Restart your Mac at least once a week

07/06/08 13:04
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OS X is so stable that most people can go weeks or months without having to restart their Macs, and many do. Although this is convenient, it has drawbacks. For one, the more programs you launch and quit, the more OS X’s virtual-memory system has to swap data to and from the hard drive. In addition, some programs have memory “leaks” that cause them to use more and more memory over time. The result is that your Mac may seem slower after it’s been running for a few days or weeks than when you first booted up.




The solution is to periodically restart your Mac; this frees up RAM, purges virtual-memory swap files, and regenerates some cache files. Alternatively, simply shut down at night or when you know you won’t be using your Mac for a while—an approach that conserves energy, too. (You can even use OS X’s Energy Saver preference pane to schedule automatic shutdowns and startups.)

How Often Restart your Mac once every week or two, or whenever you’re experiencing slowdowns. (If you shut down your Mac every night, you’re already set.)
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