8 Mac Tips and Tricks You Might Not Know

[DeepIn2U]

Toggle showing/hiding hidden files in finder, command-shift-. (command-key, shift-key, period-key).

nice! Now is here a KB shortcut to hide 1 or multiple selected files? I lithe having to bring up File Info all the time. Also is there a way to hide a folder ??

 

[Taz Mangus]

nice! Now is here a KB shortcut to hide 1 or multiple selected files? I lithe having to bring up File Info all the time. Also is there a way to hide a folder ??

You can use the chflags command to hide/unhide a folder (use chflags hidden <folder path> to hide a folder or use chflags nohidden <folder path> to unhide the folder).

In Catalina, I found that the user account Library folder can't be unhidden with the chflags command, you have to use the setfile command. It seems that once the setfile command is used to unhide ~/Library, chflags can be used to hide/unhide the folder.

 

[DeepIn2U]

You're absolutely right that "copy" and "move" are two different things. Unfortunately, the tip had to be described that way because in Windows, you can move a file or folder using CTRL+X followed by CTRL+V. In MacOS you have to copy the file first in order to move it: ⌘+C followed by ⌥+⌘+V

Since Apple does not believe in cutting a file as per Windows OS, there is a better work around.


Cmd-X doesn't work on files by default. You can enable it by executing the following in Terminal first

defaults write com.apple.finder AllowCutForItems 1

this terminal command essentially takes the file(s) and places them into trash. The next action would be the standard ⌥+⌘+V.
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It seems very strange to use cmd-C to copy something, then cmd-opt-V to move/paste - when there's a cmd-x to cut (which is greyed-out for files). This would mean it followed the same cmd-C/X/V convention used for the last 30 years, but NO, Apple decide we need another key combination...and one that doesn't make sense, as you're changing your mind from 'copy' to 'cut' whilst you're doing the 'paste' command.

Apple....as a Mac veteran, PLEASE stop breaking things.

I’m curious ... since Puma ... I’ve never known Apple to enable the “Cut” file paradigm that is known to Windows. I don’t believe Apple ever “broke” this.

please note though that Apple will continue to ‘break’ features in the future since bsh shell is no longer the default; cause Apple is being too progressive.

 

[ialexandros]

More people should know that Command-Control-Space will summon the emoji picker and let you insert emoji at the cursor point.

I really thought I knew it all when it comes to Apple, I have been a user since 2001 but wow! I really didn't know this and this helps. Thank you

 

[adrianlondon]

I really thought I knew it all when it comes to Apple, I have been a user since 2001 but wow! I really didn't know this and this helps. Thank you

In pretty much every app, if you click the "Edit" menu it'll list "Emoji & Symbols" followed by the shortcut key sequence. You can go through the menus learning any others you find useful. And if there isn't a shortcut defined, you can add it yourself in Sys Prefs / Keyboard / Shortcuts.

 

[planteater]

Great tips. I was not aware of most of them.

 

[levko123]

What version of MacOS are you using? It should work on Catalina/Mojave/High Sierra.

Catalina. But I've realized I was testing in a folder with no hidden file, now it works !

 

[boswald]

Great tips. Thanks!
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I love hitting the spacebar to preview files. Keeps me from firing up an app more than half the time. Probably the biggest macOS feature I miss on my work PC. Keep hitting the spacbar on my Dell and wondering why nothing is happening.

I often use this feature on my Ubuntu laptop because I love it in macOS so much.

(In case anyone cares, the package to install is called gnome-sushi.)

 

[KScottMyers]

QuickLook is an app on the Windows Store that replicates this function. Not as slick as OSX but it does have a document plug-in that covers MS files. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/quicklook/9nv4bs3l1h4s?activetab=pivot:overviewtab

The first app I install when setting up a Windows machine. A must have!!!

 

[theorist9]

1) To scroll horizontally, hold the shift key down while scrolling.

2) If you want to insert a screenshot into an email or document, cmd-ctrl-shift-4 copies the screenshot directly to the clipboard; then just do cmd-V to paste it. This is much quicker than using cmd-shift-4, which creates a file containing the screenshot in Desktop.

Because activating cmd-ctrl-shift-4 is awkward, and because I use it so frequently, I programmed it into one of the buttons on my gaming mouse. If that's not an option, you can always reassign it to a less gymnastically demanding key combo.

3) Reverting from Duplicate to Save As:

Mac: How to restore 'Save As...' functionality - 9to5Mac

In more recent revisions of macOS, Apple has swapped the old Save As functionality for Duplicate. So, instead of allowing...

9to5mac.com

 

[DeepIn2U]

Cmd-X doesn't work on files by default. You can enable it by executing the following in Terminal first

defaults write com.apple.finder AllowCutForItems 1

this terminal command essentially takes the file(s) and places them into trash. The next action would be the standard ⌥+⌘+V.
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Confirmed in Catalina ... CMD+C will silently copy and Option+CMD+V will cut and paste into the desired location (after Force Quitting Finder after the Terminal command of course).

 

[odonnelly99]

At the risk of being a curmudgeon, if these things are considered "useful tips," that could go a long way to explain the mess that is Catalina... At best, these are niche tips that might appeal to a tiny number of Mac users.

Yes, these are tips and tricks on a Mac enthusiast site, which probably only attracts a tiny number of the Mac users user base. The majority of Mac users — that I know — don't even know basic stuff like Command Q to quit an app or how to use Finder. They just throw all the stuff they need on the Mac desktop and go from there, lol.

So, I guess you could say these "niche" tips are actually perfect content for this site. I didn't know a lot of them, and I'm usually the guy that friends come to with Mac questions.

Last Thing: I highly doubt all of these tips/tricks debuted with Catalina, so I don't see why you think it's to blame.

 

[Krauter]

I use app flycut (Mac App Store) to match style when pasting (shift+cmd+v). Works across all apps. And yes, it’s actually a paste board.

 

[theorist9]

I always add a keyboard shortcut so Command-Shift-V is Paste and Match Style to make it an easier keyboard combination to use. Works in most apps. Frustratingly, not Microsoft Word, where I need it the most.

Not sure why that's not working for you. In MS Word for Mac, using Tools —>Customize Keyboard, I assigned Cmd-V to Paste with destination formatting, and Cmd-Shift-V to Paste with source formatting: