Mastering Your Mac : 10x Your Productivity

Explore the Finder layout, create and organize folders and windows, and learn shortcuts, with a downloadable PDA and printouts to reinforce topics and a class project.

Explore the macOS Finder as the core file management tool, navigate recent items via the sidebar and toolbar, and switch between icon, list, column, and gallery views with previews.

Customize your Mac toolbar by adding, rearranging, and deleting buttons, inserting folders and quick look, and using flexible spaces to tailor action and visual separation across apps.

Tag files with color labels using the toolbar, then apply and rename tags on selected items. Use multiple tags and smart folders to group and locate tagged files.

Learn to tag files using the right-click menu and customize favorite tags in Finder preferences, then drag tags to the sidebar for quick labeling and fast file perusal.

Right-click a file and click the tag with an X to remove it. Use the edit tags option or backspace to delete tags from colors and the added tags toolbar.

Add and rename tags in Finder preferences with plus button, for example to urgent, color them to appear in the sidebar, then reorder or delete tags to keep categories generic.

Learn to customize the macOS Finder sidebar by adding and organizing favorites such as movies, music, pictures, and cloud locations, manage locations and drives, and reorder items for quick access.

Master your Mac by learning to customize the Finder sidebar with custom folders, using drag and drop to pin a tutorial folder for quick access and persistent availability.

Learn how to create, rename, and organize folders using right-click, drag-and-drop, and selection techniques; use the command key for multiple selections, create folders from selection, and undo actions.

organize files in column view by dragging items into folders, creating folders from selections, and renaming, then use a second finder window to drag across and sort by name.

Open and manage multiple locations in a single Finder window using tabs, drag and drop files between tabs, and add new locations with the plus button for streamlined organization.

Delete files or folders by moving them to the bin, dragging, right-clicking, or using the toolbar delete button. Retrieve items with put back, or shred selected bin files with command+backspace.

Learn to manage desktop files by dragging items onto the desktop and organizing with sort by, clean up by, and stacks that categorize images, spreadsheets, and PDFs.

Adjust desktop aesthetics and organization by zooming icons, changing grid spacing, and selecting view options to sort files, show item info, preview content, and tailor label positions.

Enable the Finder path bar and status bar to reveal file locations and item counts, then use Quick Look and column or icon views for fast file management.

Use command F to search the Finder across your Mac and in specific folders. Save these searches to the sidebar and refine results with criteria like kind, date, or name.

Master the right-click menu to create folders, rename, duplicate, and compress files, zip selections for email, and batch rename with index while managing sort with clean up and sort options.

Master aliases on macOS to access folders quickly from desktop or dock, using right-click, drag-and-drop, or Alt+Cmd, and enhance workflow with quick look, toolbar customization, sharing, and batch rename duplicates.

Learn to minimize and maximize windows using double-clicks, drag to resize, and full-screen modes, with controls like escape and option-clicking the green button to adapt to content.

Discover how to reorganize your desktop and Finder with the new folder selection feature: right-click highlighted files, create a single folder, and quickly tidy documents in Finder.

Master the Finder by organizing files with folders, using drag-and-drop across two windows and multiple tabs, and leveraging split screen to move items efficiently.

Explore shortcuts and hotkeys, learning key combinations like command, control, alt, and shift to perform tasks such as copy, paste, and print, with keyboard layouts and field navigation tips.

Master Mac shortcuts and hotkeys, using the emoji and symbol viewers and the keyboard viewer to access symbols quickly. Learn copy, paste, cut, save, print, and fast user switching.

Create a holiday event in your calendar, blocking June 12 to 18 as an all-day entry in Rome, Italy. Drag to extend, move days, and save.

Add birthdays to your calendar by entering contact birth dates and viewing ages. Create a dedicated birthdays calendar, color it gray, and add birthdays manually when contacts are unavailable.

Learn to subscribe to public calendars and country holidays using Safari, with live updates when you subscribe, and search for sports calendars or other calendars on Calendar Labs.

Learn to create and manage reminders on the Mac to build to-do lists and set date- or location-based reminders. Prioritize items, complete lists, and sync reminders with your phone.

discover how to use text edit on mac to create and format documents, adjust margins, fonts, colors, bullets, insert images with markup, save styles, and export as rich text.

Learn how to use the Messages app on Mac to view conversations, send text, emoji, and photos, drag and drop media, record voice messages, and manage kept or deleted messages.

