so you might try switching browsers for a quieter Web browsing experience. We also suggest using your iPhone to play music and podcasts with iTunes and Spotify instead of keeping those apps running on your Mac.

  • Keep vents clear

The MacBook Pro has vents on its sides and back edge, and the MacBook Air has vents along its back edge. These vents draw in cool air and expel hot air. If you block these vents by resting your laptop on a lap, couch cushion, pillow, bed or blanket, then your Mac is sure to heat up quick. I use a coffee table book to keep my MacBook Pro’s vents unobstructed when sitting on a couch or lying in bed. 

If it looks like a bunch of grime has collected along the vents, you can try blowing it away with a can of compressed air. Of course, you run the risk of just blowing the debris further into your Mac. If that appears to be the case, then you will need to open up your Mac to get under the hood. This is probably best left to ClickAway. We can do it while you wait.

  • Open up and clean

If you really want to do it yourself, get a tiny Phillips-head screwdriver and remove the bottom panel of your MacBook to clean out any dirt, dust and grime that may have collected over the years. Use your can of compressed air to blow away any debris or a lint-free cloth to wipe it away. Pay particular attention to the cooling fan itself and its vents, along with the entire back edge of your MacBook. The goal here is clean passageways for maximum airflow.

  • Test your fans

There is a chance that your MacBook Air making a fan noise and overheating is there’s something wrong with the cooling fan itself. Baked into your Mac is a hardware diagnostic tool. If it was made prior to June 2013, you’ll use the Apple Hardware Test. After that date, you’ll use Apple Diagnostics.

These tools operate in a similar fashion. With your MacBook plugged in and all external peripherals removed, restart it and hold down the D key to start either diagnostic program.

Follow the onscreen instructions to start the test. The standard test takes only a minute or two to complete and will report any hardware issues. For a more thorough investigation, you can check a box to run an extended test that will take an hour or more to complete.

There are three codes, all starting with “PPF,” related to the cooling fan. If you get one of the results that indicates there may be an issue with your fan, it’s time to contact Apple if you have Apple Care with your MacBook. If you don’t, visit your nearest ClickAway Mac Repair technician for a repair or ask for a computer tune up.

  • Reset the SMC

If your Mac is clean and grime-free and you are keeping your apps and tabs in check your MacBook Air making a fan noise continues, try resetting the System Management Controller (SMC). The SMC is responsible for controlling low-level functions on your Mac including “thermal management,” aka the cooling fan. Follow  opens in a new windowApple’s instructions for resetting the SMC. Any questions can quickly be answered at ClickAway.

upgrade ram on MacBook Pro

To upgrade ram on MacBook Pro you have to consider the pros and cons. Apple Mac users look to speed up their devices by upgrading RAM on MacBook Pro or upgrading the hard drive. Is it worth spending the extra bucks or potential software dilemmas?

If a MacBook is lagging, taking unusually a lot longer to boot, and applications are quite slow to respond, the current configuration might not be capable of running the latest iteration of macOS as well as the newer version of apps installed on the device. Due to the outdated or low configuration, Mac often takes too long to boot and even apps feel relatively slow while running.

An upgrade RAM on MacBook Pro can fix your slow MacBook. If your MacBook is taking a lot of time while opening apps or during multitasking like switching between apps, chances are high that its RAM is unable to run multiple apps simultaneously or perhaps some resource-hogging apps aren’t leaving much RAM for others to run smoothly. Hence, upgrading the RAM can help you make your Mac run much better.

As for the hard drive, it’s used to store a variety of data including photos, videos, music, documents and so on. Not just that, hard drives are also used to store data for apps and the operating system that runs on the computer.

So, Can You Upgrade RAM on MacBook Pro?

Unfortunately, it’s not possible to upgrade RAM on most modern MacBooks (including the latest MacBook Pros and MacBook Airs) since in these notebooks the RAM comes soldered to the motherboard of the computer. However, you can upgrade RAM on older MacBooks such as MacBook Core 2 Duo, MacBook Unibody, MacBook Pro 13” (Mid 2009-Mid 2012), MacBook Pro 15” (Late 2008-Mid 2012), and MacBook Pro 17” (All Models).

