Recent studies have shown that the average person spends about 10 hours a day on their screens in the United States.
Much of this screentime, however, can get saved if you learn tips for Mac users.
If you want to produce your best work and protect your time, there are shortcuts to discover.
Continue reading to discover some of the best Mac shortcuts that will make you work and study more efficiently!
Take Your Best Shot
One of the most useful Mac shortcuts to know is how to take a screenshot.
There are a few ways that you can capture your screen and save it as an image. One way, allows you to screenshot a specific area of your choice. By selecting Command+Shift+4, you can use the crosshair tool with your mouse and once you release the mouse, the image will save.
If you are organizing your Mac and want to remember the placement of files, however, there’s another way. Pressing Command+Shift+3 will instantly screenshot your desktop. This is helpful when you need nearly all of the screen, just ensure you crop it before sharing.
Get Answers
Instead of Googling all of your questions, Apple provides a better tool.
The Spotlight feature is included on Mac computers and is simple to find. By selecting the magnifying glass in the top right corner of your screen, a box will appear. In this box, you can solve math equations, get definitions, and access all of your apps.
Spotlight is a helpful feature for when you need to solve a quick problem or need support understanding something. Many students use this feature during lectures so that they don’t miss a beat.
Split Your Screen
If you are working from home on Mac devices, you can save time by splitting the screen.
Splitting your screen will make it as if you have multiple monitors to view. This tip helps while reviewing documents and comparing information. You can split your screen by first pressing Control+Command+F.
After you select those keys you can press F3, which will make your Mission Control panel appear. You can then choose the apps that you want to view on your split-screen and increase productivity!
You can view a great tutorial here if you are having difficulty getting the screen to split.
Type With Emojis
A common complaint that Apple users have is that they can’t use Emojis on their laptops.
Although it may appear that way, you can add an Emoji keyboard on the Mac as you could on your tablet. Selecting Command+Control+Spacebar, another keyboard will appear with emoji options.
Keep in mind that not all websites or documents will allow you to type with these characters. However, this is a wonderful tool for responding to emails and text messages from your laptop.
If you notice your Emoji quickly turn into a triangle, the source won’t show it correctly.
Delete Old Files
Have you been deleting files by right-clicking on them and sending them to the trash?
Although it’s effective, there’s a much quicker way to take the trash out. When you select a file, you can press Command+Delete and the file will automatically move to the trash bin. When you’re ready to clear your trash bin, you can press Command+Shift+Delete and approve the deletion.
Keep in mind that deleting old files might be a helpful organizational tip, but once you clear the bin you can’t recover the files.
Do Not Disturb
Notifications are great reminders, however, they can quickly become overwhelming.
If you need to focus on the task at hand and keep getting notifications, you can disable them temporarily. Click in the top right corner of your Mac, typically near the time. This will allow you to quickly view all of your notifications.
While you are viewing Today, there should be an option to turn Do Not Disturb on. Once you enable this setting, you’ll have 24 hours before seeing notifications again. If you finish your task early and want notifications to resume, you can turn them back on the same way.
To customize your notifications and select the apps you want them from, go to Settings. Within the settings, there is a notification center that’ll provide you with complete control.
Control Volume & Brightness
Most people with Mac computers are used to their settings for raising and decreasing the brightness or sound.
The F-keys help control these settings, but sometimes, you might not get the sound just right. To gain more control over these settings, hold down the Shift+Option keys and adjust your volume normally.
You will see the volume or brightness blocks appear in smaller increments that can help you get everything the way you’d like.
AirDrop Files
Have you ever had to email documents to yourself so that you could upload them on another device?
Apple products come with a unique ability that allows users to use the Cloud and transfer files seamlessly. Select the file that you want to upload to your phone or tablet and go to the menu bar. You should have the option to select AirDrop and pick the device you want to send to.
If you can’t find the desired device, you might have to go into the settings of that device and enable AirDrop features. This can save a lot of time and the recipient will have control to accept or deny the document.
Save Time With Mac Shortcuts
Most people that own Mac computers aren’t even aware of how much time they could be saving.
Learning Mac shortcuts can help you become more productive and efficient at work and school. By pressing a “code” you can split your screen, take screenshots and customize your view. Your Mac comes with built-in features that can ensure the accuracy and understanding of your work.
Don’t be afraid to practice each of these tips, they will become more natural to use over time.
Be sure to read our blog for more information about technology and how to stay organized on Mac computers!
