Quick-fire questions

Is it safe to use a vacuum cleaner on my Mac?

> Cleaners are useful for removing dust and gunk which accumulates in cooling slots, through which air is ducted to stop the internals from getting too hot. It’s wise to do this before the summer. Don’t apply excessive suction, though, and use a small nozzle with great care.

How to check video memory use on my M1 Pro?

> Unlike Intel Macs, M1 models don’t have dedicated video memory, as their GPUs access main memory. You can check how much is allocated for use by the GPU, and how much is being used, with CPUSetter from bit. ly/mac378cpusetter, but there’s nothing that you can do to change it, as memory is fixed.

How to repair a scratch on my MacBook Pro screen?

> Because of its materials and structure, you can’t do anything effective to remove scratches. Cleaning with solvent can damage its coating, petroleum jelly smears, and toothpaste is abrasive. Decide whether to live with it or pay for a replacement.

How to test whether my Mac’s memory is faulty?

> Simplest is extended testing in Diagnostics mode, engaged by holding the D key during startup (Intel), or through Recovery (M1). Try this with your Mac cold, first thing, and when warm later on. Micromat offers tests in Techtool Pro, and its dedicated ATOMIC.