15 Helpful Mac Tricks You Need to Know

Mac computers are the 8th wonder of the world. Their combination of top-notch hardware and software design makes them a force to be reckoned with in the world of computing.

But you can’t get the most of a Mac computer unless you know how to use it. Here are 15 helpful Mac tricks you need to know.

Talk to You

Yes, on newer model computers, you can use Siri just like you do on your mobile device. Ask about upcoming weather, news, or sports scores.

Simply click the Siri icon in the top toolbar of your desktop. If you don’t see it, you might not have the latest macOS version installed on your computer.

Spotlight Saves Time

Another trick new Mac users might not know is that Spotlight is the Google of your machine. It can search all of your documents, messages, and the internet at the same dang time.

This search on mac shortcut can be accessed through the magnifying glass icon in your desktop toolbar. Use the spotlight feature when you need information, but have no idea where to start looking.

Emoji Icons

Sometimes looking at pale blue folders is a bore. Upgrade your icons to your favorite emojis instead.

To do this, go to ‘File’ from your desktop and ‘New Folder.’ The window offers an option to upload an image as the folder icon.

Currency Conversions

Traveling abroad? You can use Spotlight for money conversions to make sure you’re getting the right amount of change back from your transactions.

You can also prepare international recipes easier with measurement conversions. Switch from liters to gallons in a breeze.

Markup

Markup saves you time printing and scanning documents before emailing them. Now you can open a document in Preview and sign it using the Markup edit tools.

The editor allows you to save your signature for future use so you can instantly sign documents in the future.

Add Emojis to Messages

If you’re an emoji lover, you’ll be happy to know you can add your favorite icons to your email messages from your computer. Go to the menu bar of the software you’re using and select ‘Edit’ then ‘Emoji and Symbols.’

You’ll see a box with emojis allowing you to add any icons to the document you’re creating. You can also hold down the following keys: Control + Command + Space.

SplitView

Tired of toggling between windows by working? SplitView is the answer to your prayers.

You can view multiple windows side-by-side without resizing them or getting distracted by apps running in the background.

Create Your Own Shortcuts

Mac users can create their own shortcuts to get common tasks done easier and faster. Go to the ‘System Preferences’ menu, click ‘Keyboard’ then ‘Shortcuts.’

Choose ‘App Shortcuts’ then select the ‘+’ icon to get started selecting your own keyboard combinations.

Improve Volume Adjustments

The volume adjustments can be quite dramatic when using the built-in keys on a Mac keyboard. You can make the adjustment increments smaller to find that just-right level.

Hold the Option button and the up arrow to see a more detailed volume control menu.

Group Renaming

Rename a batch of files all at once using the group renaming feature on your Mac. Search the file names, right-click the files, and scroll down to the option that says ‘Rename X items.’

After selecting these files, choose the cog icon and click ‘Rename X items.’ You can add text or replace the text with a name that applies to all the files in that folder.

Hide the Customize Menu Bar

The menu bar takes up pressure real estate on your computer screen. Hide it while you’re working using the System Preferences menu.

Click ‘General’ and select ‘Automatically hide and show the menu bar.’

Bypass Your Password

When you forget your password on a Mac, you can bypass it using the recovery mode. Turn off your Mac to get started.

When it’s booting up, hold down Command + R until you see a bar appear. This means the computer is in recovery mode.

You can reset your password from the ‘Utilities’ menu from here. On the ‘Utilities’ menu, select ‘Terminal.’

When a window pops up, type in ‘reset password’ with no space in between. Click return. Your password will update the next time you restart your machine.

Run Windows

Of course, the purpose of getting a Mac is to have all the benefits of Apple software. But you can run Windows as an app on your computer if you need to access any PC-only programs.

If you prefer to partition your hard drive instead, you can use the Boot Camp Assistant on your computer to install Windows more permanently on your device.

Take Screenshots

One of the easiest Mac tricks to learn is how to take screenshots on your device. Using the three-button combination Shift + Command + 3 at the same time, your screenshot images are automatically saved to your desktop.

Share Easily

With a share icon included with every window on a Mac, you can easily share with friends or to your messaging accounts. Some features like sharing to Dropbox or iCloud are available depending on your subscription levels.

Mac Tricks Every User Should Know

These are just a few of the Mac tricks every user should know like Clean up your Mac for that you can use MacKeeper. There are tons of other things to know that you’ll pick up as you explore your machine’s various menus.

When there’s a macOS update, don’t skip the tutorial showcasing the latest features, so you don’t miss out on cool productivity enhancements. For more information and tech tips, visit our blog for updates.

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