Mac tips that work.
Plain answers to everyday Mac questions: the built in way first, and an app only when it truly helps.
Screenshots
- How to screenshot on a Mac
- Press Shift, Command and 3 for the whole screen, 4 for a selection, 5 for the Screenshot toolbar. Steps checked against Apple's guides for macOS 13 to 26.
- How to screenshot on a Mac running macOS Sonoma
- Screenshot shortcuts and the Screenshot toolbar on macOS Sonoma 14, with the Options menu, the floating thumbnail and how to copy to the clipboard.
- How to screenshot on a Mac running macOS Sequoia
- Take screenshots and recordings on macOS Sequoia 15: shortcuts, the Screenshot toolbar, every Options menu item and where the files go.
- How to screenshot on a Mac running macOS Tahoe 26
- Screenshot shortcuts on macOS Tahoe 26 plus what is new: the HDR or SDR Capture Format and recording a selected window. Checked against Apple's guides.
- How to screenshot on a Mac running macOS Ventura
- Screenshot shortcuts and the Screenshot toolbar on macOS Ventura 13, with Options, the floating thumbnail, copying to the clipboard and recordings.
- Where Mac screenshots are saved
- Mac screenshots made with the keyboard shortcuts are saved to the desktop by default. How the file is named, and how to find one that is not there.
- How to change where Mac screenshots are saved
- Press Shift, Command and 5, open Options and pick a folder under Save to. How to choose Other Location, what the list means and how to check it worked.
- How to screenshot a single window on a Mac
- Press Shift, Command and 4, then Space bar, then click the window. Hold Option to leave out the shadow. Steps from Apple's support pages.
- How to screenshot part of the screen on a Mac
- Press Shift, Command and 4 and drag over the area. Hold Space bar to move the selection, Esc to cancel. Steps from Apple's support article.
- How to take a screenshot to the clipboard on a Mac
- Add Control to any screenshot shortcut, for example Control, Shift, Command and 4, then paste with Command and V. Steps from Apple.
- How to turn off the screenshot preview on a Mac
- Press Shift, Command and 5, open Options and untick Show Floating Thumbnail. What it changes and how to save the screenshot at once.
- How to record the screen on a Mac
- Press Shift, Command and 5, choose a record tool and click Record. Stop from the menu bar or with Command, Control and Esc. QuickTime is the other way.
- What to do when the Mac screenshot shortcut does not work
- If Shift, Command and 3, 4 or 5 does nothing, check the Screenshots shortcuts in System Settings, the Save to folder and the preview setting.
- How to screenshot a menu on a Mac
- Open the menu, press Shift, Command and 4, then drag over the items. To capture the menu bar, press Shift, Command and 4, Space bar and click it.
- How to include the mouse pointer in a Mac screenshot
- Open the Screenshot toolbar with Shift, Command and 5, click Options and turn on Show Mouse Pointer. Where Apple documents it and what it changes.
- How to copy on one Mac and paste on another
- Sign in to the same Apple Account on both Macs, turn on WiFi, Bluetooth and Handoff, keep them close, then copy on one and paste on the other.
- What Universal Clipboard needs: WiFi, Bluetooth and Handoff
- Universal Clipboard needs nearby devices, one Apple Account, WiFi and Bluetooth on, and Handoff on. What Apple does and does not say.
- Universal Clipboard not working on a Mac: what to check
- If copy and paste between Apple devices fails, check the Apple Account, WiFi, Bluetooth, Handoff and distance, then update and restart both devices.
- How to clear the clipboard and clipboard history on a Mac
- Copy something harmless to replace what is on the clipboard. On macOS 27 you can also clear Spotlight's clipboard history in System Settings.
- How to paste without formatting on a Mac
- Press Option, Shift, Command and V to paste and match the style of the text around it. Apple's shortcut list, with a limit to know.
- How long clipboard history lasts on a Mac
- On macOS 27, Spotlight clipboard history is kept for 30 minutes, 8 hours or 7 days, your choice. What Apple says for macOS 26 and 15.
- Mac copy and paste keyboard shortcuts
- Command and C copies, Command and X cuts, Command and V pastes. Apple's list also covers paste and match style, copy style and moving files in Finder.
