Do you know all the things your Mac can do? Find out!
Whether you are a veteran Mac user or a newbie, you might be unaware of several hidden features and shortcuts. Now is the right time to know about them because macOS Ventura is set to release in October 2022. The new OS promises to bring with it a slew of unique features that will blow your mind.
Without further ado, look at all the things your Mac can do, and you weren’t making it do it.
Desktop Folders Into Emojis
It becomes boring to look at the desktop when all the folders look the same. It becomes quite a task to quickly find the folder you’re seeking and have to scroll through them all. You can make it easier to differentiate between folder icons and make them more fun by turning each folder icon into an emoji of your choice.
To do this, create a folder on the desktop by clicking File > New Folder. Next, search for the emoji on Google and drag the picture you want to the desktop. Next, open the picture in Preview. You can press the markup icon to make the image transparent and click the image’s background so that a moving outline appears. Then, click Edit > click Cut. Click the markup icon again and drag a box around the emoji > click Edit > click Select all. Then, press Command + C to copy the image.
Right-click on the folder you have created on the desktop > click Get Info > click the blue folder icon > press Command + V to paste the image, and the emoji should appear.
Take and Crop a Screenshot
Take a screenshot if you want to capture what you are seeing on your screen and share it with others. There are several ways to take a screenshot on Mac, and here are the shortcuts.
- Press Shift + Command + 3 to take a screenshot of the screen you are watching.
- Press Shift + Command + 4 to capture a portion of the screen. A crosshair will appear; you must drag it to choose the screen area to capture.
- Press Shift + Command + 4 + Spacebar to capture a menu or window.
While these shortcuts make taking a screenshot on Mac easier, there might be certain irrelevant information on the screen that you wish to crop out before sending the screenshot. No need to wonder how to crop a screenshot on Mac because it can be done easily using the Preview application. Launch the Preview app > choose the Show Markup Toolbar icon > select the area you want to have on your screenshot > click Tools from the menu bar and click Crop or use Command + K.
Currency Conversions and Calculations in Spotlight
Spotlight is an underrated Mac feature; when you learn to use the tool, you can make your life easier. It’ll make it easier to get around your computer without using a mouse. For instance, Spotlight can be used as a currency converter and calculator.
Open Spotlight and click the magnifying glass or tap Command + Spacebar on your keyboard. You can use it as a calculator by typing what you wish to calculate into the search bar, and the answer will come as a search result. Then, you can copy and paste the solution to use it in your document.
Type the amount you wish to convert to use Spotlight as a currency converter, and don’t forget to provide the currency symbol.
When Locked Out, Bypass and Reset your Password
Did you forget your Mac password? There’s no need to panic. But, unfortunately, this is a more common problem than you think.
When this happens, know that macOS has two ways to help users log back into their system.
- Recovery Mode
Switch off your Mac > press and hold Command + R and then the power button. Until the progress bar appears below the Apple logo, hold the Command + R keys. Now, your Mac is in Recovery Mode.
In the menu bar, choose Utilities > click Terminal. When a window pops up, type reset password and press Return.
Close the Terminal windows, and you will see the Reset Password Tool. You will see a list of all the user accounts. If you reset the password for your account, you must set a new one for every other user.
- Apple ID
If you have entered the wrong ID several times, you might be asked if you wish to reset it with your Apple ID. Alternatively, you can click the question mark icon to call up the same process. Then, enter your Apple ID, email address, and password, and a new keychain storing your passwords will be created. Then, click OK. You must follow the rest of the prompts to create a new password for your account.
Wrapping Up
While there are many things your Mac can do, these are good to get you started. Once you have mastered these tricks, you can delve into the others.
