Turning Your Computer Off & On
Keeping a computer, phone, or other device on for a long period of time can cause a variety of issues to pop up. Often times, the easiest way to fix these issues is to simply turn the device off, let it sit a minute, and turn it back on. This allows the computer to flush any settings or problems may have been accumulating and start fresh. Think of it like a helpful rest for a human!
Just closing the lid of your computer & opening it up again is NOT shutting down your computer. That will just put it to sleep, which accomplishes very little. It is important to do a full shutdown on a regular basis.
There is a certain way of doing a computer restart that is more effective than others. Here's how to best turn your computer off and on.
Turning Your Computer Off Properly
While there are many way to actually power off a computer, the best way is whatever is built into your computer's operating system. In the case of a MacBook, this is to hit "Shut Down..." from the Apple menu.
Once you have begun the shutdown process, please wait until your computer is completely off before continuing/closing the lid. You can tell that your computer is completely off if you cannot hear any fans running & there are no lights on the screen & keyboard.
If your computer is malfunctioning & you cannot turn it off from the menu, please hold down the power button for 5-10 seconds. This should only be done as a last resort. For more info on the power button, see the "Turning Your Computer On" section.
MacBooks - Closing the Lid
Once your computer is completely off, close the lid for at least 10-15 seconds.
Turning Your Computer On
Every device has its own specific power button. Clicking it will begin the computer startup process. On a MacBook, this is usually the unlabeled button at the top-right corner of the keyboard, next to the F12 key.
