Frederick Jace
MACs are different in use because they offer a more customizable experience. With Windows, you’re pretty much stuck with the pre-installed software and whatever the manufacturer has decided to put on the machine. Macs, on the other hand, give you more options for what software you want to install and how you want your machine to look and function at good performance.
However, if you have been a Windows user all your life, and have switched to MAC lately, you will find it difficult to use your Mac. There are some things you should know about your new machine in order to get the most out of it.
Here are the top tips to help you master your Mac.
1. Take a Screenshot of a Specific Part of The Screen
Taking a screenshot is nice, but more often than not, you don’t need the whole screen. There’s a quick and easy method for taking just the area of the screen you want on Macs: Cmd + Shift + 4. From there, create a box over the portion of your screen that you’d like to preserve. The picture will be saved to your desktop. To take the whole screenshot, press Cmd + Shift + 3.
2. Rename Large Batches of Files All at Once
It’s a pain to rename files, especially if there are hundreds of files. If you’re using a Mac with Yosemite or later, you can automate the process with just one push of a button.
Simply select the files you wish to rename, then ctrl-click (or right-click ) them and choose Rename from the menu. Three renaming options are presented to you. Replace Text allows you to update, for example, the ‘IMG’ portion of a set of files with something more relevant. As a result, all files with ‘IMG’ in their name will be renamed.
3. Run Windows on Your Apple Machine
If you want to run Windows on your Mac, there are a few things you need to do. First, navigate to the Applications folder on your Mac and then to the Utilities folder. Within that, find the Boot Camp program. This will partition your hard drive into two sections – one for Windows, and one for macOS. You can choose the size of each partition, but keep in mind that once you allocate storage to one OS, it is not accessible by the other.
Click Partition to start the process. Once that is complete, your Mac will restart and ask for a Windows installation CD. If you don’t have one, you’ll need to purchase it. Make sure you get Windows 10. Once the installation is complete, you will be able to choose between Windows and macOS every time you turn on your computer by holding down the Option key. Keep in mind that you cannot switch operating systems on the fly – you’ll need to restart your computer each time you want to change which OS you’re using.
4. Add Your Signature to Documents
You can easily sign documents on your Mac using the Preview application. First, open the document you need to sign within Preview. Then, click the pen icon and in the menu that appears underneath, click the signature icon. You’ll have two choices: either scrawling your signature on the touchpad (which works surprisingly well) or using your camera to take a photo of your signature. If you choose the latter, make sure you’ve written your signature on a piece of white paper first. Click Camera and hold that piece of paper up to the webcam on your Mac. It will capture the signature. Click Done when you’re happy with it and the Mac will save it. To sign the document, click the signature icon again and then click your signature when it pops up to insert it into the document. That’s all there is to it! With this simple tip, you can easily sign any document that comes your way, without any hassle.
5. View All Special Characters/Emoji
In order to add emojis to your documents, in the application you’re working in, click on Edit in the menu bar, then Emoji & Symbols from the drop-down menu. This brings up the emoji picker: click in the document where you want to add your emoji, and then click on the emoji you want to add.
6. The Mac Equivalent of Ctrl + Alt + Delete
The Mac equivalent of Ctrl + Alt + Delete is Cmd + Option + Esc. This keyboard shortcut will bring up the Force Quit dialog box, which will show you all running applications from where you can terminate or end any of the programs.
7. Switch Between Multiple Windows Within the Same Program
To quickly switch between multiple windows of the same program, use the Cmd + ~ shortcut. This will work for any application.
8. Start up Your Mac Silently
If you’re looking to start up your Mac quietly, holding down the Mute key at startup will do the trick. This is a great option if you’re in a situation where silence is key, like in a classroom or library.
9. Record Your Screen
If you need to capture something that is moving on the screen, you can use the screen recording feature in QuickTime Player. This is a program that comes standard with every Mac. To use this feature, open QuickTime Player and click File > New screen recording. This will allow you to record the entire screen, or just a portion of it. This is useful for things like tutorials, and it can also capture sound.
10. No Delete key? No Problem
If you’re using a MacBook and don’t have a Delete key, you can hold down the Function key and press Delete to erase text.
Conclusion
There you have it – ten tips and tricks that every Mac user should know. With these simple tips, you can get the most out of your Mac and make it work for you. Do you have any helpful tips or tricks that we didn’t mention? Let us know in the comments below!
