Mac Tips & Tricks: 10 Things Your MacBook Can Do That You Didn’t Know

Mac Tips & Tricks: There are many minor tips and shortcuts that many people are unaware of that can make your experience with these devices more productive. Whether you’re new to the Mac world or an avid user who has been using them for years. And with the release of the newest version of macOS, Ventura, soon, when could there be a better time to brush up on your knowledge of your Mac?

You can still carry out all of these straightforward tasks on your MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, or Mac Studio to stay organized and get more done, whether you’re using macOS Monterey or an earlier version of the operating system (though you should download Monterey for a variety of reasons).

Here are 10 tips and techniques for things your Mac can accomplish that you might not have realized. If you share a computer. You should also look at some of the best-hidden features of the Mac that you might not be aware of. As well as how to set up a new user on your Mac.

Emoji-fy your desktop folders

Transform each folder into an emoji of your choice to make your desktop folder icons easier to distinguish (and plain more fun). This is how you do it:

1. Click File > New folder to create a folder on your desktop.
2. Look up the desired emoji on Google Images (e.g. “heart emoji” or “star emoji”).
3. Drag the desired image to the desktop.
4. To open the image in Preview, double-click it.
5. Select the markup icon, which resembles a magic wand, click the image’s backdrop to create a moving outline appear around it, and then select Edit > Cut to make the image translucent.
6. Click and drag once more after selecting the Markup icon.

7. Select all by clicking edit. Click Command + C.
8. Return to the original folder you made on your desktop and select it with the right click.
9. Choose “Get Info.”
10. Click the blue folder symbol on the screen that appears, then press Command + V. Your emoji ought to show up.

2. If you get locked out, bypass the lock and reset your password.
   Your Mac password was forgotten. There are two built-in ways in MacOS to log back into your Mac, so don’t fret.

Restoration Mode

1st, shut off your Mac.

2. Press the power button after pressing and holding Command + R. Hold down Command and R until a progress bar shows beneath the screen’s Apple logo. Recovery Mode will now be active on your Mac.
3. Select Terminal under Utilities in the navigation bar. Then a window will appear. Put the word “reset password” in single quotation marks and press Return.
4. You can discover the Reset Password Tool if you close the Terminal windows. On your Mac, you’ll see a list of all user accounts; if you change the password for one of them, you’ll also need to change it for every other user.

Apple ID

1. If you repeatedly input incorrect user passwords, you can be prompted to reset it using your Apple ID. Alternatively, you can activate the same procedure by clicking the arriving icon first, then the question mark icon in the password text field.

2. Type your Apple ID password and email address. You’ll see a pop-up notification when a new keychain containing your passwords is about to be created. Select OK.
3. Continue by following the remaining instructions to generate a new password for your user account.

 Use Spotlight to perform computations and currency conversions.

One of the most underappreciated Mac features is Spotlight; if you learn how to use it, it’s a helpful tool for moving around your computer more quickly and without a mouse. For instance, Spotlight can use as a calculator and for currency conversion.

Click the magnifying glass icon in the menu bar’s upper left corner or press Command + Space to launch Spotlight. Simply enter your calculation in the search bar (for instance, “919+1246/2”) to use it as a calculator. The result will show up as a search result that you can copy and paste.

If you want to use Spotlight as a currency converter, enter the amount you want to convert along with its currency symbol (for instance, $100 or £100), and Spotlight will display conversion rates for that amount in a variety of other currencies using data from Yahoo.

Use the Preview app to sign documents

The Preview program on your Mac enables you to sign documents directly on your device if you receive a PDF that has to be signed but doesn’t want to go through the time-consuming procedure of printing it out, signing it, and scanning it back in.

You can accomplish this using a variety of apps and software, including scanning your signature onto a sheet of white paper and attaching it as an image to a specific document. However, here’s what to do if you’re using the Preview app:

1. To display the markup toolbar, click the button that resembles a tiny circle with a marker inside of it.
2. To sign the document, select the box at the top.
3. Click Camera to sign your name on white paper and snap a picture with your computer’s webcam, or click Trackpad to sign your name with your finger on the trackpad. A signature can also be saved for later use.

