Solve Common Problems

Now that you have a collection of basic problem-solving techniques under your belt, it’s time to move on to specific problems. I realize that many problems you may encounter aren’t mentioned here (in which case, move on to Troubleshoot Novel Problems), but these are 21 of the most common Mac problems for which there’s a straightforward path to a solution.

Your Mac Won’t Turn On

One day you sit down at your Mac and press the power button, but nothing happens. No power light, no sounds, a blank screen—no sign of life. This is an especially good time to remember not to panic. Take a deep breath and try these steps in order until the problem goes away:

  1. Check the entire electrical path. (If you’re using a laptop Mac, connect ...

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