Did you know that the average lifespan of a computer is 3 to 5 years? While it’s fair to expect to have a computer for 5 years or so, with proper care, and free lifetime updates, a MacBook can last you for much longer than that.
With that in mind, if you’re new to Mac computers, making the change can be quite overwhelming. Thankfully, there are tons of MacBook tips and tricks that you can learn fast to make things easier for yourself.
In this article, we’ll tell you about 7 things that you can do with your new MacBook to make it more user-friendly. That way you can start having fun and being productive with your Mac computer that much faster.
- You Can Create a Faster Startup Experience
If your computer starts up slowly, there are a few things that you can do to speed things up. The first thing that you need to do is click the Apple logo, then the “About This Mac” option that pops up right after.
From there, you’ll be prompted to scan your computer for an update. If your computer does indeed need an update, installing it will lead to your Mac starting up faster, which of course is a good thing.
It can also fix other issues you could be having with your Mac, as well as keep you protected from cyberthreats. So, be sure to check on updates often and install them when they’re available.
A pro tip? Go ahead and turn automatic updates on. You can do so from the same screen that you use to scan for updates manually. That way you won’t have to worry about missing any updates going forward.
- You Can Do Spotlight Math
Like the Spotlight feature on your Mac? Use it often to find things on your computer? Did you know that you can do math within Spotlight?
Simply hit command+spacebar to open up Spotlight. Then, type in the equation that you want to solve. After you type in the math equation that you want to be solved, the answer will pop up for you on the same screen.
Pretty neat, right?
- You Can Install Windows
While there is a lot to like about owning a Mac computer, there are a few cons that are worth noting. The biggest con? You can’t run any programs that are Windows-only on your Mac computer.
But what if we told you that you can have a Mac computer that also runs Windows? Believe it or not, it’s very much possible, although a lot goes into making it happen.
If you’re not super good with computers, installing Windows on your Mac yourself might not be a good idea. But it possible to do, and a neat feature to have, which is why we mentioned it on this list.
- You Can Use Splitscreen
Find yourself working on multiple applications at once often? Do a lot of multitasking on your computer? If so, you need to make sure that you know how to activate splitscreen on your Mac.
Activating splitscreen is simple. All you need to do is hold down the green dot in the top left-hand corner of your window. Then, you’ll be promoted to pin that window to one side of your screen.
After you’ve chosen a side to pin a window, you can then select which window you want to pair to the other side of your screen. This can be helpful if you want to watch videos while you work or just use two apps easily at once.
- You Can Customize Your Dock
Are you a big fan of the Dock feature on your Mac? Wish it had more of a personalized feel to it? Well, you can make that happen by customizing which applications are pinned to your dock.
So, how do you go about doing this? All you have to do is right-click an application while it is open on your dock. There you’ll be prompted to keep an application pinned in your Dock.
That way you’ll have quick access to whatever your favorite programs are.
- You Can Take Screenshots
Need to save a photo to your desktop? Struggling to do so? You can use a built-in screenshot feature that takes photos of your entire screen.
There are three different screenshot options. With command+shift+3, you’ll take a screenshot of your entire screen. With command+shift+4, you’ll be able to select an area of your screen to take a picture of. And finally, with command+shift+5, you can record video footage from your Mac.
The video feature can be super helpful for ripping videos off the web. You won’t have audio, though, so keep that in mind when recording videos.
- You Can Track Your Computer’s Power Usage
Worried that one of your applications is using too much power? Having issues with your battery? You can track all of this information, plus more information, by using your Mac’s task manager feature.
The task manager on Mac is super helpful. It can help you close out frozen windows and create custom shortcuts that work for you and your everyday tasks.
Looking for More MacBook Tips and Tricks?
If you’re new to Mac computers, you can use these MacBook tips and tricks to shorten the learning curve. These tips, combined with tons of practice, will help you fall in love with your Mac computer that much faster.
Looking for more information on the latest technology? Check back with our blog often for everything from tutorials to product reviews and more.