Insert Emoticons into Any Document

Emojis aren’t just for your phone’s text messages. You may edit emojis and symbols by selecting Edit > Emoji & Symbols from the menu bar on practically any web page or software, including Google Docs and Microsoft Word. Emojis will show in a box, and you can add any of them to the page you’re editing.

To view two apps side by side without scaling, use Split View

Your Mac’s Split View feature enables you to work in two apps simultaneously without having to resize them or deal with other apps’ distractions.

1. In macOS Monterey, move your cursor over or click and hold the green full-screen button in the upper left corner of a window.
2. From the menu, select Tile Window to Left of Screen or Tile Window to Right of Screen, and the window will take up that side of the display. Earlier versions of macOS need you to click and hold the green full-screen button (OS X El Capitan or later is required to use Split View).
3. To exit Split View, position the cursor such that the green full-screen button reappears at the top of the screen. Select “Exit Full Screen” by clicking.

Design whatever keyboard shortcut you desire

You’re undoubtedly already familiar with the Command+C and Command+V keyboard shortcuts that Apple utilizes for its Mac operating system. To reach any menu feature, though. You can also make your own shortcut.

1. Click the Add icon under System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts > App Shortcuts.
2. A box will appear where you may select the desired application, the name of the menu command, and the preferred keyboard shortcut.
3. Tap Add when you’re finished.

Make volume changes that are more precise.

Your music, video, or podcast may suddenly become excessively loud in one swipe if the volume difference between each step on your Mac is more than you anticipate. Hold down the Option and the up arrow while pressing the key to increase or reduce volume if you want the volume increments to be smaller. By doing so, the Soundbox will appear, allowing you to fine-tune the volume.

A number of files simultaneously renamed

On your Mac, you don’t need to individually rename a large number of files or images. Instead, open Finder and choose the collection of files or images you wish to rename by clicking on one, holding down Shift, and then clicking the others. Right-click, then select the Rename option by scrolling down. When you do that, a popup with options to change the name’s format, add text, or replace existing text will appear.

Modify or remove the menu bar

Don’t want to see Mac’s menu bar until you absolutely need to? Select Automatically hide and reveal the menu bar under System Preferences > Dock and Menu Bar.

You can drag the icons to other locations or remove them entirely while holding down Command if you want to keep your Menu bar and modify it.

Check out the best improvements and features coming in Ventura, the upcoming macOS, and the new iPhone features accessible in the iOS 16 public betas for more information.

FAQ

What can I do with my MacBook?

Nearly all of your needs are covered by the apps that come with your MacBook Air. Create presentations, enjoy music, books, and movies, and edit and share your images and videos. App Store updates include iPhone and iPad apps that can now us on your Mac thanks to Apple silicon.

How can my MacBook be modified?

You may customize your Mac by changing the system settings. For instance, you can alter the Dock’s size and location, select a light or dark theme, alter the desktop image, and more. Click the System Preferences icon in the Dock or select Apple menu > System Preferences to modify System Preferences on your Mac.

Has Apple 2022 been compromised?

Apple published a batch of security patches on September 12, 2022, to patch newly discovered zero-day vulnerabilities in their products. Apple did not provide more details despite acknowledging claims that these flaws may exploit by hackers.

Is Windows more secure than Mac?

Because Macs are initially more safe than Windows computers, consumers are frequently encouraged to be lax about installing security software and other monitoring, and there is less competition from other crooks, as a result, cautioned Aurora.

Do Macs have widgets?

Open Notification Center on your Mac. Click Edit Widgets in the Notification Center’s bottom section. Search for a widget or select a category, like Clock, from the list of widget categories. To see a preview of the widgets that are offered. You can preview the information displayed by selecting a widget size from a range of sizes.