Mac Basics to Advance Guide to macOS Sierra / High Sierra

Explore macOS basics by identifying the menu bar, toolbar, and dock, using spotlight to search, and navigating Finder with desktop and folders. Open and close apps like QuickTime and Chrome.

Explore how macOS menu bar adapts to the active application with app-specific settings for Finder, Notes, Keynote, Numbers, and Pages. Master shortcuts and indicators, including wifi, battery, power, and Spotlight.

Discover the macOS Finder: navigate documents, air drop and external drives, tailor views and arrange items, and perform actions like rename, compress, duplicate, and share.

learn to manipulate windows on macOS Sierra and High Sierra using the yellow, green, and red controls, resize and snap panes, and manage apps and notes efficiently.

learn to customize the Mac dock by adding and removing apps, arranging items, adjusting dock size and magnification, and positioning the dock at bottom, left, or right.

Learn to launch apps on macOS via Finder, dock, Spotlight, and Launchpad, then switch between apps and organize them with folders and trackpad gestures.

Master hiding and quitting apps on macOS to keep programs like calculator, iBooks, and Safari running in the background, using the menu bar, right-click, or keyboard shortcuts.

Learn how to preview any file in macOS Finder using Quick Look, by selecting a file and pressing spacebar, then browse images, PDFs, and videos with keyboard arrows.

Open Finder and use the search feature to locate files on your Mac, with command-F to search text. Preview results with space and save or open matched files.

Master spotlight search on macOS by using the command-space shortcut, explore results from apps, documents, and maps, and customize what appears by filtering out movies, music, and more.

Master document creation and saving in macOS with TextEdit, using command+s, saving to downloads, and renaming or moving files in Finder. Apply this workflow to Keynote and Numbers.

Discover how to browse all versions of a document on macOS, restore older edits, compare changes over time, and save or copy content across apps like Pages, Numbers, and Keynote.

Learn to enable and customize Siri on macOS, set shortcuts and language, choose voice feedback, show Siri in the menu bar, and use it to open apps and answer questions.

Explore Siri features that let you create notes, schedule appointments, launch apps, send emails, and answer questions. Discover how Siri provides weather updates and quick information to simplify daily tasks.

Explore how Safari functions as a full-featured macOS browser, from searching with Google, Bing, Yahoo, and Wikipedia to managing tabs, bookmarks, passwords, and privacy settings like private windows and autofill.

Master mail in macOS: navigate inbox and drafts, refresh for new messages, archive or junk mail, flag important conversations, and compose with signatures across multiple accounts.

Explore text edit in macOS by searching for it in launchpad, compose text, adjust font size and alignment, insert links and images, and save or rename documents with formatting options.

Explore how to use Preview to open images and videos, perform basic image editing, annotate with shapes and text, manage size and resolution, and apply instant alpha and cropping.

Explore QuickTime player on macOS, learn to record your screen and audio, and perform basic video editing, including trimming, merging, rotating, exporting in various formats, and managing video files.

Learn to add and manage tabs across macOS apps, open multiple windows, and work with documents in Numbers and Keynote to boost multitasking on macOS Sierra and High Sierra.

Explore how to use the mac app store to search for apps, install or delete software, manage free and paid options, and update from launchpad.

Create and customize macOS contacts by adding names, numbers, emails, and notes; organize groups, share contact cards across devices, and integrate with Mail, FaceTime, and Calendar.

Explore how to use the macOS calendar app to create, edit, and manage events, set alerts, repeat schedules, and sync with iCloud across devices.

Master macOS reminders by creating to-do lists, setting times and repeats, syncing via iCloud, and receiving notifications across devices.

Learn to use macOS notes to create headlines and descriptions, insert images, mark up, and organize with folders. Pin notes, password-protect, and share by mail or Facebook.

Explore maps on macOS, using Google Maps and Apple Maps to search locations, view 3D and satellite imagery, check traffic and temperature, get directions, and share your location.

Learn to access iBooks from launchpad or app store on macOS, browse library and bookstore by categories, search and download e-books, and use notes, highlights, bookmarks, dictionary lookups while reading.

Explore how to use the macOS Messages app, including composing messages, sharing the screen via displays, and when to rely on third-party apps like WhatsApp or Telegram for messaging.

Learn to use the photos app on macOS to import images from app store, organize into albums and memories, mark favorites, edit and crop photos, and search by content.

Learn to select text with mouse and keyboard in macOS, using double or triple clicks, click-and-drag, and shift with arrow keys, then copy, cut, paste, and undo with keyboard shortcuts.

Master macOS full-screen gestures and mission control by using three-finger swipes to switch between apps, arrange windows, and manage full-screen mode across Safari, Notes, iBooks, and Chrome.

Use AirDrop to quickly transfer photos and videos between iPad, MacBook, and iPhone by enabling Bluetooth, opening Finder, and accepting transfers on the receiving device.

Navigate system preferences with a powerful search feature to customize macOS settings. Adjust display, keyboard, trackpad, sound, energy saver, security, and app settings like iCloud and App Store.

Learn how macOS displays notifications by default, manage per-app alerts (banners or lock screen), and use do not disturb scheduling; configure reminders, badges, and calendar events.

Learn how to customize widgets on macOS by editing the widget list, adding or removing widgets such as calculator, and installing new widgets from the App Store for quick access.

Apply and manage tags in Finder to organize files and folders with color labels, enabling quick search and custom categories across images and videos.

Enable dictation in system preferences, enable keyboard dictation, choose a microphone, and set a shortcut. It can work offline and benefits from a quiet environment.

Learn to create custom keyboard shortcuts on macOS by using system preferences, app shortcuts, and assigning key combos to commands like start speaking across apps.

Learn to create multiple user accounts on macOS, switch between them securely, and set admin, standard, or parental controls in system preferences to keep documents separate and supervised.

Enable the guest user for temporary, safe access from system preferences; guests can use the Mac without accessing your documents, and all activity is erased when they log out.

Back up your Mac with Time Machine, keep local snapshots, and schedule daily and weekly backups; connect an external drive to restore your system to a new Mac if needed.

Optimize macOS storage by managing storage on about this Mac, using iCloud, and removing clutter. Use clean my Mac to free up junk and boost performance.

Apple embeds macOS security by default and lets you adjust security and privacy. Enable the firewall and allow apps from the App Store or identified developers with updates for protection.

Learn to use the picture in picture feature on macOS to watch a video while working in Numbers, Pages, or Keynote, and move or resize the pop-up for practical use.