Learn how to use FaceTime for video and audio calls, search and contact people, initiate calls between iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and enjoy automatic orientation switching between portrait and landscape.

Learn to manage and read ebooks with iBooks: organize your library, highlight and annotate, bookmark progress, adjust reading settings, search text, and purchase or download books from the bookstore.

Navigate the Mac app store to download, install, and update apps, explore features, top charts, categories, and purchases, and manage your account, including redeeming iTunes cards.

Understand Apple ID and iCloud, demystify the service, and learn core features like iCloud photos, backups, iCloud Drive, and family sharing for seamless device syncing.

Discover how iCloud synchronizes all your Apple devices and how an Apple ID is used when setting up a new device and creating an account.

Explore iCloud.com from the browser and see how iCloud synchronizes files across devices with the same Apple ID, including photos that auto-appear on Mac, PC, or Android.

Explore iCloud drive to upload, download, delete, and organize files across Mac and PC, create folders, and access notes, reminders, calendars, and password-protected notes for secure information.

Explore how iCloud and Apple ID support Pages, Numbers, and Keynote, enabling browser-based editing, converting documents to Word, and sending copies for Microsoft compatibility.

Discover how iCloud Find My locates your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, plays a sound, enables lost mode, and secures or erases devices with Apple ID privacy protections.

Learn to create an Apple ID on any PC or Mac using a browser, answer security questions, and optionally create an iCloud email. Set up iCloud on Mac or Windows.

Enable iCloud photos, choose between library or photo stream, and enjoy cross‑device access via iCloud.com with a 1000‑photo/30‑day limit and automatic transfers.

Create a shared album with iCloud photo sharing to invite others to view and upload photos. This uses separate storage for 5000 photos or videos and 100 albums.

Learn how iCloud backup automatically saves a mobile device image to the cloud, and how to manage storage and upgrade plans via settings.

Learn to set up family sharing in iCloud, share purchases with your family, add members by email, and manage child accounts with ask to buy and parental controls.

Set up and use iCloud Drive across Mac, Windows, and mobile devices, manage files via Finder, and save documents with Pages for seamless cloud access.

Learn to use Safari in less than an hour by setting up a home page, downloading and organizing files, using the reading list and reading view, and blocking auto-play videos.

Learn to customize the Safari toolbar by adding or removing items like the home and zoom buttons, share and print options, bookmarks and the favorites bar, and iCloud tabs.

Discover how to tailor Safari preferences, from general and home page settings to privacy, passwords, private browsing, extensions, and developer options, for a streamlined browser experience.

Learn to search for a PTF or manual in Safari by typing keywords like 'iPhone manual,' view results, open the PTF, and download it to your downloads folder.

Master the Safari sidebar to manage bookmarks, reading list, subscriptions, and folders, rearrange items by dragging, and save pages with the share tool. Open favorites in one click.

Explore how Safari subscriptions let you subscribe to website feeds, blogs, and newsletters, add feeds to your subscriptions box, and test which sites offer feeds.

Master how to manage multiple tabs in Safari using Command 1–9, use the top pattern to view and jump between tabs, and close tabs or the sidebar for a workspace.

Install adware medic to troubleshoot Safari adware pop-ups, then launch, trust, and run a Safari scan. Restart your computer to fix issues and avoid downloading look-alike software.

Master mac mail essentials to manage emails, save, archive, and find messages; learn to create mailboxes and folders, customize the toolbar, and add large attachments and handwritten signatures.

Navigate the Mac Mail window to manage accounts and read messages. Create and send emails with new messages, CC/BCC, and attachments, using formatting and templates.

Navigate mailboxes to manage inbox, drafts, and sent items; archive, trash, and junk with quick actions. Learn replying and forwarding with attachments and drag-and-drop.

Customize the mail toolbar to add contacts, unread status, and color flags. Learn to move and copy emails into folders, create a new mailbox, and archive with iCloud.

Explore smart mailboxes to automatically sort emails with rules based on date received, customize conditions like today or yesterday, edit and rename mailboxes, and apply presets.

Learn how to save mail attachments on Mac, including saving all or individual images, choosing destinations, exporting to Photos, and using Preview to view and manage them.

Mastering your Mac teaches you to save email attachments by setting a default attachments folder in Mail preferences, selecting documents/attachments as the destination, and using drag-and-drop for quick saves.

Enable mail drop to send large attachments up to 5 gigabytes via email, with a download link that stays in the cloud for 30 days.

Learn to create a handwritten signature using macOS Preview by camera capture or trackpad, edit and resize it, and use it in emails and PDFs.

