Today, there are more than 100 million active Mac computers being used in the world. However, there’s a good chance that many of those computers are being underutilized. Even though Macs are loved because of how easy they are to use, many people don’t truly know how to use a Mac to the best of its abilities.
When you understand the different shortcuts and features that this computer can offer you, you’ll start experiencing it in a whole new way.
Are you interested in learning more? If so, then continue reading and we’ll walk you through everything you need to know!
1. Command + Drag Items Off Top Bar
Some apps are somehow able to make their way into the command bar. This section is usually reserved for the most essential and basic features of your computer. Up here, you’ll usually find Bluetooth and Wi-Fi controls, volume, battery, and a calendar.
When you get less important apps showing up on the command bar, you’ll end up with a lot of clutter. This can make it difficult to access some key functions on your Mac.
In order to get rid of these extraneous icons, you can hold the Command button down and then drag the icons down and off of the bar.
Third-party app icons are going to come back into the top bar if the app is reloaded. However, you can still get rid of first-party icons if you want.
Did you accidentally get rid of an important first-party icon like the battery icon? Don’t worry. You can put it back by going to System Preferences and then Energy Saver.
Once you’re here, you can just tick off the battery icon.
2. Using Spotlight
Speaking of the command bar, one of the most useful tools that you can use on your Mac is Spotlight. This is essentially a universal search engine for your computer. With this feature, you can find files and webpages on your computer.
Spotlight can be found at the top right corner of your command bar. But you can also press Command + Spacebar to pull up Spotlight.
Spotlight also has some helpful attributes that you’ll also find in Siri. For example, Spotlight can give you height, weight, and currency conversions.
And if you type a word into Spotlight, it will give you the dictionary definition.
3. Screenshot
The screenshot aspect of MacOS is a great way for you to save something like an order confirmation or a recipe without having to worry about copy and paste.
There are two kinds of screenshots that you can do on a Mac. First, you can press Command + Shift + 3. When you do this, it will capture the entire screen and everything on it.
If you press Command + Shift + 4, then you can click and drag over any part of the screen and take a screenshot of just that area. No matter which kind of screenshot you take, the file is going to end up on your desktop automatically.
It’s important to note that there are certain things that you can’t take screenshots of. For example, if you try to take a screenshot of a movie that you’re watching on Netflix or iTunes, you’ll see that the image is actually just going to be a black screen. This is for copyright purposes.
4. Dark Mode and Night Shift
These features first appeared on iPhones and now they’ve come to Mac. You can now utilize Night Shift if you have Sierra and Dark Mode if you have Mojave.
In order to achieve Night Shift, go to System Preferences and then General and then Appearance. Here, you can reduce the amount of blue light output of your screen. This will give it a more orange hue.
When you have warmer light emanating from your screen, it can put less strain on your eyes. Many people have trouble sleeping because of the bright screen of their computers. Night Shift can help combat this.
To get Dark Mode, you can go to System Preferences and then Displays. Here, you can turn light interfaces and menus dark. Some people think this makes certain items on their screen look more interesting too.
5. Zip and Unzip Files
Zip files are used to archive and compress files and folders. You usually see these files in emails and internet downloads. If you ever download an app and it comes in a folder with a bunch of other stuff, that’s probably a zip file.
In order to Zip a file, you first have to select all of the files that you want to zip together. Once they’re selected, you then right-click on one of them and click Compress. In a few seconds, you should have a new file that ends in .zip.
It’s also easy to learn how to unzip files on Mac. Most of the time, you just have to double click on the zip file and it will unzip in a short amount of time, depending on how big the files are.
The Importance of Knowing How to Use a Mac Like a Pro
Macs offer a lot of helpful tools and features that should make your computing experience more enjoyable. But by knowing how to use a Mac like a pro, you can really make the most out of your Mac.
Are you looking for other helpful tech articles like this one? If so, then make sure to check out the rest of our blog today for more!
