Troubleshooting

Running MacOS Beta versions within a virtual machine is generally a fantastic way to test out system software without having to fully commit to running the beta as the primary operating system. But sometimes even trying to get the VM setup fails. In this case, trying to install macOS Golden Gate 27 beta in a … Read More

Some Mac users may discover the mds_stores process has run amuck, consuming absurd amounts of CPU and memory when viewed in Activity Monitor. Typically this is accompanied by unusually sluggish system performance on a Mac, which is what inspired the visit into Activity Monitor to begin with, and there you may find that mds_stores is … Read More

A fair number of people who use the ChatGPT app for Mac have recently run into a strange and alarming malware message when attempting to open and use ChatGPT. The error says that “Malware Blocked and Moved to Trash” and informs the user that “ChatGPT.app was not opened because it contains malware. The action did … Read More

If your iPhone suddenly starts recording a voice message seemingly at random while you’re in the Messages app, you’re probably unintentionally triggering a feature called Raise to Listen. This feature is part of the iOS Messages app, where lifting the iPhone to your ear can automatically start to play or record an audio message. The … Read More

Performing a clean install of macOS Tahoe can be a necessary task in some situations, offering a way to start fresh on a Mac. Since a clean install removes everything and reinstalls MacOS from scratch, you are presented with basically a brand new Mac from a software standpoint. Clean installations can be useful for users … Read More

MacOS includes a built-in way to assess memory usage, called Memory Pressure, and it can give you a lot of insight into your Macs performance, and whether or not you need more RAM. This is particularly informative if you feel like your Mac is slow, apps and media are stuttering, or you’re experiencing the annoying … Read More

If you have felt your Mac is curiously sluggish, you may have opened Activity Monitor to investigate at some point and noticed a process called “WindowServer” using a large amount of CPU or memory. High CPU usage and memory consumption of WindowServer has been a long reported issue on MacOS with various system software versions, … Read More

The Liquid Glass interface is highly translucent and layered with various depth and visual effects, and while some users may like the glitz and shine, there are others who find the transparency and reduced contrast to be difficult to use. Introduced with iOS 26, the Liquid Glass look has been a hit with some and … Read More

If you have ever been on a phone call and tried to adjust the volume on iPhone and found the volume buttons aren’t responding, you’re not alone. This is a frustrating presumed bug that can happen on iPhone, and the volume buttons seem to stop working during phone calls, even though they can sometimes still … Read More

One common complaint of MacOS Tahoe users is that it can be difficult to determine which window is active or in the background. With all of the flatter and low contrast design elements in Tahoe, there is a significant reduction in contrast between background and foreground apps and windows, which can make visual focus less … Read More

Some Mac users who are sensitive to eye strain and PWM display flickering have turned to a small free utility called StillColor to modify how MacOS renders colors on their screen. The StillColor tool has a feature that can disable something called “temporal dithering”, a usually imperceptible display technique that alternates pixel colors at the … Read More

A significant number of iPhone users run into situations where they discover their iPhone is not ringing or making sounds with incoming phone calls, text messages, and alerts, leading to missed calls and texts. This is hugely frustrating, but for most situations the reason why this happens is pretty simple; the iPhone has accidentally been … Read More

macOS Tahoe 26 has been a controversial release of MacOS system software, mostly due to it’s completely redesigned interface built around what Apple calls Liquid Glass, which has a new look, but includes some major usability and legibility issues. Tahoe is also just buggier and less refined than other Mac operating systems like Sequoia. Accordingly, … Read More

Camera app received a dramatic redesign with iOS 26, and many iPhone users have found that the new interface is confusing, leading them to believe that some prominent features of iPhone Camera have been removed. For example, many iPhone users running iOS 26 now think Portrait Mode camera has been removed or is no longer … Read More

A clean install of macOS Sequoia installs the operating system onto a freshly erased Mac, removing all existing data, settings, and even the previous MacOS versions from the Mac. This approach is sometimes preferred by advanced users who want a completely fresh start, are troubleshooting persistent system issues, or simply want to run MacOS Sequoia … Read More

Some Mac users have noticed an annoying issue with recent MacOS updates (including both MacOS Tahoe and Sequoia) where Bluetooth accessories like a mouse or keyboard randomly disconnect, briefly stop responding, or disconnect for 10-30 seconds and then reconnect leading to lengthy lags in using the cursor or keyboard. Some users even report that some … Read More

Some iPhone, iPad, and Mac users may have noticed a message that appears suddenly on their device that reads something like this; “Device Added to Your Account – An iPhone/Mac/iPad now has access to FaceTime. If you don’t recognize this device you can remove it in System Settings.” Getting this notification out of the blue … Read More

A frustrating error message may appear for some iPhone users when they’re using a computer to restore an iPhone or install an update. The error code in question here is “Error Code (1109)” which is cryptic and vague, and if you experience this error it typically comes with a failure to update or restore the … Read More