AirDrop and files
- How to AirDrop from a Mac to another device
- Send a file from your Mac with AirDrop in two ways: the Share button in an app, or the AirDrop window in Finder. Steps, requirements and the 30 foot range.
- AirDrop not working on a Mac: what to check, in order
- A short ordered checklist for AirDrop failing on a Mac: WiFi, Bluetooth, distance, the visibility setting, then a restart. Based on Apple's own guidance.
- AirDrop stuck waiting on a Mac: what to try
- If an AirDrop transfer on your Mac just waits, check that the receiver accepted, the distance, WiFi and Bluetooth and their setting, then restart.
- Is there an AirDrop history on a Mac? Where to look
- macOS has no AirDrop history list that Apple documents. Find what you sent or received, including AirDropped photos, in Downloads, the receiving app and Finder.
- AirDrop settings on a Mac: Contacts Only and Everyone
- How to choose who can AirDrop to your Mac: open Control Center, click AirDrop, pick Contacts Only or Everyone. Plus Everyone for 10 Minutes on iPhone.
- Where do AirDrop files go on a Mac?
- Files you receive by AirDrop go to the app they came from or to your Downloads folder. How to find a received file when you cannot see it.
- AirDrop not showing up on a Mac: why a device is missing
- If a device or contact does not appear in your Mac's AirDrop window, check Contacts Only and Everyone, WiFi and Bluetooth, and distance.
- How to AirDrop a large file or folder from a Mac
- AirDrop works best for a small number of files. Here is how to send a big file or folder from a Mac, and what to use when it keeps failing.
- How to AirDrop from a Mac to an iPhone
- Send a file from your Mac to an iPhone with AirDrop: set the iPhone to accept, share from the Mac and accept on the phone. Includes where files land.
- What is an AirDrop code on a Mac (macOS 26.2 and later)
- From macOS 26.2, a sender who is not in your contacts needs an AirDrop code. How it works, how long it lasts and how to end sharing with a person.
System and battery
- How to check CPU and memory use on a Mac
- Open Activity Monitor and click CPU or Memory to see what is using your processor and RAM, and how to read memory pressure.
- How to check your Mac battery health
- Open System Settings, Battery, and click the Info button beside Battery Health to see condition and maximum capacity. Also charge and longevity options.
- How to see which app uses the most energy on a Mac
- Open Activity Monitor, click Energy, and sort by Energy Impact or 12 hr Power to find the apps draining your battery, and spot apps keeping the Mac awake.
- How to turn on Low Power Mode on a Mac
- Choose Low Power under Energy Mode in System Settings, Battery, separately for battery and power adapter. Which Macs Apple says support it.
- How to quit an app that is using too much CPU
- Select the app in Activity Monitor, click the Stop button and choose Quit or Force Quit. What each does, and why not to force quit casually.
Storage
- How to check disk space on a Mac
- See how much storage is used and free on a Mac in System Settings, in Finder, and with one Terminal command. Includes why the numbers can disagree.
- What is System Data on a Mac, and can you delete it?
- System Data is the catch all in Mac Storage for files that fit no other category. What it holds, why it grows and what is safe to look at.
- How to find large files on a Mac
- Find the biggest files and folders on a Mac with Storage settings, Finder size sorting and two Terminal commands. Tested commands, and what not to delete.
- How to clear caches on a Mac safely
- Which cache folders on a Mac are safe to clear, how to check their size, and the rule that keeps you out of trouble: one app at a time, with the app quit.
- How to find duplicate files on a Mac
- Two files with the same name may differ, and two with different names may match. How to find true duplicates on a Mac by comparing content.
- How to empty the Trash on a Mac safely
- Empty the Trash from the Dock, restore items with Put Back, delete one item, handle locked files, and set the Mac to empty it after 30 days.
- How to uninstall an app on a Mac and remove its leftover files
- Use the app's uninstaller if it has one, otherwise move it to the Trash. Then check the Library folder for the cache, settings and data it left behind.
- Mac storage still full after deleting files: why and what to do
- If your Mac still says storage is full after deleting files, the Trash, a lagging Storage screen, System Data or local snapshots are the usual reasons.
- How to check disk space on a Mac in Terminal
- The df command shows plain used and free space on a Mac, and du shows which folders are big. Commands tested on a real Mac, with what each flag does.
macOS versions
- How to check your macOS version
- Open the Apple menu, choose About This Mac and read the macOS name and number. Click the number for the build. Apple's list of current versions included.
