Seven Handy Mac Tricks You Might Not Know

[eyrbyggja]

Shift + Option + Volume key (up or down)

Allows you to set the volume in smaller increments than the default.

 

[mrongey]

Here is a shortcut I recently learned that blew my mind. Guess it started with macOS Sierra:

command + shift + .

This will toggle show/hide hidden files in the Finder. So much easier than using command line or a utility app.

This is life-changing!

 

[thewayfaerer]

What I believe is the most underrated app is Preview on Mac. It's astonishing what one can do with it. Not only for PDF's but also for image manipulation. You can paste images in images, add graphic object, alter the colors, even make soft proofs.

 

[alexandr]

screen sharing used to be so in-your-face before, then they started to hide it for some reason.
[doublepost=1550771120][/doublepost]

What I believe is the most underrated app is Preview on Mac. It's astonishing what one can do with it. Not only for PDF's but also for image manipulation. You can paste images in images, add graphic object, alter the colors, even make soft proofs.

yes, but is there a way to reduce the size of the pdf in preview?

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Here is a shortcut I recently learned that blew my mind. Guess it started with macOS Sierra:

command + shift + .

This will toggle show/hide hidden files in the Finder. So much easier than using command line or a utility app.

Holy mother of.... That is an amazing tip! Never heard about that one before!

 

[Futurix]

Good lord this is convoluted. Why not "Password Protect" when you right click on a folder? WTH does "image" have to do with a folder when all you want to do is PW protect it? The "intuitiveness" of apple software features has gone downhill...just like the bloated and unintuitive iTunes over time. And why hide things like "Save As" in the Mac OS File menu and "Repeat Song/Album" in iTunes? I mean "Shuffle" is right there and not hidden. At least be consistant. And why not put a time limit on the iOS timer/alarm so the user determines how long it runs? It is almost like Apple was started by geniuses and is now run by moron emoji designers.

Because it is a misnomer - what MacRumors described as password-protecting a folder actually creates a password-protected disk image with the contents of that folder.

 

[iMerik]

A few tips people may find useful, if you don't already know them. Hopefully we all know that Command + tab shows the open applications, and (while keeping your finger on command) using tab or left and right arrows to move between the applications. What's not so obvious is Apple added a number of other uses for this.
1 - while tabbing to an app you can quit the app by pressing Q, you can go through and quit every app if you want without going to the app. It's not a force quit, and you'll be asked if something needs saving. Similarly pressing H will hide a specific App.
2 - you can drop a file on the app icons to open with a specific app, if it can.
3 - The really handy one, which I use all the time, is when tabbing to a specific app press the up or down arrow key, at which point all the open windows in that app will be shown. If a window is in the dock it's a thumbnail at the bottom of the screen. Pick a window, and that window alone comes to the top. I usually have lots of windows open, so if I want to reference a window in another app, but going to the app brings all it's open windows to the top, this method only brings the one you want, not covering up the window you're working on.

I spend most of my time with Windows at work and iOS for personal use. I do have a MacBook Air but find myself never remembering shortcuts... so many keys to press sometimes. I think I'll remember what you just described above though. It's almost insane how many shortcut tips and tricks are in Mac OS and sometimes the crazy combination it takes to trigger them. Thanks.

 

[SeattleMoose]

Because it is a misnomer - what MacRumors described as password-protecting a folder actually creates a password-protected disk image with the contents of that folder.

Even worse (if you just want to PW protect a simple folder)...but thanks for the clarification.

 

[Luba]

Because it is a misnomer - what MacRumors described as password-protecting a folder actually creates a password-protected disk image with the contents of that folder.

Are the contents of the disk image encrypted? Encrypted using the password?

 

[davidec]

Here is one that I use regularly.

Smaller Volume Steps: Option + Shift + Volume Control (F11 or F12)

It's perfect for when I want background music while I'm working, but don't want it to be a distraction.

And Shift + Volume Control to turn it up without the clicks or Option + Volume Control to call up audio preferences in system prefs.
[doublepost=1550812943][/doublepost]Great article btw, more of this please.

 

[tw1ll]

Yes, I was just discussing planned (or not planned, but at least tolerated or stimulated) obsolescence on the PowerPC forum. If I was afraid of opening my Macbook, it would probably be pushed to the obsolete status. After upgrading its WiFi card and the SSD, it's a good laptop for more 3 years. If RAM was upgradeable, it could last even more.

I guess trouble is that as every new version gets thinner it also gets more and more difficult to upgrade for the average person. I'm fairly confident around IT but I would find it a real pain to unzip my iMac to upgrade the internals.

 

[brdeveloper]

I guess trouble is that as every new version gets thinner it also gets more and more difficult to upgrade for the average person. I'm fairly confident around IT but I would find it a real pain to unzip my iMac to upgrade the internals.

I sometimes think on buying a second-hand 4K iMac just for opening that thing and max it out. OWC sells the adhesives for reattaching the display. I think it's a nice project.

 

[macsmister]

The one tip that blew my mind years ago was when I found out I could paste the clipboard content's text only, removing any source formatting. You do that by pasting with Shift-Option-Command-V. Magic sauce I use ALL THE TIME.

 

[falcn]

You can also mouse-over the app you want to switch to, so you don't have to tab-tab-tab to it