Master photo management on your Mac by importing, organizing, and searching in the Photos app, using folders and a clear hierarchy. Rename, adjust dates, edit, and create books, calendars, postcards.

learn to import photos by drag and drop or file menu, manage duplicates, convert old libraries, and navigate using tabs, albums, moments, and a configurable sidebar.

Select pictures to create a new album from the file menu, then mark favorites with the heart to temporarily place them in the favorites and move them into the album.

Create smart albums to automatically group photos by criteria, set initial conditions like year or date range, and ensure future imports match and are gathered automatically.

Rename pictures in bulk using titles and keywords, view and edit metadata, assign locations, and search by keywords to organize your mac photo library.

Edit pictures in Mac Photos by applying auto enhancements, adjusting exposure and color, cropping and rotating, applying filters, retouching blemishes, cloning details, and comparing to or reverting to the original.

Create a quick slideshow by hovering and pressing play to hear music on a preview monitor, then skip, pause (escape or x), add albums with the plus button, and share.

Learn how to correct photo dates and times on your Mac by selecting a picture, opening the image menu, and adjusting date, time, and location.

Rotate pictures quickly by selecting a picture and pressing command r to reach the right orientation, and when rotating multiple pictures, keep the same position and rotation order.

Learn to view a photo's location on a map by tapping the moment, switch between standard, satellite, and hybrid views, and return to your moments.

Highlight the photos, export them as jpeg, and choose edited or unmodified copies; include title, keywords, and location, and save sequentially to a chosen folder such as the desktop.

Deleting a picture from an album removes it from that album but not from your main library; to delete completely, use all photos or recently deleted within 30 days.

Learn to transform photos into books, calendars, postcards, and slideshows by selecting albums, choosing book styles, arranging photos, editing text, and customizing layouts, colors, and themes before ordering.

Use option and command to repair the Photos library, learn to locate missing or corrupted photos via show in moment, and manage multiple libraries or re-import from external drives.

Discover Safari updates, including relocation of notifications into web sites section, with per-site controls for autoplay, reader mode, and privacy, and options to manage camera, mic, and location permissions.

Master the Mail app’s new fullscreen behavior with the green button and a new message window, plus smarter, more relevant search.

Explore the new editing tools in Photos, from white balance, curves, and selective color to markup and third party extensions, all while non-destructively comparing edits to the original.

Learn how to manage notes by date sorting and pinning to keep important notes at the top, with unpin functionality, and explore adding and customizing tables to organize information.

Discover how the Mac lock screen keeps all applications running while you step away, protecting your privacy without closing your work.

Evaluate whether upgrading to High Sierra adds worthwhile features and compatibility, check the App Store for upgrade availability, and apply the course learnings to boost Mac productivity.

Enable dark mode to darken windows, menu bar, and dock for eye comfort; explore Mojave's dynamic wallpapers that automatically shift with time and location.

Discover how to browse files in macOS Finder using icon, list, column, and gallery views, view metadata, rotate and markup images or videos, and use previews to boost productivity.

Discover continuity camera on macOS, importing photos and documents from your iPhone or iPad into your Mac via Notes, Mail, Finder, or Desktop, with iCloud and two-factor authentication.

Master quick look markups to rotate, highlight, draw shapes, adjust text size, and sign documents with color options and signatures using spacebar in Mohave.

Explore macOS privacy controls that let you grant or deny microphone and camera access, manage third-party app permissions, and control full disk access from security and privacy settings.

Discover how macOS updates are managed in system preferences with Marvin, appearing in the software update window, and how to manually check updates via software update or the App Store.

Explore how Catalina replaces iTunes with music, podcasts, and tv, reorganizing media into distinct apps. Sign in, manage your library, and access purchases and subscriptions across these apps.

Explore macOS Catalina notes improvements, including gallery and list views, folder creation, note sharing, and advanced search that also scans images and attachments.

Learn to organize reminders on Mac: create and rename lists, color-code icons, nest reminders into categories, and set dates, flags, locations, repeats, and attachments.

Navigate Catalina photos by years, months, and days, with live photos and videos playing in view, and easily mark memories as favorites or delete them.

Explore mac screen time in system preferences, set app time limits, enable downtime, and manage always allowed apps with content and privacy controls across devices using your Apple ID.

Learn how to manage your Apple ID in system preferences, switch between accounts, enable family sharing, adjust name, password, and payment details, and control iCloud, devices, backups, and Find My.