Here are some important tips for getting the best results from EtreCheck. These instructions are designed for new users of EtreCheck to help them diagnose and fix problems with their Macs. If you are a frequent user of EtreCheck, you may use it differently. In either case, if you have any ideas on how to make EtreCheck more useful to you, please let us know so we can improve it. Thanks for using EtreCheck!
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Don’t install any software or updates
When users start having problems, they will sometimes try to install 3rd party “clean up” software. They might also install updates from Apple hoping the updates will fix the problem. They never do. If you are having problems, please don’t install any new or updated software. New software or updates are likely to only make the problems worse. You should feel free to install useful, legitimate software if you think it will make you more productive. You should also keep your software up-to-date. But those are decisions to make, and actions to take, when your computer is healthy, not when it is sick.
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Don’t restart your computer
People often restart their Mac when the computer is misbehaving. Maybe that will resolve a problem or improve performance, at least temporarily. But if you have stubborn or repeating problems and need to post an EtreCheck report, please don’t restart your computer. This will erase some of the information that EtreCheck collects for its report. Ideally, wait for the computer to start having a problem and run EtreCheck during or shortly afterwards.
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Run EtreCheck
Make sure to pick the problem type that best matches the issue you are having. Also make sure to include a good description of your problem. The problem type and description exist to provide additional information to your EtreCheck report. They do not change how EtreCheck collects information.
Also, EtreCheck is a document-based application. Feel free to save your EtreCheck documents and compare them to see changes to your system over time.
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Copy your report
In order to post your EtreCheck report, you must first copy it to the clipboard. An easy way to copy your report is to use the Share control in the toolbar. This text version of the report automatically removes any personal information. Never post personal information on the internet.
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Post your report
Post your report on the Apple Support Community. Don’t just post an EtreCheck report. Make sure to include a good description of your problem too. In many cases, you may not even need to post an EtreCheck report. A good description of the problem may be all you need.
Again, never post screenshots from EtreCheck as they may contain personal information. Only post the text version of your EtreCheck report. Even then, carefully review the report to make sure it doesn’t contain personal information.
Except for any personal information, please don’t edit your EtreCheck report. Please don’t post small snippets from it either. Post the entire report. Your EtreCheck report is a snapshot of the overall health of your computer. Diagnosing a problem may require information from many different parts of the report.
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Troubleshoot
Troubleshooting and diagnosing a computer problem on an internet discussion forum like the Apple Support Community is not going to be easy. EtreCheck is designed to make the process a little less painful. Please respond to people who help you and try their suggestions. Don’t forget to click the Helpful and Solved buttons to reward people for their efforts.
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Follow up
Please follow up with people who try to help you. Let them know if their solutions do or do not work. This will help them do a better job of helping you and other people in the future.
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Explore your report
EtreCheck is more than just a tool to find and fix problems. EtreCheck has an extensive, easy-to-use interface available. If you do have major problems, EtreCheck will tell you exactly what they are and where to find more details. If you want your Mac running at maximum efficiency, EtreCheck can do the same, even for minor issues.
EtreCheck’s enhanced interface is available as an in-app purchase called the Power User package. It provides extensive details about your computers. It also includes descriptions of each section and notes about what to look for. EtreCheck provides links to relevant Apple support documents and 3rd party information sites like Wikichip.
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Get a solution
EtreCheck can even generate solutions to your Mac problems. Solutions are available as part of the Power User package. Your EtreCheck report is stripped of any identifiable information and sent to our internet AI-drive diagnostic server. The diagnostic server uses the problem you specified, any major and minor issues identified in your EtreCheck report, and returns solutions for each major and minor issue. Your solution may also include step-by-step tasks that are most likely to help.
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EtreCheck and your privacy
You may have noticed many warnings about privacy and requests to confirm use of personal information. This is mandated by new data privacy laws in the European Union. These laws only apply to citizens of the European Union. But there is no way for EtreCheck to know who is using it or where, so it must assume that EU rules apply.
EtreCheck is a unique app. It is designed so that people can safely publish a report about their computer and be confident that their personal information will not be revealed. Instead of doing the bare minimum, EtreCheck strives to make all of its actions as transparent as possible. It will always explain what it is doing and why.
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