Mac Tips
We've gathered the top Mac and Apple tips together, based on the questions we hear most often from our clients.
Take a Screenshot
To take a screenshot of your computer screen, click Command-Shift-3. An image will be automatically saved to your desktop. To take a screenshot of a portion of your screen, click Command-Shift-4 and then use the crosshairs to draw a rectangle around the portion you want.
Put a Shortcut in the Dock
To put a shortcut to an application in the Dock, navigate to it in the Applications folder and then drag the picture of the application into the left side of the Dock.
Boot Off a CD or DVD
To boot your computer off of a CD or DVD instead of the internal hard drive, insert the CD or DVD into the drive and then restart the computer while holding down the C key until the apple appears.
Force Quit
To force quit an application that isn't responding, click Option-Command-Escape and then choose the application from the pop-up window.
Change Login Items
To change which items open automatically when you log in, go to the Apple menu > System Preferences > Accounts. Choose Login Items at the top, and use the plus and minus buttons to add to or remove from the list.
Change Your Login Password
To change your login password on your Mac, go to the Apple menu > System Preferences > Accounts. Click the lock at bottom-left to make changes, if it's locked. On the left-hand side, select which account you want to change the password for. Then click the "Change Password" button.
Enable Right-click on Your Mouse
To enable right-click on your mouse, so you can have access to special menus, go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Mouse. Click the dropdown menu on the right side and select Secondary Button.
Restore a File from Time Machine
To restore a file from your Time Machine backup, click on the Time Machine icon in the top right of your menu bar (it looks like a clock) and choose Enter Time Machine. Use the arrows to navigate to the day and time of the file you need. Highlight the file and click "Restore."
Compress a File or Folder
To compress a file or folder, control-click on the file or folder (or right-click, if you have right-click enabled) and choose Compress.
Save a File or Webpage as a PDF
To save a file or webpage as a PDF, select Print from the File menu. Then click on the PDF button at bottom left, and select Save as PDF.