Is my Mac OK? A 5-minute checkup

What does OK look like?

How do I check the processor and memory? (2 minutes)

1. Open Activity Monitor. It’s in Applications > Utilities, or search for it with Spotlight.
2. Click CPU, then click the % CPU column heading to sort, busiest first. Watch the top for a minute. Apps jump up briefly when they open or save, which is normal. An app that stays at the top is doing sustained work.
3. Click Memory and look at the Memory Pressure graph at the bottom of the window.

Green means your Mac is using its memory efficiently, even when most of it is in use. Yellow means it might eventually need more, and red means it needs more. On this Mac, 14.80 GB of 24 GB is in use with green pressure: fine.

In the CPU list, Final Cut Pro leads at 209.1% while it renders in the background, and the processor is 65.80% idle. Activity Monitor counts each core as 100%, so an app can show more than 100%. If an app you don’t need stays at the top, see Which app is slowing down my Mac?

How do I check storage? (1 minute)

1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click General in the sidebar.
2. Click Storage, and read the bar at the top: used and available space.

Apple doesn’t give one number for how much to keep free, but a startup disk without enough space can slow a Mac down and stop macOS updates. How much free space should a Mac have? explains how much to leave.

How do I check battery health? (30 seconds)

On a MacBook:

1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Battery in the sidebar.
2. Look at Battery Health. Normal means the battery is functioning normally. Service Recommended means it holds less charge than when it was new.

Click the info button (ⓘ) next to it for Maximum Capacity. MacBook battery health and cycle count, explained shows how to read it, and where to find the cycle count.

How do I check for updates? (1 minute)

1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click General in the sidebar.
2. Click Software Update. If an update is waiting, install it.

Updates for apps from the App Store are in the App Store: choose Apple menu > App Store. The Apple menu shows how many are waiting.

What if something seems wrong with the disk?

If apps quit unexpectedly or a file seems corrupted, Disk Utility’s First Aid can check the disk for errors in its formatting and directory structure, and fix some of them.

1. Open Disk Utility, in Applications > Utilities.
2. Choose View > Show All Devices.
3. Select a volume in the sidebar, click First Aid, then click Run. Click Done when it finishes.

Apple says to check each volume, then each container, then the device itself. For a full check of your startup disk, Apple recommends running First Aid from macOS Recovery. If Disk Utility says the disk is about to fail, back up your data and have the disk replaced.

Does this test my Mac’s hardware?

No. These are readings: what macOS reports about your Mac right now. To test hardware, use Apple Diagnostics, which can help find which hardware component might be at fault. Install macOS updates first if you can, shut down, and disconnect everything except your keyboard, mouse, display, Ethernet cable and power.

• Mac with Apple silicon: press and hold the power button until startup options appear, then press and hold Command-D.
• Intel-based Mac: turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold D, until you see a progress bar or are asked to choose a language.

Apple Diagnostics doesn’t repair anything. If it reports a problem, Apple’s page explains the reference code and your service options.

Questions people also ask

Does a Mac have a built-in health check?

Not on one screen. Activity Monitor, Storage, Battery Health, Software Update and Disk Utility each check one part, and Apple Diagnostics tests the hardware.

How often should I check my Mac?

There’s no set schedule. Run this checkup when your Mac feels slow, hot or full, and before a macOS update.

Does a high CPU number mean something is wrong?

Not if the app is doing work you asked for, such as an export or a render. It’s worth a look when an app you aren’t using stays at the top for minutes.

Can I check my Mac’s SSD health?

Disk Utility’s First Aid checks a disk for errors in its formatting and directory structure, and tells you if the disk is about to fail. It can’t find every problem a disk may have.