"
Maintenance" is a third party program not available on an Apple computer unless you find it on the developer's website, download it and install it on your computer. I think a person can do the same maintenance things themselves using the built-in app called
Disk Utility.
My iMac maintenance notes I developed since switching last year with the help of this excellent thread - Reader beware, I am not an expert:
- Backups. I use 3 external hard drives, one for each of (1) Time Machine, (2) SuperDuper, and (3) manual copies of key files and big files that I don't want Time Machine grinding away on all the time (eg, Aperture photo library).
- Keep software up to date.
- Reboot the iMac once in a while, like every week or two. (Use OS X’s Energy Saver preference pane to schedule automatic weekly shutdowns and startups -- click Schedule, then in the second line click to open the drop down menu and select Restart). Some apps leak memory or otherwise misbehave.
- Quit open apps: Control-Tab to pop up list of open apps, then Control-q to quit apps that don't need to be open.
- Quit and restart browser if it’s been open for a while and notice Mac slowing down (hogs memory).
- Ensure the hard drive has 12 GB free space at least.
- Empty the Trash.
- Check hard drive status:
Run Apple's built-in
Disk Utility once in a while: Verify Disk (checks directory structure), and Verify Disk Permissions. Notice the drive's S.M.A.R.T. status at the bottom of the Disk Utility window (checks the drive's hardware status).
Maintenance and
OnyX are free multifunctional maintenance utilities from
Titanium's Software • Home Maintenance is from the same developer for the less technically inclined;
Onyx is more technically rich. Neither are available on the Mac App Store because they operate deep in the operating system. They basically gather in one handy place operations that can be found in Apple's operating system functions. Donationware.
- Physically clean away dust.
- Stop unnecessary apps from starting at login.
-
TinkerTool gives access to additional preference settings in MacOS X. (TinkerTool System is a shell of additional utilities.)
Marcel Bresink Software-Systeme. For experts.
Good reading:
Mac maintenance Quick Assist (Apple Support note)
Essential Mac Maintenance: Rev up your routines - Page 1 | Macworld
Seven maintenance tips to optimize Mac performance | TechRepublic
4 Simple Mac Maintenance Tips