A common myth that some users perpetuate about macOS is that you never need to restart it. This is quite strange considering that no mainstream operating system (OS) can run efficiently without a reboot every now and then. Windows users say they restart their PC at least once a week to keep everything running smoothly. This allows the PC to perform some housekeeping tasks, such as freeing up RAM, clearing cache, refreshing applications, and killing blocked processes. However, users on forums like Reddit and even the Apple community have a different opinion on when you should restart a MacBook.
Users agree that a MacBook needs to be restarted. The only difference between what PC users think is that MacBook users say you should only restart your computer when you need to. It is not necessary to do this for daily or weekly maintenance, but you can do it if you want, as it is a good practice. The most important sign that a MacBook needs a restart is when you notice a common problem that needs to be fixed (like tasks taking longer to complete or buggy applications), which the advice to restart every week tries to avoid, especially if your MacBook is older.
MacBook users also agree that you will have to restart your MacBook when installing the latest system update. Additionally, when you are not using the MacBook for a while, it is advisable to turn it off completely.
Users say your performance loss is the main reason to restart a Mac
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When a Reddit user asked them when to restart their MacBook Pro, the top-rated comment said that they only restart their Mac computers when they start “behaving weird.” Even the original poster said they hadn’t restarted their MacBook Pro in three weeks and hadn’t noticed it acting strange, but echoed the general advice that it’s best to do it every once in a while. Another commenter added that this is generally not necessary unless there is a problem or a macOS upgrade or system update requires it. One Reddit user said that restarting their MacBook once every few days or so is a good idea to free up resources, especially RAM that some programs simply refuse to let go of once finished. Even then, the main reason given was loss of performance.
When someone asked the Apple community how often they restart their MacBooks, noting that they only do so if necessary, the top-ranked answer said that restarting a MacBook is indeed helpful, but “usually not necessary unless performance degrades.” Another user pointed out that restarting is necessary if apps become buggy with slow or frequent crashes. Someone else pointed out that if that’s why you’re restarting your MacBook, something else is going on since macOS is less buggy than Windows. Most instability on PCs comes from third-party drivers, something Apple has strict control over.
