#Apple mac background softwer how to
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#Apple mac background softwer software

(If you use iCloud Drive for work, you may want to keep this on. I think it’s great, but when you want to save a little bandwidth, you can turn this off for the most data-hungry functions. It’s what makes sure all your data remains available across all your devices. ICloud sync is one of the big selling points across the Apple ecosystem. Webmail still uses some bandwidth, but doesn’t helpfully download document attachments until told to do so. While you will still use bandwidth when you do check for Mail, you will at least be in control of when you need to use that data. In extremis, it makes sense to use Web-based mail systems via your browser, leaving your Mail application switched off. Now set the 'Check for new messages' drop down menu to Manually.Open Mail>Preferences (Command-,) and open the General pane.Check for Mail manuallyĪt home, I like to check for Mail automatically, but not when I’m working to conserve bandwidth.

Just click on Sent and/or Rcvd Bytes to identify which applications are devouring data. NB: Activity Monitor is also a useful tool to monitor Network usage across all the Applications on your Mac. You should also be certain to quit any applications you are not using, as many of these now send and receive small quantities of data during use.

#Apple mac background softwer software

Don’t spend too much time on this just review the software that is consuming large amounts of data. It’s quite possible you’ll see no recognized application name that you are not actively using, but at times you might find an app you have quit that continues working in a suspended state in the background. If you see any application names you recognize that you know you have already quit, select the app name and then tap the X button up top, to the left of the circled i. Tap Command-Space and search for 'Activity Monitor,' or find the application tucked away inside Utilities in your Applications folder. When Activity Monitor opens, go to the Network tab and quickly scan the list of apps in the Process Name list. Open Activity Monitor and Force Quit apps If you think you may be exploring the App Store while dealing with constrained bandwidth, you may also want to disable Video Autoplay.Open App Store Preferences (Command-,) in the app menu.

#Apple mac background softwer install

What this means is that you’ll need to manually download and install Mac software updates when they are made available using System Preferences>Software Update, which gives you the chance to do it at a time more convenient to you.Īpps you download via the App Store do get updated and by default will be updated automatically.

Choose Advanced and uncheck Download new updates when available.

Open System Preferences>Software Updates.

#Apple mac background softwer how to

This is how to disable automatic downloads on your Mac: That’s good most of the time, but as you come to the end of your monthly data allowance or when using a Mac to work from the middle of nowhere, it’s a potential no-no. Your Mac will automatically download and install macOS updates. That’s the right thing to do, but it can devour your remaining data, which is why your should disable automatic macOS updates. Disable automatic macOS updatesįor the purposes of this piece, I’ll assume you’ve already updated your Mac to the latest version of macOS. Here are some ideas to help you achieve that. Remote workers using Macs on high-cost capped data plans or in the field using a smartphone to get online may need to reduce the data they use.