It is no secret that most gamers have not even tried playing video games on a MacBook. The closest thing to that would probably be a gaming laptop, but even then, it is more common to use a gaming console or a custom-built PC.

Having said that, does it mean that MacBooks should not be considered as a potential option for enjoying video games? Despite the fact that there are better alternatives, you can still play video games on a MacBook, especially if you own one of the newer models recently manufactured and released by Apple.

But what about those people who have older Macs? You might think that their only option is to get a different machine for gaming, but that is not necessarily the case.

There are multiple ways to optimize one’s gaming experience on a MacBook, and this article will reveal how you can do that.

Start by Scanning for Malware

If a computer is underperforming, you should start by scanning the disk and looking for potential malware. Corrupted data can snowball out of control even if it gets affected by a relatively harmless computer virus.

Naturally, if you have a malware problem, it will also influence how video games run on a MacBook.

Use reliable antivirus software and scan the system. If the scan shows clean results, you can tick the box next to the malware problem and move to the next thing. However, if there are corrupted files, you will need to take care of that first.

Research Potential Hardware Upgrades

One of the drawbacks of owning a MacBook is that you have limited options to upgrade hardware. This problem is not really a thing if we are talking about custom-built PCs. Even gaming laptops are more flexible when it comes to hardware upgrades.

Now, despite the negatives, you can still check whether your specific MacBook model has room for hardware modifications. Some models do, and if that is the case for you, consider one of the three:

⦁ Add extra RAM
⦁ Replace HDD with SSD
⦁ Invest in an external GPU

All three options are valuable as far as improving a device’s performance goes. Even one of these can make a significant difference, and the result will be even better if you can do all three.

Sure, new hardware can be expensive, but if you have the money and want to play video games on your MacBook, hardware upgrades, so long as they are available, are one of the best options out there.

Free Up Disk Space

Running into storage issues on a computer’s drive is already quite common, and this problem becomes even more common when we are talking about gamers.

Modern video games consume quite a lot of disk space. Installing one or two games is enough to impact the overall state of the computer’s drive, meaning that you will need to put extra effort into managing the MacBook’s drive.

According to the information here, getting rid of what is known as the other storage on macOS is one of the ways to free up disk space.

You can also look for applications, old downloads, duplicates, localization data, and other redundant files that you can remove from the device.

In case you like to hoard large media files, consider switching to streaming services. Finally, transfer files to external storage, such as clouds or an HDD.

Ultimately, the goal is to make sure that at least roughly 20 percent of all available storage on the MacBook’s drive is free.

Clean the Dust Inside

Playing video games causes the internal hardware to overheat, and it is necessary to have functioning internal fans that provide enough cool air.

In case you notice that the fans cannot keep up and that the MacBook is overheating, you need to clean the dust inside. It might be tricky and a bit risky to take the device apart, but you have to clean the dust anyway. If you are reluctant to do the job yourself, have someone else do it. So long as a person has the experience, they should not have problems with it.

As a side note, you should also think about getting a cooling pad. A laptop accessory that offers a source of cool air is quite valuable, particularly when you are playing resource-heavy video games.

Disable Background Processes

The last bit of advice is about disabling background processes. Activity Monitor shows you background apps that consume the most resources. You can then cull the redundant background processes, which will leave more resources for the video games. And that should make a significant difference performance-wise.

Keep in mind that if you forget about closing the app after using it or have too many startup items, Activity Monitor is there to help you.