You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Macbook Air freezing and buggy - what are my options?

Hi,


I'm a longtime Macbook Air user and like to think that I have a good idea of how to handle it smoothly. I'm a scholar, so I don't do anything heavy to strain the machine.


In 2020, I bought my latest one, and have been having problems ever since. Every day, there is some kind of bug, freeze, or other problem. I keep having to restart it. My partner, who got a macbook air around the same time, isn't having any of these problems.


I've tried to chase down the individual problems and reinstalled macOS, which initially seemed to help a bit, but the problems persist.


I'd like to know at this point: what are my options? Is there a way I can take it to the store and have them look at it? can they fix it or replace it?

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 11.2

Posted on Mar 14, 2021 1:26 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 14, 2021 11:36 AM

Probably would need to have someone reinstall and restore your data from a backup.

You may be able to do most of that yourself, instructions online may be sketchy to you.


Plan on a service call, those would not be a warranty item; but may not be full fare.


• Apple Repair and Repair Status Check - Official Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/repair


• Get your Mac ready for service - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209095


• Apple - Find Locations (usually will show nearer AASP/Apple choices)

https://locate.apple.com/


If you try to reinstall or get a latest update to install and hope something there fixes

your MacBook/Air's situation, there are more than one article to try & work through.


• How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904


• Erase and reinstall macOS - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/erase-and-reinstall-macos-mh27903/mac


Sometimes you may have to erase and reinstall; bet is to have known good backup

first; such as Time Machine on external drive, and maybe another on separate one.


• How to create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372


You may want to learn of options that exist prior to ever needing to use them.

There are articles on how-to, some offer additional detail. I've a few saved links.


Similar questions

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 14, 2021 11:36 AM in response to Tharok

Probably would need to have someone reinstall and restore your data from a backup.

You may be able to do most of that yourself, instructions online may be sketchy to you.


Plan on a service call, those would not be a warranty item; but may not be full fare.


• Apple Repair and Repair Status Check - Official Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/repair


• Get your Mac ready for service - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209095


• Apple - Find Locations (usually will show nearer AASP/Apple choices)

https://locate.apple.com/


If you try to reinstall or get a latest update to install and hope something there fixes

your MacBook/Air's situation, there are more than one article to try & work through.


• How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904


• Erase and reinstall macOS - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/erase-and-reinstall-macos-mh27903/mac


Sometimes you may have to erase and reinstall; bet is to have known good backup

first; such as Time Machine on external drive, and maybe another on separate one.


• How to create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372


You may want to learn of options that exist prior to ever needing to use them.

There are articles on how-to, some offer additional detail. I've a few saved links.


Mar 14, 2021 4:44 AM in response to Tharok

There are a few MacBook Air builds that identify as 2020+

including M1 Silicon ~ as well as newer Intel-based Macs.


Technical specs & user guides, follow those shown here.


• Identify your MacBook Air model - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201862


MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

Model Identifier: MacBookAir10,1 (apple silicon)

Part Numbers: MGN63xx/A, MGN93xx/A, MGND3xx/A, MGN73xx/A, MGNA3xx/A, MGNE3xx/A

Tech Specs: MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

User Guide: MacBook Air (M1, 2020)


MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020)

Model Identifier: MacBookAir9,1 (intel-based)

Part Numbers: MVH22xx/A, MVH42xx/A, MVH52xx/A, MWTJ2xx/A, MWTK2xx/A, MWTL2xx/A

Tech Specs: MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020)

User Guide: MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020)


• How to use Safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262


This may help, to troubleshoot &/or resolve minor issues.



Mar 15, 2021 2:53 AM in response to K Shaffer

This is helpful, thank you. As I said, I've already reinstalled OS, but might just have to do it again and wipe all my data.


I guess I'm wondering whether it could be that my computer is somehow defective. I order it with certain specs and it took a month and a half or so to get to me. I thought that maybe there's a twist somewhere deep in there that is causing the problems, and no matter what I do I won't be able to fix it fully.

Macbook Air freezing and buggy - what are my options?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.