Millions of people around the world love using Mac computers. In fact, they have the highest customer satisfaction score of any personal computer.
Mac computers look great. Not only are they are slim and portable with a sleek, shiny exterior, they are also high-performing and easy to use.
But the benefits of using a Mac don’t end there. Mac computers contain several clever features that many long-time Mac users don’t even know about.
Keep reading to find out nine of the most surprising Mac tips and tricks.
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Take Screenshots
Taking screenshots is a great way to save interesting or funny images and share information with friends. Taking screenshots on a Mac is easy. Here’s how to do it.
If you want to screenshot your entire screen then press Command + Shift + 3. If you want to screenshot only a portion of your screen then press Command + Shift + 4. This will allow you to select the area you want to capture by moving your cursor.
You can also press Command + Shift + 4 and then press the space bar and select a specific app window. This will screenshot only that window.
Screenshots that you take on your Mac will be saved on your desktop as image files.
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Look up Words in the Dictionary
Mac makes it easy to look up the meanings of words you don’t know. It’s really simple, just highlight the word you don’t know and tap your trackpad with three fingers.
Your Mac will then display the dictionary definition for that particular word. If the word or phrase has no definition in the dictionary, then your Mac will display its Wikipedia entry instead.
There is another, easier way to look up unknown words. First, highlight the word and then move your cursor over it and press Command + Control + D.
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Invert Colors to Reduce Eye Strain
Does your job require you to stare at your computer screen for hours on end? Many people suffer from eye strain when using their computers for long periods. Luckily, Mac gives you the option to reduce eye strain by inverting colors.
Inverting colors is also useful if you’re working outside and it’s really sunny. To enable the ‘Invert colors’ option on your Mac go to Settings > Keyboard > Shortcuts > Accessibility and then press Command + Option + Control + 8.
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Rename Multiple Files
Renaming lots of files can be a time-consuming process. But thanks to this clever feature, Mac makes it really easy to rename multiple files at the same time.
First, select all of the files you wish to rename, let’s say there are 25 of them. Then, right-click on them and select ‘Rename 25 items’.
You will then see a window that allows you to choose a filename for the entire group of files. You can also choose a differentiator for each filename, such as a number.
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Annotate Images and PDF Files
Have you ever scrolled through a PDF file and wished you could make some notes on the side of the page? Well, you’re in luck. Mac makes this super easy to do with its inbuilt app called Preview.
First off, open up the PDF file or image. It should open in Preview automatically. Then, click on ‘View’ in the top menu and then ‘Show Markup Toolbar’.
Preview will now display a toolbar that allows you to edit your file by adding text, drawing on the file, and more.
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Display Date and Time
If you have a busy schedule then it’s handy to have the date and time displayed in the corner of your screen.
Turning on (or off) the date and time in Mac is easy. Click the Apple logo at the top left of your screen and then click on ‘System Preferences’. Next, select ‘Date and Time’ and then ‘Clock’.
You will now see two checkboxes labeled ‘Show date’ and ‘Show the day of the week’. You can check or uncheck these as you wish.
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Do Calculations With Spotlight
That’s right, the search facility on Mac, called Spotlight, can also be used as a calculator. Pretty cool, huh?
Instead of finding and opening your calculator app to make simple calculations, you can type equations right into Spotlight and get the answer immediately.
You can also use Spotlight for converting between different units. For example, by typing ‘$50’ into Spotlight you can convert it to a number of different currencies.
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Use Internet Explorer on Mac
Mac has its own inbuilt browser called Safari. However, if you’ve recently switched to Mac from PC, you’re probably used to using Internet Explorer. Luckily, there are ways to get Internet Explorer for Mac.
The easiest way to do this is to simulate the Internet Explorer browser with Safari. To do this, read more about using Internet explorer for mac.
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Paste Text With No Formatting
Has this ever happened to you? You copy and paste text from a website into your Pages file but the formatting looks all strange. You then have to spend time manually changing the font type and size.
Don’t fear – there’s an easier way. Instead of using Command + V to paste, press Command + Shift + V to paste without formatting.
Master These Simple Mac Tips and Tricks
Mac computers are a popular choice for many working professionals and students alike. Not only do they look great, but they come with a bunch of clever features that many Mac veterans don’t even know about!
By taking advantage of these Mac tips and tricks, you can increase your productivity, and get more done by saving yourself time and effort.
Did you enjoy learning about these handy dandy Mac hacks? If so, be sure to check out more helpful content on our blog.