Is There Any Catch?

Even after upgrading the SSD/HDD on your Mac, you may not be recommended to use the latest iteration of macOS i.e macOS Catalina due to the processor and RAM restrictions. In this case, you will have to opt for an older version of macOS that can run smoothly on the notebook. The tradeoff of the speedy and smooth performance of your MacBook is something you have to decide.

As for upgrading the MacBook hard drive, you can do so on most models. But note that MacBook SSD upgrade – especially from HDD to SSD – is not possible on all the models. So, the right way to go is to contact a trusted MacBook repair company such as ClickAway and ask for advice.

Back Uo Data Before Mac Upgrade

Before doing a Hard Disk upgrade on your Mac be sure to back up your data. You can use Time Machine or iCloud to back up all of your important files. Be warned that you may have to reinstall some licensed software. So, ensure that you have the license key for those applications.

Category: Mac Repair

Your MacBook Pro is a highly functional Mac machine with a lot of intricate parts that all work together to keep it operational. The more moving parts a machine has, the more potential there exists for these parts to generate heat. There are multiple reasons to answer “why does my MacBook get so hot?” It’s normal for your Mac to be slightly warm during normal operation. There is a big difference between warm and hot when it comes to a computer. If your MacBook Pro is running hot, you should probably take some time to figure out why this might be or call a ClickAway Mac Repair technician.

There are some quick things to cool your Mac down and also some warning signs that might indicate it’s close to upgrade time. A hot computer can lead to some short-term and/or long-term problems with your device. It can cause damage with the hardware. Important pieces like your hard drive and CPU can become damaged when exposed to constant overheating and this can cause them to operate poorly and possibly fail over time. Similar to other expensive machines, like your car, you don’t want it running hot for long.

If critical pieces of hardware become damaged, this can lead to poor performance. Excessive overheating of your MacBook Pro can cause it to run really slowly, freeze up all of the time, and generally not operate like it is supposed too. A really hot Mac can also shut down automatically and this can lead to potential data loss if you don’t have things saved when your Mac attempts to protect itself.

Possible reasons – why does my MacBook get so hot?

  1. Age. One initial consideration to note is the age of your Mac. The older a Mac gets, the harder its fans have to work to keep everything cool. If age is the reason for overheating, you might have to get a new machine at some point in the near future. ClickAway offers great pricing on new Macs and can transfer data and do the setup for you. Ask us for a quote.
  2. Demanding and Runaway Apps. If you’ve had your Mac for a while, chances are you have a bunch of different apps installed on it. Usually this is no problem, but if you have apps installed that are very demanding of CPU or maybe a third-party app that is stuck in a loop, it can cause your computer to heat up quickly.
  3. Soft Surfaces. I know it’s in the name of the Mac, but just because it’s called a laptop doesn’t mean a lap is the best place to keep your MacBook Pro. Soft surfaces like a bed, a blanket, or even carpet on the floor may be comfortable but they also can cause your Mac to heat up. This is basically due to the fact that there is poor air circulation when you place your computer on a softer surface and it needs proper airflow to help it keep cool. If you run several of these demanding apps at once or have multiple apps open without knowing it, your Mac can heat up in a hurry.
  4. It Might Be Dirty. Your MacBook has vents, covers, and other openings from the outside to the interior that can get dirty and lead to overheating. ClickAway provides a cleaning and tuneup service to help resolve “why does my MacBook get so hot.
Why does my MacBook get so hot
Category: Mac Repair
force restart MacBook Pro

Force restarting MacBook Pro, MacBook Air or another MacBook is generally considered a last resort. If the worst happens and your machine freezes up, it’s the quickest way of getting things running again. ClickAway MacBook repair techs offer a free basic diagnostic if you care to bring in it one of our Bay Area computer repair shops.

Before taking this extreme option though, it’s worth making sure that you’ve exhausted all potential software solutions. 

  • If it’s just an application that’s frozen rather than the operating system, hold down the Option (⌥) key then right-click the offending app’s icon in the Dock and select Force Quit.
  • If the OS is frozen but the mouse cursor still responds, click the Apple () symbol in the upper left corner of the screen and select Restart. Otherwise, try holding down the Control (Ctrl) key and pressing the power button. If the system shutdown dialog appears, select Restart from the available options.

