Switched from Windows to Mac? Finding it hard to get the hang of at first as you never used a Mac before? Well, Mac computers usually seem more user-friendly than Windows PCs, but they can be a bit complicated for beginners.
In this article, we’ve put together the best tips that will help you learn the basic anatomy of your system.
Learn Multi-Touch Gestures
Working on the MacBook Pro trackpad provides a wonderful feel which is quite different from other laptop trackpads. The smooth-to-the-touch trackpad supports multi-touch gestures that will save you a lot of time. You can zoom in and out of a PDF file or a webpage by double-tapping the non-clickable space with two fingers.
By making a pinching gesture, you can get everything (zoom in and out) back to its original size. You can open the launchpad and the installed apps by pinching it with four fingers at the same time. Use 3 fingers and a thumb. For scrolling, you can slide two fingers up or down.
Save iMovie as MP4
iMovie is one of the easiest-to-use and professional video editing apps from Apple. But it is not as flexible with file formats as other modern software. If you think about how to save imovie as mp4, here’s the quick info.
First, select the movie, video, or clip in the iMovie library or the browser. Tap the Share button in the upper right corner, and then select the Export File option. Once you do that, select the desired format and tap Next. Choose the name and location of the video you want to save.
Rearrange Dock Items
macOS Dock is a collection of shortcuts to applications (built-in and the ones you have installed yourself) installed on Mac. It is one of the useful features as it stores all the important files, folders, and apps that require quick access.
You can get them with one click without sifting through all open programs and windows. And you can rearrange app icons to organize them in whatever order you want.
Download Apps from App Store
Downloading and installing apps in macOS is quite easy as it can be done from anywhere. But, if you want to download something without the risk of viruses or malware attacks, use the Mac App Store.
Its major benefit is that Apple controls what is allowed in it. Hence, there is less possibility that you’ll download something that comprises malware. Still, be cautious about where you’re downloading the applications.
Learn Siri
The virtual assistant Siri works the same way it does on the latest iPhone, iPad, and other Apple devices. But, it can access even more data than other devices. You can use Siri to do some tasks for you.
For example, give a reminder of a certain task, search a hard drive for the files, schedule events, and more. Once launched by clicking its icon on the screen’s upper right-hand corner, Siri starts responding to requests/questions.
Use the Control Center
Mac’s Control Center is the most useful feature to control Mac from one place using Wi-Fi toggles, Bluetooth, and more tools. To open the control center, click on the Control Center icon in the screen’s top-right corner.
However, to exit this option, simply click the Control Center icon once again or click anywhere on the Mac screen. You can customize the Control Center on Mac for more useful controls at their disposal.
Capture Screenshots
There are numerous methods to take screenshots on Mac to be used in presentations or documents. Suppose you want to capture a specific part of the screen; press Command + Shift + 4 keys together. Once you do that, a crosshair appears. Tap and drag it over the screen you want to capture. Release the crosshair once you cover the required area.
Use Command + Shift + 3 if you want to take a screenshot of the entire screen. The screenshot you’ve taken will be saved on the desktop. However, you can also use screen-capturing tools.
Force Quit an App
Like all other devices, it also happens on Mac that the opened app gets stuck. At that time, you may force quit the app. To do so, you can press Option + Command + Esc. Alternatively, you can open the Apple icon in the screen’s top-left corner and select Force Quit.
Both of these methods will open a Force Quit window. It will show a list of all the apps currently opening on your system. You can choose the required troubling app and click Force Quit to close it.
The Conclusion
The topics discussed above are just a few tips to enjoy your Mac. However, to become the master of your Mac, you need to learn things with regular practice. Hence, explore all settings, features, and apps.
