With Macs lasting around five to eight years on average, they’re a great investment for someone looking for a solid desktop computer. However, if you really want to make the most out of your purchase, you’ll want to know the Mac’s greatest features.
Although many things on the computer are obvious, there are some tips and tricks that people don’t catch onto.
Here are some great things you can do on a Mac desktop computer that you may not be aware of.
Voice Control
Voice control is one of the best Mac tips you should be aware of because it can be a real time-saver and becomes very intuitive as you get used to the commands.
Click the Siri button if your computer has a dedicated one or hold down Command + Space then speak to your Mac. You can do all sorts of things, from opening and closing apps to communicating with people.
You can also ask your Mac questions, like what the temperature is outside or how traffic is going to be on your journey to work.
Tile the Screen
Long gone are the days when you needed multiple monitors to work with different screens. On a Mac, you can hover over the corner of the window and choose to tile it. This means it will neatly stack the apps all around so you can have your eyes on multiple at once.
This is particularly great if you want to watch a movie while working on a project or want to have a reference screen up as you write a paper.
Edit Videos
On the photos app, you can quickly edit videos on your Mac! No need to download fancy software if you simply want to trim down some videos before sending them to friends. You can also use this app to edit photos, of course.
You can even record a video on the device. Check out how to take a video on Mac to see how.
Access Computers Remotely
Do you have a relative with a Mac who needs some help? Do you need some help with yours?
One of the best Mac tips and tricks is being able to access other computers remotely. Simply launch Screen Sharing and then type in an Apple ID and you can control someone else’s computer (with their permission, of course).
You can show them how to do things or even fix problems for them while they watch. This is handy for those who live far away from family and friends and still want to give them that technology help they might need.
Record the Screen
A while ago, you had to download a third party to record the screen from your computer or phone which usually costs money. If you’ve made sure your Mac software update has been completed and you have Yosemite or later, however, you can record the screen on your computer.
You can also plug your phone into your Mac and record the screen from that using the Quicktime player.
This is great for demonstrations and tutorials, whether for business or personal projects.
Easy Screenshotting
On a Mac, it’s easy to screenshot. Just press Command + Shift + 3.
However, if you only want part of the screen, you can do that too — something that sets Macs apart from other computers. Press Command + Shift + 4 and you can highlight part of the screen and automatically save that screenshot.
If you make a mistake and select the wrong part of the screen — and don’t want it to save — simply hit Esc and it will stop taking a screenshot.
Run Windows
If you’re a diehard Windows fan and want to run it on your Mac, there’s some good news. You can!
There’s an easy way to do it. Get a Windows 10 installation disc and insert it into your Mac. You can buy them online and it’ll guide you through the process.
Then all you have to do is restart the computer and boom! You have Windows!
You can also hold down Option to switch back to the Mac OS whenever you feel like it. This is handy for those who can’t quite get used to the operating system and prefer Windows.
Sign Documents
Once upon a time, we had to print documents, sign them, and scan them back in to email to people. Mac makes it easy by adding a signature button at the top of each document viewer!
Simply draw your signature using your mouse and you can save it and use it again next time. This means you can sign a lot of documents without going through a convoluted process, though make sure the document that you’re signing allows electronic signatures.
Copy Text Between Devices
If you have both Bluetooth and WiFi switched on and your iPhone and Mac are logged into the same iCloud account, you can copy and paste text between devices which is a neat feature that many people aren’t aware of.
Simply copy some text on one device and then paste on the other. It’s that easy.
Get the Most Out of Your Mac Desktop Computer
Utilize these tricks to get the most out of your Mac desktop computer. It has a lot of features so sit down and take the time to get to know it and you’ll probably stumble across a lot accidentally. These are great places to start, though!
For more tech advice and other tips, check out the rest of our site.
About the Author/s
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.
