It makes sense why MacBook computers are so popular among consumers. They are fast, simple, and very easy to use. However, whether you are new to these computers or have been using them for years, you may not be getting as much out of your Mac as you could be. If you would like to learn more, then keep on reading and we will take you through the top Mac tips and tricks that you need to know about!
1. Automatically Show and Hide the Menu Bar
Mac computers have featured menu bars since the beginning, way back in 1984. However, since macOS X El Capitan, users are now able to hide the menu bar. You just need to go to System Preferences, and then General. You then click on “Automatically hide and show the menu bar.”
When you select this option, the menu bar is going to show up as you hover the mouse arrow at the top of the screen. This is going to let you get to all of the menus.
2. Type Fun Characters
Did you know that you can type more than just the symbols and letters that you see on the keyboard? You’d be surprised by all of the weird and exotic characters that you can make with your computer. You might already know about typing accents. But you should know that there are a lot more characters at your disposal too.
Simply go to the Edit menu of most applications. You should see Special Characters at the bottom. This panel is going to let you access a lot of different symbols that you drag into the document.
Not all macOS operating systems or applications are going to support this feature. However, these are mainly part of the cross-platform Unicode standard.
There are likely more than meets the eye at first. You should make sure to click the cog to show more. Emojis – the fun characters that are available in recent versions of macOS X – are an exception to the cross-platform world.
Emojis are not specific to Apple, but the recipient of your messages might not be able to see certain emojis that you send, instead showing some standard code squares.
Related: How to Improve Productivity While on a MacBook
3. Sign PDFs in the Mail App
Even though we have very advanced technology at our fingertips, we still need to sign pieces of paper to finalize our documents. If someone sends you a PDF to sign, you don’t need to worry about printing, signing, and then scanning the document. Now, you can just sign the document from the Mail application.
Start by moving the document into an email that you are going to send. Hover over it and then look for the little button in the top right corner. Click that button and you will see a variety of Markup choices. One of those choices will be for signing PDFs.
Even better, you can even add your signature by taking a photo of a signed sheet of paper with your computer’s camera. The camera will then be able to get rid of the background and just save the signature. You can also use your trackpad and draw out the signatures.
If you’ve got a stylus from your iPad, then you can use that instead of drawing with your finger.
4. Batch Rename Documents
Before the Yosemite operating system came out, you needed to roll your own rename script to rename a batch of documents. Or you needed to use a third-party software.
Today, instead, you can now simply select a bunch of documents and then select Rename. You can select this from the drop-down button that is marked with a gear icon in Finder windows. You can also right-click to get to this option. When you do this, you’re going to be allowed to replace text, add text, or apply a format like a name and incrementing counter.
Related: How Can You Tell If Your PC or Mac Has Malware
5. Share Easily With Friends
On your MacBook computer, you’ve probably seen the Share option as an arrow that is going out of a box. Your computer keeps track of who you share things with and how you do it.
If you have a habit of sharing funny memes with a friend and emailing files to a coworker in your office, then these options are going to show up in the share menu. This is going to make it easier for you to share things quickly.
6. Reset PRAM
While Macs don’t come with a lot of hassle, they are not fool-proof. Thankfully, it’s very easy to fix a lot of problems on Mac computers by resetting the PRAM.
If you are running into issues with your MacBook, there’s a good chance that it’s because of the PRAM.
You now have a better idea of the different Mac tips that can make your life a whole lot easier. By using these tips, you’ll be able to make the most of your Mac computer and become more productive.
