5 Mac tips and tricks you should know about

Mac computers have significantly evolved over the years, and apart from getting pricier, they have become better but complicated, something most professionals aren’t thrilled with. Nonetheless, if you are a Mac newbie or are switching back from Windows, here are a few tips that you will find useful.

1. Run Windows OS on your Mac

To most people, it is impossible to run a Microsoft Windows OS on a Mac computer. The truth is, you can do it, and it is simple. Open the applications folder on your Mac, then click on the utility folder. Locate a program called Boot Camp and run it as administrator.

Boot camp partitions your Mac’s hard drive by creating two slots; one for Mac OS and another for Windows OS. You get to choose how much space to allocate to each OS, but remember that the disk space allocated to one OS is not available to the other.

After setting everything up, hit the partition button to kickstart the process. After partitioning, you will be required to install a Windows OS from a CD-ROM. You can run any version of Windows higher than Windows 7.

2. Control your Mac’s sleeping schedule

A sleeping mode is one of the many energy-saving features built on Mac computers. However, this option can be annoying when your computer keeps slipping into sleeping mode every few minutes.

The standard way of adjusting sleeping schedules for a Mac is by using the energy-saving program, which is cumbersome. Alternatively, you can run Lungo, a program on your menu bar that gives you quick access to sleeping mode controls. With one click, you can prevent Mac from sleeping for either 10 minutes, four hours, or indefinitely.

3. Add your signature to the document.

With many companies switching to remote work, files have to be signed and sent back digitally. If you have a Mac, you can easily insert your signature on soft copy documents on your computer. Open the document to be signed on its preview application. Select the pen icon and click create a signature from Built-in iSight.

iSight, which is one of the top MacBook apps, captures your signature using the webcam. After signing your name on plain paper, hold it up to the camera following screen guides. The camera automatically extracts the signature and saves it in the system.

4. Switch between multiple windows

The CMD+ Tab switches between different windows of open programs, and if you have different open tabs of the same program, say three-word documents, clicking Cmd+ ~ will instantly switch from one word-doc to the next.

5. Taking a screenshot

Unlike Windows computers that come with a snipping tool program for taking snippets of the screen, Mac offers an easy option of clicking CMD+ Shift+ 4, which gives you a cursor option to click and drag the area you wish to capture. On the other hand, pressing CMD+Shift+3 captures the entire screen.

Endnote

There are dozens of Mac computer tricks and tips that, if mastered, can make your life a lot easier, not to mention increasing your productivity.