On MacBooks with physical function (F1–F12) keys, the power button is the key in the upper right corner of the keyboard (if it’s an older Mac with an optical drive, this is also the Eject button). On a 2018 ‌MacBook Air‌, the power button is the ‌Touch ID‌ button in the top-right corner of the keyboard, and on a MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar, it’s the ‌Touch ID‌ surface on the rightmost side of the Touch Bar.

How to Force Restart MacBook Pro & Other Models

  • Press and hold down the Command (⌘) and Control (Ctrl) keys along with the power button (or the ‌Touch ID‌ / Eject button, depending on the Mac model) until the screen goes blank and the machine restarts.

If your MacBook repeatedly freezes and you’re unsure what’s causing the problem, consider restarting your Mac in Apple Diagnostics mode to check if it’s a hardware issue. ClickAway Mac Repair techs can always help you with force restart MacBook Pro and other models if needed.

Category: Mac Repair

Are you asking the question “why is my MacBook Pro so slow?” There can be several reasons why a Mac isn’t performing as it should, but they are often due to one or more of the following:

  • The Mac is old or its hardware can’t keep up. At some point the processor, drive, amount of RAM and/or graphics card simply can’t keep up with the latest software. New versions of macOS are generally compatible with Macs going back several years, but if yours is among the oldest supported by the current operating system, it may not have what it takes to be fully efficient.
  • There is a hardware problem. One of the components in your Mac has failed or is failing.
  • There is a software problem. The operating system or specific applications are not working as they should.

MacBook Pro So Slow – Troubleshooting Steps

Troubleshooting a MacBook Pro so slow is a process of elimination. And troubleshooting can take a time which is why ClickAway Mac Repair technicians are here to do it for you. But if your Mac is getting slow and you want to try and resolve it yourself, follow these troubleshooting steps to find what’s wrong and hopefully make it faster.

Back up your data

Whether the cause of your MacBook Pro so slow is hardware or software, the first thing to do is ensure that you don’t lose any data. If there are hardware issues, then your Mac could potentially stop working, or your drive could be corrupted. You can use Apple’s Time Machine to back up your Mac. If you have multiple backups, and your Mac fails, having two backup solutions is the best way to ensure you don’t use data. Sometimes backups get corrupted, or their drives fail too.

Restart your Mac

Restarting your Mac is quick and easy, or at least it should be. When you restart your Mac, it clears the memory and forces any processes that may have been stuck to reload. The amount of time it takes for your Mac to go from black screen to loading your desktop can also be a good indication of where to look for issues. Most Macs, regardless of configuration and operating system version, should be up and running in no more than one minute or two; Macs with SSDs should go to the login screen in seconds. If the startup process takes longer, this doesn’t give clues as to what’s wrong, but it does suggest that something is happening when the Mac loads macOS rather than later. 

If the restart process takes a long time, try again after disconnecting any peripherals connected to the computer, especially hard drives. Sometimes problems with external hard drives can slow down Macs, as the Mac is trying to read and perhaps index the drive. At other times, even keyboards or mice can have issues that conflict with your Mac. 

macbook pro so slow
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Check Resource Usage

If a restart did not solve your MacBook Pro so slow issues, or only fixed them for a short time, you should check how your Mac’s hardware is being used. Is your Mac using too much RAM and running out of memory? Are certain stuck processes causing your Mac to slow down? MacOS has a useful utility called Activity Monitor. This utility gives you a live view of your Mac’s processor, RAM, energy, disk, and network usage. You can find this utility in Applications > Utilities.

First, set up Activity Monitor to make it easy to use:

  1. From the View menu, select Update Frequency, and then set it to its lowest value, 5 seconds. This makes it easier to see what’s happening; the display won’t change too quickly.
  2. In the same menu, make sure you check All Processes. Processes are apps that you see, and those that run in the background; your Mac runs dozens of different processes. Activity Monitor shows all processes in real-time. The information is sorted into different tabs that display processes in the category specified, and each one can help you narrow down the issues you’re having. ClickAway MacBook repair techs can answer any questions you have about Activity Monitory.

