It seems like everywhere you look, people are using iPhones. But, smartphones aren’t the only product that Apple produces.
Macbooks account for around 9% of Apple sales. Due to this fact, Apple has spent the last couple of years concentrating on the Macbook.
The company has launched new laptop models, but they are also working on new software updates for existing products.
If you’ve been considering purchasing a Macbook, now is probably the best time. Keep reading to learn the most useful Mac tips and tricks you can enjoy your new computer.
1. Forget the Right-Click
If you’ve used a Windows computer, you’re probably pretty used to using the right-click. This secondary click allows you to access a context menu to interact with items on your computer screen.
But the first thing you may notice when using your Mac is that the right-click doesn’t exist anymore. Your new trackpad doesn’t include any click buttons. Instead, you’ll use the “control” button to access the control-click.
This may take a little bit of time to get used to, but using the control-click produces the same actions as a right-click.
2. Learn Your Finger Gestures
Some of the best tips for Mac users is to learn the finger gestures as quickly as possible.
You’ve already learned that the trackpad doesn’t have any click buttons, so to select something on your computer, you’ll tap with one finger. You can scroll up or down on pages moving two fingers in the direction you wish the screen to go. You can zoom in or out on things by pinching your fingers together or apart.
These are just the basic gestures, but there are many more to discover.
If you don’t like any of the finger gestures or want a refresher, go to the Apple menu. Here you can click on “System Preferences” and then “Trackpad”. You’ll see a simple video tutorial for each gesture and have the ability to opt-out of the gestures.
3. Take Advantage of Siri
If you’ve used an iPhone before, you probably already know about the Siri function. When learning how to use a Mac, Siri on your computer is the same voice assistant.
To first enable Siri, you need to go to your system preferences, click on Siri, and make sure the “Enable Siri” is selected. The newest Macbooks have a Siri button on the digital part of the keyboard. The phrase “Hey Siri” won’t work on your MacBook because it would confuse your phone.
Once you have Siri activated, you can give it commands. You can give Siri command for your social media, computer settings, and even music control.
4. Screenshot Your Computer Screen
One of the more useful MacBook tips and tricks is learning how to screenshot. There are two different ways you can do this.
To screenshot the whole screen, press shift, command, and the 3 buttons.
You can also screenshot only a portion of your screen by pressing shift, command, and the 4 buttons. When screenshotting only a portion of your screen, crosshairs will appear on your screen. Move the crosshair to where you want the screenshot to begin, then click, drag, and stop clicking once you’ve selected the full area.
After taking a screenshot, it will appear on your desktop as a screenshot file. You can then save this to your files or share it with someone to show them what you want them to see.
5. Search With Spotlight
Every MacBook comes with a special search feature called Spotlight.
To bring up a Spotlight search, press the command key and the space key. This will bring up a search bar on your screen. With Spotlight, you can search through all the files on your computer, find a simple answer on the web, or get an update on the weather.
Once you enter a search command, the Spotlight feature will give you a list of suggestions. It will show results based on your browsing history, Siri knowledge, and suggested websites. You can even search by file types by typing “kind:folders” or “kind:keynote”.
Spotlight also offers an easy way to learn new things about your MacBook. You can type, “how do I turn on the camera on my Mac?” and it will search for the answer. Then you’ll know that the camera will only turn on when using an app like Photo Booth or Skype for your own privacy.
6. Force Quit When Things Freeze
Finishing the list of MacBook Pro tips and tricks is the secret to troubleshooting.
No matter what model or brand of laptop you’re using, there are times when an application will freeze. When that happens on your Mac, you need to use the Force Quit feature.
Press the Command, Option, and Escape keys at the same time. This will bring up the Force Quit Applications menu. Simply select the app that isn’t responding and press “Force Quit”.
You can also try to quit applications by hovering over the icon in your dock menu. Use the control-click to bring up a context menu and select “quit”.
If all else fails, you should try restarting your whole laptop.
Try These Mac Tips and Tricks Today
Using these Mac tips and tricks, you’ll love your new computer and become an expert in no time.
Switching to an Apple product for the first time can be intimidating. But if you take a few minutes to learn the basics, you’ll soon find your MacBook user-friendly. Soon, you’ll be showing off your new Mac to all your friends and showing them the cool tricks you’ve learned.
Looking for more content to help make your life easier? Head to the Tips and Tricks section of this site.
