You woke up, you ran to the Christmas tree, you saw the package the kings brought you and wham: someone must have behaved really well because a new Mac has fallen. And you want to start using it without making any rookie mistakes, so here we leave you a list with the best tips and hidden features for your new Mac. We go with them.
The best tips and hidden features to launch your new Mac
Basic options to consider before others
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As soon as you start, it helps to activate the right click mouse for easy access to system context menus. Do you have a trackpad? Then you just need to click with two fingers at the same time to access it.
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The Auto Corrector is definitely something that will bother you at times when you start up with the Mac. You can therefore deactivate it.
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Be careful when activating the cloud synchronization of the ‘Documents’ and ‘Desktop’ folders in iCloud Drive: they can occupy all the space of your cloud in a few minutes. Check it in “System Preferences”, “Apple ID” section.
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To uninstall an app, you can either remove it directly or use more advanced programs with additional benefits. Here are the differences between the two methods.
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If you need to format a drive on the Mac, we will tell you the existing formats that you can use.
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Remember: Flash is already obsolete. The best thing you can do if you’ve installed it by mistake is to remove it.
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Many applications want to start automatically when you start your Mac. Remove as much as possible so that the system does not start up unnecessarily slow. We explain it here along with other tips that will improve computer performance.
System customization tips
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If you don’t like the resolutions macOS gives you by default, you can always force the system to give you more optional resolutions.
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You can tint the windows the color you prefer on macOS windows. Here’s how to do it along with other quick tips for macOS Big Sur.
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If you’re one of those people who spends entire afternoons customizing the system, you’ve got over 1000 free icons here.
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Memojis aren’t just for iPhones with Face ID: here are the steps to create one from your new Mac.
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FaceTime calls between groups can get stunned if everyone is talking at the same time. Here we explain how to set a size for all video call participants.
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Remember that with macOS Big Sur, you can pin iMessage conversations to the top of the sidebar.
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Don’t you like that Safari closes the window when you close its tabs? Here is a tip to avoid it.
Get the most out of your Mac keyboard with shortcuts and shortcuts
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You can use Projector as a calculator, unit converter of all kinds or as a currency converter. Check this by entering the transaction or quantity in unit of measure yourself in the search engine.
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Closing an application window can be done by pressing CMD + W. But if you want to quit that application completely, you need to press CMD + Q.
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Do you want to empty the trash immediately, without even being asked for confirmation? Press CMD + ALT + SHIFT + delete.
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Chrome can be annoying when it asks you to hold down CMD + Q for a few seconds to close the browser. Here is a guide to turn off this option.
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A recommendation: turn off the option to reopen all windows when you restart your Mac. This will ensure that the boot is clean.
Be a productivity whiz
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For import documents or photos from iPhone or iPad no need to go into complications: you have the option in the secondary menu of the desktop.
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Printing a document just to sign it and digitally resubmit it dates back to the last decade. So you can do it directly.
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If you need maximum performance from your portable Mac, you can use this trick to turn off the optimized battery charge.
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If you trust Apple more than any other third-party developer, you can turn the Reminders app into a basic GTD manager.
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If you use Mail, remember that we recently taught you how to send messages from senders you block directly to the trash.
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Bookmarks and Safari bookmarks are two different things. Learn to tell them apart.
Other secret macOS features and tips
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If you have accumulated shows and movies waiting to be played on your Mac, you can create a playlist from the TV app.
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Your new Mac is very likely to have an M1 chip, so it’s worth checking to see if the apps you download are already ready to work with the new architecture.
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In the Apple menu, you will find the option “About this Mac”. From there, you can check your computer’s storage and delete what you don’t need.
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Downloading YouTube videos to your Mac is easy, plus there are often ad-riddled web pages. Here we explain how.
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Safari is a much more flexible browser than you might think. All its extensions are proof of this.
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The same goes for Photos: didn’t you know that you can remove the background from an image without depending on other programs? Ultimately, you might not need a more professional editor for what you’re looking for.
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