- Latest macOS version: names and numbers of every macOS
- The latest macOS is macOS 27 Golden Gate, version 27.2, on Apple's page checked 4 November 2026. Every macOS name and number back to Catalina 10.15.
- Which Macs support macOS Tahoe?
- Apple's list of Macs compatible with macOS Tahoe 26, covering MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and MacBook Neo, as published on 14 September 2026.
Music
- How to control music from the menu bar on a Mac
- Add the Now Playing control to the menu bar in System Settings, then pause, skip or go back from any app. Steps, options and what it cannot do.
- Why Now Playing is not showing on your Mac
- If the Now Playing icon or notch card is empty, check the menu bar setting, whether the player reports to macOS, and how NotchStar handles Music and Spotify.
Scripts and prompters
- How to look at the camera while reading a script
- Keep your eyes near the lens when you read from a script on a Mac: move the text next to the camera, shrink it, and set a steady scroll speed.
- How to record yourself reading a script on a Mac
- Use QuickTime Player's New Movie Recording to film yourself while you read. Choose camera, microphone and quality, then save the file.
- How to format a script for a teleprompter
- Write a script you can read aloud without stumbling: short lines, plain words, marked pauses and no surprises. Includes a quick checklist.
Clipboard
- How to see your clipboard history on a Mac
- How to see what you copied on a Mac: Spotlight clipboard history on macOS 27, what Apple says for macOS 26 and 15, and when a clipboard app is worth adding.
Timers and focus
- How to set a timer on a Mac
- Open the Clock app, click Timers, set the time and click Start. Steps for pausing, naming and repeating timers, and what happens when your Mac sleeps.
- How to use the Pomodoro technique on a Mac
- Run 25 minute focus blocks with short breaks on a Mac using the Clock app and a Focus, and see when a dedicated Pomodoro timer is easier.
- How to make a Mac stop playing music after a timer
- Set a timer in the Clock app and choose Stop Playing in the When timer ends menu, so music or video stops on its own, for example before you sleep.
- How to use a stopwatch on a Mac
- Open Clock, click Stopwatch, press Start, Lap and Stop. Switch between digital and analog faces, and know that timing continues if the Mac sleeps.
- How to run more than one timer on a Mac
- Add timers in the Clock app with Custom Timer or Presets, name each one, give it a sound, and see all of them at once. Steps and limits.
- How to stop notifications while you focus on a Mac
- Turn on Do Not Disturb in Control Center or create a Focus in System Settings, choose who and what can get through, and schedule it by time or app.
- How to open the Clock timer from the Mac menu bar
- Click the time in the menu bar, then the Clock widget, to start a timer or stopwatch faster. Also how to keep a timer visible while you work.
Camera and calls
- How to test your Mac camera
- Open Photo Booth or QuickTime Player to see if your Mac camera works. Look for the green light, pick the right camera, and check app permissions.
- How to allow camera access for an app on a Mac
- Open System Settings, Privacy and Security, Camera, then switch the app on. Which apps are always allowed, and what to do if an app is not in the list.
- How to see which app is using your Mac camera
- Look for the green dot in the menu bar and click Control Center to open the privacy window that lists apps using your camera or microphone.
- How to fix a Mac webcam that is not working
- Apple's steps for a built in Mac camera that will not work: update, check Screen Time, allow the app, restart, and when to contact Apple.
- How to use your iPhone as a webcam on a Mac
- Mount an iPhone near your Mac, open FaceTime or a call app and choose the iPhone from the video menu. Requirements and fixes from Apple.
- How to use video effects on a Mac video call
- Turn on Portrait, Studio Light, Reactions and other effects from the Video menu during a call. Which Macs and macOS versions Apple says support them.
- How to allow a website to use your camera in Safari
- Choose Safari, Settings, Websites, Camera to allow or block the camera for each site. Where this differs from the app permission list.
Notes
- How to use Quick Note on a Mac
- Start a Quick Note with Fn or Globe and Q, or the bottom right hot corner. Where the notes are saved, how to start a fresh one, and how to add from Safari.
- How to turn off the Quick Note hot corner on a Mac
- The bottom right corner opens Quick Note by default. Change it in System Settings under Desktop and Dock, then Hot Corners, by picking another action.