Check available storage space

One common cause for Mac slowdowns is when your startup drive gets full. You need disk space to store files, but also to use virtual memory. If you run out of space on your drive, then any task where virtual memory is needed may be slow. 

To check your Mac’s available storage, go to the Apple Menu > About This Mac > Storage. If you’re running out of space on your drive, you’ll need to move some files. Again, ClickAway is here to help you with any data backup or data transfer needs you may have.

If you frequently run low on drive space, then you’ll need to move files to an external drive, and consider upgrading the drive in your Mac, if possible, or getting a larger drive on your next Mac.

Test the Hardware

Is your Mac just spinning when you ask it to do something? Your software may not be the cause of MacBook Pro so slow. A failing drive, faulty RAM, or other hardware issues can sometimes cause the same type of symptoms. For example, the dreaded spinning beachball could be caused by a software or hardware problem.

Using the above steps, if the issue is caused by software, you should have a pretty good idea of what the culprit is; however, to test your hardware some different tools are required. There are tools built into your Mac you can to use to help identify hardware issues that may cause a slow Mac.

You can use Disk Utility to test your Mac’s hardware. Disk Utility is an app that you can use to erase, format, and partition drives, and you can also use it to check if your drives are running smoothly. You can find it in Applications > Utilities.

Select your drive and click the First Aid button. This is a good first check, and you can run it on your startup drive, or external drives, to check their integrity. Disk Utility will tell you if your disks are running correctly, will repair some issues, and will tell you if there are more serious problems that it can’t fix.

Take Your Mac to An Apple Expert

When you have checked the software and the hardware but can’t find anything wrong, you can always get more help. If you have Apple Care support for your Mac, call Apple, and they’ll help you. If not, take the Mac to ClickAway. We will do checks of the hardware and the operating system, and let you know what needs to be done and how much it will cost. Our computer tuneup service can speed things up as well by looking at the OS, RAM, temporary and duplicate files, dust in the fans and much more.

Apple doesn’t take things lightly and neither do we. Thus, we have experienced Apple computer repair technicians on staff at every location to make sure we accurately diagnose and fix your problems. Our Mac computer repair prices are $99 an hour, which includes a free basic diagnostic. You’re entitled to know what is wrong with your favorite device and our professional technicians will walk you through the issues. Repair options will be fully understood before we get started.

With an Apple computer repair appointment we provide on-site service and can make a visit to your home or office too. For low onsite MacBook repair costs, ClickAway provides the convenience you need if you aren’t able to stop in. We can even arrange a free pick up or delivery. A desktop can be a hard thing to bring around sometimes. So we can come to you, making the process even easier. Some of our Apple desktop and Apple laptop repair services include:

Apple Computer Repair Near Me - Upgrades Too!

Where to get your iMac, MacBook Pro, Mac mini or MacBook Air fixed and how much it will cost? Ask for a free quote today. This also goes for water damage to your MacBook, MacBook Pro, Mac Mini or other Apple products. Over 850,000 customers highly recommend ClickAway for all repair services, whether you have an older laptop or need an Apple repair on the latests models. ClickAway professional technicians have been here sine 2002.  

How do I get my Apple computer fixed?

To get service for your Mac, you can make a reservation at ClickAway, either in store or we can come to your home or office. Before you pay a dime, we do a free diagnosis to identify the problem and then give you a cost estimate on getting it fixed. Depending on what the issue is, you might be able to get it back the same day. If the repair is more involved, we can offer you a loaner device to use.

How much will it cost?

If your issue isn't covered under warranty, we will give you a price that most likely beats everyone. Most warranties do not cover excessive physical damage, including catastrophic damage due to liquid contact or submersion, or damage caused by the presence of hazardous materials.

Battery service

If you're experiencing an issue with your battery, your Apple MacBook might not require a repair. Your Apple battery service might be covered by warranty. If not, ClickAway provides the lowest prices for out-of-warranty battery service.

If you're looking for other Apple Repair services, try our iPad Repair page or iPhone Screen Repair. For other tips and advice on using and protecting your Apple computer, follow the ClickAway Blog.

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