Sometimes it feels like everybody in the world owns a Mac. The domination of Apple as a tech company has lasted for many years at this point, with a huge majority of consumers around the globe in possession of at least one Apple product.
If you’re the new owner of a Mac computer, it can be exciting to start to get familiar with your new computer. A few Macbook tips and tricks will help you get the most of this new computing experience.
What are some tips, tricks, and secrets that will help advance you from Mac novice to seasoned pro? Read on and we’ll walk you through a few steps that can make a world of difference.
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Change File & Folder Iconography
One of the reasons Macontish computers became such big sellers is their focus on aesthetics. Apple made the computing experience much more pleasing to the eye and consumers rewarded them with their attention as a result.
Using a Macbook is a pleasurable experience and a lot of that has to do with the physical design and interface.
That being said, if you don’t like the current design of your Mac interface, you do have the ability to change it. It’s true, even though it’s not something that many Apple owners realize they can do.
It’s actually easy.
All you have to do is right-click the document, file, or folder that you want to change. You’ll be able to select the Get Info button from the dropdown menu, which pulls up another window on your screen.
Once in this menu, copy the image you’d rather have to represent the file. This could be an emoji, an image file, or anything else you might have accessible on your device.
With the image copies, click on the current document thumbnail and press the Command + V shortcut to paste it. It should replace the current thumbnail icon with the image you desire.
Now you should see that image every time you pull the file up! This is a great way to customize your user experience on the Mac.
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Use Spotlight as an Aid
If you’re looking for a file on your computer and you’re not certain where you’ve put it, Spotlight is your go-to assistant. However, this isn’t the only use that Spotlight has. It can help you out in more ways than one.
Did you know Spotlight can actually function as a calculator and currency converter? Many users don’t. All you have to do is open Spotlight and type in your needs.
Spotlight can be accessed in a few different ways if you haven’t yet used the feature. You can click the magnifying glass icon in the top right corner of your screen and that will open it.
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You can also hold the Command + Space bar for a few seconds and that will bring it up as well.
Once you have it open, you can simply type in equations and have Spotlight spit out the answer for you. Spotlight has the ability to do more complicated equations as well, so feel free to use it for difficult math problems you aren’t able to do in your head.
To use Spotlight as a currency converter, all you need to do is enter the currency amount in question with the correct symbol. Spotlight will then bring up a list of conversion rates for all of the different popular currencies.
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Annotate & Images
One of the most useful programs that come pre-installed on all Macbooks is a program called Preview. If you’re using a Macbook, there’s a strong chance this might become the most-used of your various applications.
Preview can open image and document files. It’s an easy way to look over something downloaded or sent to you. Of course, the functionality extends far beyond that.
You can use Preview to save sent files to your own computer or hard drives. That makes it an efficient way to backup photos mac and keep your various files organized.
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You can also use it to annotate and makes notes on various files. You’ll need to open the Edit Bar in the View tab. Once you have it opened, you’ll see many different options available. You can draw shapes, add text, highlight, and much more.
This makes it convenient to add notes to files and images sent for work and other such purposes.
Sign Documents and Paperwork
You can also use Preview to sign documents that are sent to you. This is one of the simplest but most useful Macbook tricks.
Within Preview, choose the option to scan your signature and it will save it within the program for later use. All you have to do is hold up a paper with your signature on it to your Mac’s webcam camera.
Then, all you’ll need to do is hit that feature, drag and drop your signature, and resize it appropriately for the document in question.
This can help save you a lot of headaches later on. You will no longer have to print, sign, and fax off documents when they need signing. This smooths out that process and makes it as easy as can be.
Essential Macbook Tips and Tricks
There’s a reason Apple products are some of the most popular in the world: they provide great functionality and offer a wonderful user experience. If you’re just getting used to using your new computer, the above Macbook tips and tricks can help you get the most of your machine.
Need more tech advice and information? Keep scrolling our blog for a lot more and check out our MacBook repair tips too.