Master Your Mac: 7 Tips for Beginners Learning Macintosh

If you’ve always used a PC and have recently moved to Mac, it can take some time to feel adjusted. Mac basics can be hard to learn at first, especially if your computer knowledge is centered on working on a PC. 

We’re here to tell you that it’s simple to learn how to use a Mac. Let us help you with the learning curve.

Here are seven tips for beginners learning Macintosh. 

1. Check for Software Updates

Often, when you get your first Mac, Apple will have released a software update before you even boot it. Before you go around and tweak things and set things up, you should update it first.

This will save you time in the long run, because some new apps may require the software update to run on your computer. This will save you a lot of hassle down the road. 

Here’s how you can do that: 

1. Click the Apple logo in the top left corner
2. Click on About This Mac
3. Click on Software Update

Sometimes, Mac may have difficulties downloading new software, for instance, when you have purchased a refurbished Mac. If this is the case, you can find all the information you need to help with your software updates at:

https://setapp.com/how-to/fix-macos-could-not-be-installed-on-your-computer-issue

This post offers insight into why your Mac may be having trouble updating software and gives tips on how to work around this issue. 

2. Adjust Your Doc

One of the great features of Macintosh is its beautiful display, referred to as your doc. You’ll notice a bar at the bottom of your computer. This is customizable, and you can tailor it to your unique needs. 

It’s just one of the many reasons why professionals use Macintosh for all of their projects. 

Here are some ways you can set up your doc for your own unique Mac experience: 

1. Right-click on an icon in the doc
2. Go to Options and click keep in doc or remove from doc

This will let you customize your doc the way you want it to look. To make your doc bigger or smaller, follow these steps: 

1. Click and drag on the divider to adjust its size
2. The divider will look like a vertical line, like this |
3. Right-click on the divider to access other settings

From the divider settings, you can find preferences, such as, turn hiding on, turn magnification on, position on screen, and minimize using. 

3. Customize the Touch Bar

If you have a new MacBook Pro with a touch bar, you may not like the factory setting on this option. You can adjust and customize your touch bar as well. 

To do that: 

1. Click on the Apple logo on the top left corner of the screen
2. Click on system preferences
3. Click on keyboard
4. Click on the customize control strip button
5. Drag the buttons you want on the default view of the touch bar below the display
6. Position them where you want them on the touch bar

4. Show Battery Percentage

If you’re used to a PC, then you always know where to look to see how much percentage of the battery is left. This is not the case with Mac. On a Mac, you will only see a battery.

Here’s how to enable the percentage on your battery life: 

1. Click on the battery icon in the upper right-hand corner of the screen
2. Click on show percentage

You should now see a percentage to the left of the battery icon. This tells you how much of a charge remains on your Mac.

5. Sync Your Folders

One of the best features of the Apple brand is its ability to share and link files across all of your devices through the iCloud system. This is no different on the MacBook. You can use the iCloud Drive to sync a folder between all of your Apple devices. 

Here’s how to set it up: 

1. Click on the Apple icon in the upper right-hand corner of the screen
2. Click on system preferences
3. Click on iCloud
4. Click on options
5. Click on what you would like to share, such as desktop and documents folders

This will give you the capability to then access any documents on your MacBook on any other Apple device. 

6. Set the Scrolling Direction

If you’re a PC user, one of the first things you’ll notice when you use the trackpad is that it works in the reverse of what you are used to.

For instance, sliding up will make you scroll down a screen’s window. Scrolling down will make you scroll up a screen’s window. This can be very confusing for first time Mac users. 

To change the scrolling direction: 

1. Click on the Apple icon in the upper right-hand corner of the screen
2. Click on system preferences
3. Click on trackpad
4. Click on scroll and zoom tab
5. Un-click the box for scroll direction: natural

This should fix the issue so you can scroll as you want. If you want to learn the way Mac does it, keep it as is. 

7. Enable Night Shift Feature

We all know that staring at a screen with a bluish tint to it can mess with your body’s regulatory system for sleep patterns. Apple has created a feature to help users get a good night’s rest by offering a night shift feature.

Night shift will alter the light to warmer tones during the evening hours to get that much-needed rest. 

To enable night shift: 

1. Click on the Apple icon in the upper right-hand corner of the screen
2. Click on system preferences
3. Click on displays
4. Open the night shift tab

From there, you can adjust it to come on from sunset to sunrise, automatically, manually activate it, and adjust the temperature of the color settings. 

Learning Macintosh Doesn’t Need to Be Hard

Learning Macintosh doesn’t have to be a chore. With these tips, you’ll be on your way to customizing your MacBook the way you want it and feeling more comfortable with your new system. 

For more information on this topic and more, please check back on our blog frequently.