The Best Diagnostic Tools for Mac.
Windows computers have a number of well-known and easy-to-use diagnostic tools, but the Mac people lack that versatility. MacOS is known to be more difficult to work with, and most users find it easier to let specialized technology solve a problem than to solve it on their own.
But if you are from a DIY country, then these tools are for you. We’ve compiled a list of some of the most useful diagnostic tools in macOS to help you figure out why you’re leaking memory, why your CPU is overloaded, and where all of your hard drive space went.
OnyX ( (Opens in a new tab” Download )
OnyX is a free disk utility for Mac that’s perfect for figuring out why things aren’t running as fast and smoothly as they should. OnyX allows you to run diagnostics on your hard drive, perform various system maintenance tasks, and delete caches that you might not even be aware of. It also provides access to many hidden features in macOS.
The best part? OnyX is completely free. The program is constantly updated to work with the latest OS updates, so you don’t need to worry about incompatibilities. The creator releases updates shortly after Apple does, so if they don’t work right after the update, give it some time.
Disk utility
Disk Utility is a disk utility (surprise!) Shipped with macOS that helps you handle disk errors and corrupted files. It’s also an indispensable tool if your Mac won’t boot the operating system. If you’ve never heard of it before, you can find it in the Applications Utilities folder.
Since Disk Utility comes with macOS, it is a free program. If you have a disk that is giving errors, you can run First Aid on it after running the utility. You can also use this utility to create an image of your drive and export it to an external hard drive – a useful feature if your hard drive fails.
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MemTest86 ( Download )
Apple computers are incomprehensible in more ways than just their OS. Many of these make it difficult, if not impossible, to operate or modify equipment. Macbooks tend to have all of their components soldered to the motherboard, but the iMac usually provides a way to replace the RAM. But as anyone who has worked with RAM before knows, it can be faulty.
When you find that your RAM is not working properly, try MemTest86. It is a program that can be loaded onto a bootable USB stick. If you want to use it, just press the Option key while your Mac boots. MemTest86 will check your RAM for instability and help you narrow down possible memory problems.
Malwarebytes ( Download )
Malwarebytes is one of the most commonly used malware testing programs. This is more common among Windows users, but despite popular belief, Macs can fall prey to malware and viruses. Malwarebytes is easy to use. Just run a scan at least once a month or even once every two weeks to make sure your Mac is free of malware.
Even if the chances of a malware infection are low, it’s still good to be safe. A quick scan a couple of times a month will keep you safe from phishing software, keyloggers and more.
DIY diagnostics
As with any tool that allows you to manipulate operating system files, use diagnostic tools with caution. Make sure you fully understand what the commands you are using do before using them.
These tools can be extremely helpful in extending the lifespan of your Mac, but misusing them can cause irreparable damage to your system.
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