Discover the most overlooked features of your Mac computer.
The arrival on the scene of the new software version of macOS 13 Ventura has brought all kinds of wonderful features to the Mac, such as Stage Manager, the new window management system. But today’s operating system already offers a wide choice of Features and Benefits of great utility that not all users know about.
In this article, we will recommend a list with unknown best mac features. Functions that will allow you to make the most of the potential and the full capacity of your team. Without further ado, let’s get started!
Mac Features You May Not Know About
The vast majority of macOS operating system features are really easy to use. In fact, Apple Mac computers are known for their intuitiveness and ease of use. But there are a number of hidden features that many users overlook. Here are the coolest unknown features of macOS.
screenshot options
We start with one of Mac’s most useful and versatile features. We are talking about screenshots, with which we can share any type of content with other users and are especially handy for tutorials or teaching trivia to friends and family.
To take a screenshot of your entire Mac screen, just use the “Command + Shift + 3” key combination, the image will be automatically saved to your desktop. But did you know there are more options for capturing and recording your screen?
If you use the “Command + Shift + 4” combination on your Mac, you will have the option to select an area to capture the screen of the said section. Pressing “Escape” will cancel the action.
On the other hand, if you press the “Command + Shift + 5” combination, you will enter the screenshot and screen recording customization section. From here you can select an area for screen capture and recording or just capture a single window.
- Command + Shift + 3: Screenshot.
- Command + Shift + 4: Screenshot of a selected area.
- Command + Shift + 5: Custom screenshot and screen recording.
Customizing keyboard shortcuts
The operating system of Mac computers offers a plethora of keyboard shortcuts for access functions faster and easier. For example, if you press the “Command + H” key combination, you can hide a window, if you press the “Command + Tab” key combination, you can switch between open applications, and if you press “Command + C”, you will copy a content .
There is an excellent list of Mac keyboard shortcuts that you can use in your favor, you can access it from System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts. From here, furthermore, you can also customize the keyboard combinations and choose the ones you want.
Here are some of the most useful keyboard shortcuts in macOS:
- Command + X: Cut selected content.
- Command + C: Copy selected content.
- Command + V: Paste selected content.
- Command + A: Select all items.
- Command + F: Search web pages or documents.
- Command + H: Hide foreground application windows.
- Command + M: Minimize the window of a foreground application.
- Command + W: Close a foreground application window.
- Command + O: Open a selected item.
- Command + T: Open a new tab.
- Command + Tab: Switch to the next open application.
- Command + Shift + G: Open the Go to Folder window.
- Command + Shift + R: Open the AirDrop window.
- Command + Shift + P: Show or hide the route bar.
- Command + Shift + T: Add selected item to sidebar.
Insight
Preview is another of the most useful functions of macOS, this function offers the possibility of preview the contents of a file. Preview is available in Finder and to use it, just open a folder and find the file you want to preview. Once done, press the spacebar.
You can also use the overview in the folders to know data such as the date of the last modification, the number of elements or the storage space they occupy.
mission control
Mission Control is, without a doubt, another of the most useful features of macOS. Provides access to a open window management system across multiple desktop screens, making it much easier to switch between various applications. It works with split view split screen modes and with desktop elements.
You can access Mission Control in four different ways:
- Swipe up on the trackpad with three fingers.
- Double-tap the Magic Mouse with two fingers.
- Open the Mission Control application in the Applications folder.
- Press the Mission Control key on the keyboard or Touch Bar.
Automating
Automator is a very powerful tool that allows run automated tasks on your Mac. A very useful option if you need to perform repetitive actions such as applying changes to documents, creating backup copies, opening web pages, etc.
You can search for Automator in Spotlight search or in the Applications folder on your Mac. With this tool, you can create your own custom workflows. At first it can be a bit confusing and complex, but after a while you will get used to using it.
AirDrop
Among the most overlooked features of Mac, AirDrop is probably the most popular. This is a very useful feature that provides the ability to transfer files between multiple apple devices at a very good speed thanks to Bluetooth connectivity.
You will find AirDrop among the sharing options in the action menu when you select a file or multiple files. But it also has its own section in the sidebar of the Finder app.
Remember that before performing an AirDrop file transfer, you must have the Bluetooth connection and the AirDrop function activated on both devices.
This concludes our collection of little-known Mac features. As you may have seen, these are very special and very useful features that enhance the productivity of any macOS user. What are your favorite features? Did you know them all?
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