25 Must-Know macOS Tips for Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Mac Users

 There are dozens if not hundreds of macOS shortcuts and tricks to streamline your workflows and make it easier to use your Mac, but many of these shortcuts are easily overlooked or forgotten.

We asked MacRumors readers on Twitter and YouTube for their favourite, most helpful macOS tips for this guide and the accompanying YouTube video, which we have collected below. Some of these are more simple and will work for all users, while others are a little more sophisticated. To see them in motion, or read through the guide for a short summary, check out our video.

Desktop and App Management

  • Trigger Search Spotlight-Just use Command + Space to view a handy search interface that will help you locate files on your Mac. From finding files to answering simple questions to solving math issues, Spotlight can do all sorts of things.
  • Swap Between Apps-Press Command + Tab to switch between your open apps. To cycle through the open settings, keep keeping the Command key down and then press Tab. When the app you want is highlighted, just let go.
  • Close Apps From App Switcher-Click the Q key with the command kept down to close the open app while you are in the Command + Tab view.Hot Corners -
  • They're worth trying out if you're not even using Hot Corners. When your mouse hovers in a particular corner, you can set tasks that will happen, such as launching Mission Control, viewing the desktop, and more. In Machine Preferences > Mission Control > Hot Corners, set them up.
  • Advanced hot corners-If you want to use hot corners, but have found yourself triggering features unintentionally, when setting up a hot corner, hold down the Choice key. The Hot Corner won't activate from there unless you keep the Choice key down.
  • Hide a Window-Just press Command + H to quickly hide a window on the screen. The app will vanish in the background, but by clicking on the dock icon or using Command + Tab, you can get it back.
  • Hide All Windows-By pressing Option + Command + H, you can hide all the windows except the window for the app you are currently using.
  • Cycle between Windows Apps-If you have several windows open for an app like Safari, you can use the Command + Tilde (~) key to switch between those open windows.
  • Switch between multiple desktops-You can switch between multiple desktops easily if you use multiple desktops by pressing the Control button and either the left or right arrows.

Managing Files

  • Switch between multiple desktops-You can switch between multiple desktops easily if you use multiple desktops by pressing the Control button and either the left or right arrows.
  • Clean Up Your Desktop-On a messy desktop, just right click and select "Stacks" to make your Mac sort it automatically by file type for those with macOS Mojave or later.
  • Instant File Deletion-If you want to delete a file and you want to bypass the Trash Can on your Mac that saves files before deleting them, simply pick a file and simultaneously click Option + Order + Delete.
  • Build an Auto Duplicate File-To create a duplicate file, right-click "Get Info" when you click on a particular file, and then check the Stationary Pad box. Each time you open the file, a duplicate will actually open, which is perfect for templates and similar types of files.

Screenshots

  • Video Screenshots - Shift + Command + 3 takes a screenshot, Shift + Command + 4 lets you select an area of the screen to screenshot, but Shift + Command + 5, a lesser known option, brings up an interface that lets you record your screen or a portion of your screen.
  • Cleaner Screenshots-When you pick a screen area using Shift + Command + 4, the icon moves to a camera if you click the space bar. In order to get a screenshot of just that window or interface feature, such as the dock or menu bar, you can click on any open window.

Safari

  • Safari Picture-in - Picture (YouTube)-When doing other things, you can watch a video on Safari. To do this with YouTube, just right-click a video that is playing twice to open a menu that provides the picture-in - picture features.
  • Safari Photo-in-Photo Pt. 2-There 's another way if the right clicking method doesn't work to pop out a video or you're not watching YouTube. Look for the audio icon in the Safari toolbar when playing a video, right-click on it, and a picture-in - picture option should appear.
  • Easier copy of links-To copy the current URL in Safari, press Command + L to highlight the URL bar, then press Command + C to copy. It's better than using your mouse.

Force Touch Trackpad

  • Quick Looks-If you have a Mac with a Force Touch Trackpad, you can see a little glimpse of the content if you click and hold on something like a website connection or a YouTube video to see what it is without having to leave the current page you are on.
  • Dictionary-To get a dictionary description, highlight it and click down on it with the Force Touch Trackpad if you see a word that you're not familiar with.
  • Rename Directories and Files-If a folder or file name is Force Contact, you can easily rename it. Force Touch on the folder or file icon, and a glimpse of the file can be seen.

Apple Watch and Mac

  • Apple Watch Unlock-If you have an Apple Watch, you can use it to unlock your Mac, which is a very helpful feature for those who are not aware of it. Open Device Settings > Protection & Privacy to customise it and then move to Unlock Mac with Apple Watch.
  • Apple Watch Password Protection-Apple Watch can also be used as an alternative to a password for those with macOS Catalina and Apple Watch, so you don't need to constantly type in passwords.

Notification Center

  • Activate DND Quickly-You can activate Do Not Disturb if you hold the Option key and click the Notification Center icon in the upper right corner of your Mac's menu bar.

Keyboard Tricks

  • Alternate Mouse Control-There is an option to use your keyboard to control your mouse cursor, and it can be activated under Accessibility. Open the Accessibility settings and select the Alternative Control Methods tab under Pointer Control. From there, switch on the Activate Mouse Keys button and pick the Mouse Keys toggle when the Choice is pressed five times. When you press Option x5, the mouse keys are turned on and you can manoeuvre the mouse using the keyboard.
  • RAPID ACCESS TO FUNCTION KEY SETTINGS-When you click one of the function keys to enable Mission Control, Brightness, Media Playback, and more, you can access the corresponding Settings options within Device Preferences for those keys by holding down the Options button. Note: On Touch Bar Macs, this doesn't work.

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