Clean my Mac necessary or advised?

The idea that a third party, with no special knowledge of the inner workings of MacOS, can somehow find a simple way to protect or speed up your computer — that is not already being done by MacOS itself — suggests that the MacOS developers are somehow "holding out on you". That is absurd.

 You should remove any and all (other than Apple built-in) virus scanners, speeder uppers, optimizers, cleaners, App deleters or VPN packages you installed yourself, or anything of that ilk.

Your exceptionally well-crafted Macintosh computer does not accumulate filth that needs any third-party anything to clean it. Everything needed to run it efficiently was included in the box, except ONE: a drive on which to store a second copy of your files in case the first copy is damaged or deleted by accident. The default backup software, Time Machine, is already present -- integrated deeply into MacOS.

Never, ever!

As one of our other long-time members says, "Rule number 1 for Macs. Don't install garbage."

This includes any AV software, cleaners, VPNs not required by your school or employer, or anything else resembling these types of software.

THANK YOU. I HAVE NEVER ADDED ANY ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE EXCEPT FOR THE PARALLELS PROGRAM TO BE ABLE TO USE WORD. THAT GOT TO BE OVERLY EXPENSIVE SO I NO LONGER USE EITHER.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR DETAILED ANSWER TO ME. I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR HELP!

PASTOR BENSON THOMAS wrote:

THANK YOU. I HAVE NEVER ADDED ANY ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE EXCEPT FOR THE PARALLELS PROGRAM TO BE ABLE TO USE WORD. THAT GOT TO BE OVERLY EXPENSIVE SO I NO LONGER USE EITHER.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR DETAILED ANSWER TO ME. I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR HELP!

If you CAPS lock is stuck and not working as expected— take in for service

ref: How to clean the keyboard of your MacBook or MacBook Pro

In or out of warranty you can get a free over the counter 'Apple Service Diagnostics' test /assessment

Make an appointment for a "hardware issue"

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Outside the USA

Contact Apple Support - Apple Support

ref: https://www.wired.com/story/all-caps-because-internet-gretchen-mcculloch/

There is a version of Microsoft Office (including Microsoft Word) available to run directly on your M-series Mac, or their so-called web services, that runs in a Web browser. Neither is cheap.

Apple provides comparable features in Pages, their included word processor-with-layout App, Free. Pages can read and write most Microsoft Word documents directly, BUT you have to explicitly ask for that each time.

if you need a low cost work-alike (to Microsoft Office) package, many users here suggest open source LibreOffice

THANK YOU!!

Yes I discovered Libre office last year to be able to open all the older Apple word docs as well as Claris Works. Really love Libre! Thank you!