MacBooks are pricey, and many people purchase them as investments in their work and social lives. On average, they last longer than other laptops, but only when they’re taken care of properly. If you’ve recently bought a Mac and want it to last as long as possible, this post is for you.

We’ll talk about all the steps you can take to give your MacBook a long life. Our list includes directions on caring for the battery, the chassis, and the software. Let’s get started.

1. Maximize Your Purchase Budget

As time passes, the programs you run on your computer (from its operating system to third-party software you download) tend to get larger and take more disk space. As a result, your remaining storage space and memory will get smaller and smaller as you try to store and load your data.

So a good way to future-proof your MacBook is by maximizing your budget when buying it, and getting a laptop with more storage space and RAM.

It’s more important to assess how much RAM you’ll be needing. This is because while you can still buy external hard drives for additional storage quickly, upgrading RAM on the new Macs is hard and expensive.

2. Use Protective Cases

Once you have your MacBook with you, start by protecting its chassis. There are three main areas here: the chassis, the screen, and the keyboard:

MAKEUSEOF VIDEO OF THE DAY

For detailed guidelines on this topic, read our MacBook physical protection guide.

3. Handle Your MacBook With Care

Snap-on cases and rugged sleeves don’t mean that a MacBook can get damaged. It’s still important to be careful while moving the laptop around. Poor handling adds to the laptop’s wear and tear over time.

For example, opening the lid in a rough manner might not damage the MacBook immediately, but doing it as a habit can gradually lead to its hinges loosening up.

The takeaway is to handle the MacBook with care at all times. This includes keeping it away from places where there’s a chance of it getting damaged or wet, like leaving it next to a drink or on the edge of a tabletop.

4. Use the Battery Wisely

MacBooks have excellent batteries. They can easily last more than five years if you use them properly.

The trick is to not drain your MacBook’s battery needlessly, and only use it when you’re traveling or aren’t near a power socket. At other times, keep the power adapter plugged in and let the laptop drive power from the socket directly.

This technique uses less battery, keeps its cycle count low, and most importantly keeps the battery’s charge capacity high. In general, the lower the cycle count, the healthier the battery remains.

Related: How to Check Your MacBook’s Battery Cycle Count and Why it Matters

Additionally, try to find out ways to improve your MacBook’s battery life, like using the right browser and optimizing battery settings. Keeping the battery in a healthy state can help you make your MacBook last longer.

5. Replace the Battery When It Wears Out

Equally important is to know when to change the battery. Even if you keep the cycle count low, the battery will eventually wear out—it will lose charge capacity. However, this should much slower compared to those batteries that are used often.

Look at the maximum cycle count Apple has designed for your MacBook, and keep checking cycles occasionally. Once the count is reached, replace the battery. This will ensure your MacBook lasts longer in terms of both battery and its overall life.

6. Regularly Clean the Laptop

Regular cleaning ensures your MacBook doesn’t accumulate dirt—which is hard to remove and can lead to damage (scratches and permanent stains) when you do remove it.

Here are some steps to follow:

For detailed instructions on cleaning, read our MacBook cleaning guide. The cleaning extends to the internal hardware as well. However, it can be difficult to clean the internals yourself; it’s better to take your MacBook to a technician every six months and have it serviced internally.

7. Service the Ports Often

Your MacBook’s ports need separate care. If they get too dusty, they often don’t function properly. Brush the ports lightly to keep them clean. You can use a spare toothbrush for this. Just be careful you don’t damage any of the connectors inside.

On Apple Discussions, some users from humid areas complained about their MacBook ports getting rusty. Carefully plug-in devices and look at the health of the cord you’re inserting into them. In worse cases, a rusty cable can permanently damage your MacBook’s ports and stop them working anymore.

Silicone plugs from HDE are good at preventing rust, dust, and humidity problems. You can plug them into your MacBook’s ports and prevent dust from getting into them. Remove them when you have to plug in cables, and put them back in when the laptop is idle or inside its sleeve/bag.

8. Protect the Power Adapter

Your MacBook’s power adapter is expensive and just as delicate as the laptop itself. Be sure to prevent the adapter from getting damaged. While handling with care is the obvious option to do this, you can go with a protective pouch, like the one by iKammo.

Along with the adapter, you’ve got to be careful with the cable too. While you can change the post-2015 USB-C and 2021 MagSafe cables, you can’t do so with the pre-2015 cables. If it gets damaged or wears out, it slows down charging, becomes dangerous, and even breaks, in worse cases. Buying new ones from Apple still costs you around $80 for these MagSafe adapters, so it’s best to use them carefully.

You can protect these cables by tubing them with Alex Tech’s tubes.

9. Avoid Third-Party Chargers

Another key to making your MacBook last a long time is to charge it with official chargers. Third-party chargers are often unsafe, and here’s why:

10. Don’t Tolerate Any Problems

If there’s any problem with your Mac, try to troubleshoot and fix all the problems or get in touch with Apple Support straight away. The longer you let problems hang around on your Mac, the bigger chance there will be that they cause irreversible damage.

Consistency Is the Key to Your MacBook’s Longevity

If you develop these habits, you’re sure to have a long-lasting MacBook. It all breaks down to consistently maintaining your MacBook to get the most out of it.

Start from day one by setting up your MacBook right. Ensuring you have activated service and support coverage to access the warranty if things go south is one thing you should do right after you get your new Mac.

We hope you like the items we recommend and discuss! MUO has affiliateand sponsored partnerships, so we receive a share of the revenue from some of your purchases. Thiswon’t affect the price you pay and helps us offer the best product recommendations.

8 Things You Must Do After Buying a New Mac Read NextShareTweetShareEmail Related TopicsAbout The AuthorHashir Ibrahim(20 Articles Published)

I love adding value to the web. Nowadays, I'm obsessed with creativity and systems.

MoreFrom Hashir Ibrahim

Join our newsletter for tech tips, reviews, free ebooks, and exclusive deals!