5 Helpful MacBook Tips You Should Know

With 6.5 million units sold in the third quarter of 2021, MacBooks are becoming increasingly more popular.

There’s nothing more exciting than getting your first MacBook laptop! These near supercomputers are fast, shiny, are capable of things you didn’t even know were possible.

Whether you just got your first Mac or you’ve been a lifelong purchaser, there are some things you may not know how to do. Luckily, brushing up on your MacBook tips can help increase the functionality and efficiency of your computer.

If you’re looking for Macbook tricks to help you get the hang of your device, keep reading to learn how to make the most of your laptop.

1. Learn the Shortcuts

Whether you use your laptop for work, school, or leisure, knowing how to quickly and efficiently complete tasks on your MacBook will make using it much more seamless.

Some of the most essential commands to keep in mind are:

• Command + C – copy
• Command + V – paste
• Command + X – cut
• Command + S – save the document

These will save you time and energy while working, as you won’t have to scroll through a drop-down menu of commands while working.

However, you will need to keep in mind that different programs have different shortcuts built into their interface. For example, Adobe Photoshop doesn’t require you to press the command key before activating the shortcut.

2. Change Your Folder Icons

If you’re someone who has dozen of different folders on your desktop, it can be challenging to keep track of what files go in which folder, especially before you rename multiple files. Or, maybe you like to have your desktop organized and aesthetically pleasing to make your work day a little more enjoyable.

Luckily, you can change the appearance of the file icons on your desktop! This is one of the lesser-known Macbook tips, but it can come in handy when keeping you organized.

Before you change the icon, you’ll need to have an image you want to use. However, you’ll need to ensure the image has a transparent background, as this will prevent your folder from having an awkward white box around it.

To change the folder icon, you’ll need to left-click on the file and select the “get info” option. A small window will appear, giving you the option to see the folder in detail. You’ll want to drag the image you plan on using into the small blue folder icon in the top left of the window.

3. Make Signing Documents Simple

Have you ever had to sign a stack of digital documents? This can leave you frustrated, as you’ll need to print these documents, sign them, scan them back to your computer, and then email them to the necessary parties.

However, if you want to save time and paper, you can add your digital signature to your MacBook Pro to make singing these documents easy and eco-friendly.

In order to do this, you’ll need to open the document you plan on signing as a PDF. in the bar at the top of the window, you’ll notice the “markup” icon. After selecting this, more options will appear, and you’ll choose the icon that looks like a signature on a line.

Another drop-down menu will appear, giving you options as to how you’d like to upload your digital signature. You’ll be able to choose if you want to add your signature using your trackpad, a photo, or through your iPhone or iPad.

Once you have your signature in the program, your computer will remember it and leave it as an option. This makes it easy for you to sign multiple documents at once.

4. Sidecar Your iPad

If you’re used to working in an office with multiple screens, it can be a challenge to work on the screen of your personal MacBook computer. However, you can take advantage of your iPad by utilizing the screen!

To move the window to your iPad, you’ll want to ensure that both your iPad and MacBook are signed in to the same iCloud account. Next, you’ll want to hover your mouse over the green button in the top left of your window.

When you see the drop-down appear, you’ll see that the last option is “move to iPad.” Click this, and you’ll see your window appear on your iPad!

In most cases, this will extend the view of your desktop. However, you can set it up to mirror your screen, which will show what is on your desktop at the time.

5. Spotlight Search

One of the best features that MacBook laptops are equipped with is known as Spotlight Search. This feature utilizes your entire operating system to quickly perform tasks like locating files and emails on your computer.

To access your spotlight search, you’ll simply hit “command + spacebar,” and the feature will appear on your desktop. This helps save you the time of scrolling through a list of files looking for the one document you need.

However, you aren’t limited to what’s on your computer. Spotlight Search can also offer web searches, as well as calculations to make your work quick and seamless.

Whether you’re in a virtual meeting and need to quickly convert dollars to euros or need to find the median of your last few months of income, Spotlight can help.

Keep These MacBook Tips in Mind for Easy Use

Though you may be excited to play around with your new MacBook, familiarizing yourself with these shortcuts can help make your user experience all the more enjoyable.

If you found these MacBook tips and tricks helpful, you’ll want to check out the rest of our website. There, you can find more great technology content to help make your digital world easier.