- Quick Note keyboard shortcut on a Mac
- The Quick Note shortcut on a Mac is Fn or Globe plus Q. What it does, how it differs from the hot corner, and what Apple says about changing it.
- Where are Quick Notes saved on a Mac?
- Apple Quick Notes are saved in the Quick Notes folder inside the Notes app. How to open it, and how that differs from a scratchpad in the notch.
- How to use sticky notes on a Mac
- A Mac has a built in sticky notes app called Stickies. How to make a note, change its color, make it float on top, and what happens when you close the app.
The notch
- What is the notch on a MacBook?
- The notch is the cutout at the top centre of some MacBook displays that holds the camera. What it is, what Apple calls it and how macOS works around it.
- Why do MacBooks have a notch?
- Apple added a camera cutout to the MacBook display in 2021 so the screen could reach closer to the edges. What Apple said and what it did not say.
- How big is the MacBook notch?
- Apple does not publish the notch size in its tech specs. Here is what Apple does list, and how apps and you can find the size on your own Mac.
- Does the MacBook notch have a camera and sensors?
- Yes, the notch holds the camera. What Apple lists for it, where the green light is, and how to see which apps can use the camera.
- How to hide the notch on a Mac
- You cannot remove the notch, but you can make an app sit below it with Apple's Scale to fit setting or change how the menu bar looks. Steps and limits.
- What Scale to fit below built in camera does
- How Apple's Scale to fit below built in camera setting works, where to find it in Get Info, which Macs it applies to and why it sometimes does not show.
- Menu bar icons hidden behind the notch: fixes
- Mac menu bar icons disappearing behind the notch? Remove icons you do not need, use Menu Bar settings and Apple's Scale to fit setting. Steps in order.
- How to see all menu bar icons on a Mac
- A short checklist for showing every menu bar icon on a Mac: Menu Bar settings, Control Center, app settings and what to do when the notch takes the space.
- How to make the Mac menu bar bigger or smaller
- Use Accessibility, Display, Menu bar size to set the menu bar text to Large or Default, or change the display resolution to scale the whole screen.
- How to hide or show the menu bar on a Mac
- Open System Settings, Menu Bar, then choose when the bar hides: Always, On Desktop Only, In Full Screen Only or Never. Move the pointer to the top to show it.
- Apple menu bar missing on a Mac: what to check
- If the menu bar is missing on your Mac, check the automatic hide setting in System Settings, Menu Bar, then full screen mode and your display settings.
- Mac clock not showing in the menu bar
- If the clock is missing from your Mac menu bar, open System Settings, Menu Bar, find Clock in Menu Bar Controls and check the bar has room next to the notch.
- Dynamic Island on a Mac: what is real
- The Mac has no Dynamic Island. Third party notch apps imitate it around the camera cutout. What they can and cannot do, and what to check first.
- Do notch apps drain your Mac battery?
- No honest single answer exists. What affects a notch app's battery cost, what has not been measured for NotchStar, and how to check any app yourself.
- Are Mac notch apps safe?
- Notch apps are ordinary Mac apps with ordinary risks. What to check before installing one: source, notarization, permissions, network use and account needs.
- What to do on a Mac with no notch
- A Mac without a notch has nothing to hide or work around. If you want notch style tools, some apps draw a floating pill at the top centre of the screen.
MacBook models
- Which MacBooks have a notch?
- The notch models Apple names: 14 and 16 inch MacBook Pro from 2021, and MacBook Air from the M2 in 2022. A list checked against Apple's tech specs.
- Does the MacBook Air have a notch?
- Yes on recent models: Apple's tech specs show rounded top corners from the MacBook Air M2 in 2022. The M1 Air from 2020 has no such note.
- Does the MacBook Pro have a notch?
- Yes for the 14 and 16 inch MacBook Pro from 2021, per Apple's tech specs. The 13 inch MacBook Pro (M2, 2022) has a Touch Bar and no such footnote.
- The first MacBook Pro with a notch
- Apple introduced the notch on the 14 and 16 inch MacBook Pro on 18 October 2021. What Apple's press release and tech specs say about it.
- How to find your MacBook model and year
- Open the Apple menu, choose About This Mac and read the model name. Then match it to Apple's tech specs to see whether your MacBook has a notch.
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