macOS Sonoma 14
macOS Ventura 13
macOS Monterey 12
macOS Big Sur 11.0
macOS Catalina 10.15
macOS Mojave 10.14
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Table of Contents
macOS User Guide
- Welcome
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- What’s in the menu bar?
- Work on the desktop
- Search with Spotlight
- Quickly change settings
- Use Siri
- Get notifications
- Open apps from the Dock
- Organize your files in the Finder
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- Connect to the internet
- Browse the web
- Preview a file
- Take a screenshot
- Change your display’s brightness
- Adjust the volume
- Use trackpad and mouse gestures
- Use Touch ID
- Print documents
- Keyboard shortcuts
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- Apps on your Mac
- Open apps
- Work with app windows
- Use apps in full screen
- Use apps in Split View
- Use Stage Manager
- Get apps from the App Store
- Install and reinstall apps from the App Store
- Install and uninstall other apps
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- Create and work with documents
- Open documents
- Mark up files
- Combine files into a PDF
- Organize files on your desktop
- Organize files with folders
- Tag files and folders
- Back up files
- Restore files
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- Change System Settings
- Choose your desktop wallpaper
- Add and customize widgets
- Use a screen saver
- Add a user or group
- Add your email and other accounts
- Automate tasks with Shortcuts
- Create Memoji
- Change your login picture
- Change the system language
- Make text and other items on the screen bigger
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- Set up a Focus to stay on task
- Set up Screen Time for yourself
- Use Dictation
- Send emails
- Send text messages
- Make a FaceTime video call
- Edit photos and videos
- Use Live Text to interact with text in a photo
- Start a Quick Note
- Get directions
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- Work across devices using Continuity
- Use iPhone as a webcam
- Use iPhone with Desk View
- Stream audio and video with AirPlay
- Use one keyboard and mouse to control Mac and iPad
- Hand off between devices
- Unlock your Mac with Apple Watch
- Make and receive phone calls on your Mac
- Sync music, books, and more between devices
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- Manage Apple ID settings
- Set your Apple ID picture
- What is iCloud?
- What is iCloud+?
- Store files in iCloud Drive
- Share and collaborate on files and folders
- Manage iCloud storage
- Use iCloud Photos
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- Play music
- Listen to podcasts
- Watch TV shows and movies
- Read and listen to books
- Read the news
- Track stocks and the market
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- Apple Music
- Apple TV+
- Apple Arcade
- Apple News+
- Podcast shows and channels
- Manage subscriptions in the App Store
- View Apple family subscriptions
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- Guard your privacy
- Use Mail Privacy Protection
- Control access to your camera
- Use Sign in with Apple for apps and websites
- Set up your Mac to be secure
- Keep your data safe
- Create a passkey
- Understand passwords
- Keep your Apple ID secure
- Find a missing device
-
- Get started with accessibility features
- Vision
- Hearing
- Mobility
- Speech
- General
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- Connect an external display
- Use the built-in camera
- Connect a Bluetooth device
- Use AirPods with your Mac
- Optimize your Mac battery life
- Optimize storage space
- Burn CDs and DVDs
- Control accessories in your home
- Use Windows on your Mac
- Resources for your Mac
- Resources for your Apple devices
- Copyright
Mission Control shows all of the windows open on the desktop of your Mac, arranged in a single layer so it’s easy to spot the one you need. Apps that are in full screen or Split View, and desktop spaces you created are shown as thumbnails in the Spaces bar along the top edge of the screen.
Enter or leave Mission Control
From a trackpad: To enter, swipe up using three fingers. To leave, swipe down. You can turn off or change the trackpad gesture in Trackpad settings.
From a keyboard: To enter or leave, press the Mission Control key
(or use the Control Strip) or press Control-Up Arrow. You can change the keyboard shortcut in .
(or use the If you enter Mission Control on a second display, only the open windows and spaces you’re working with on that display are shown.
Show or move all open windows
Show all open windows for the current app: Press Control-Down Arrow. If App Exposé is enabled in Trackpad settings, you can also swipe down with three or four fingers. To return to the desktop, press the keys again or swipe up.
Show all open windows grouped by app: In Desktop & Dock settings, turn on “Group windows by application” below Mission Control. Then press Control-Down Arrow.
Move open windows aside to show the desktop: Press Command-Mission Control
, or spread your thumb and three fingers apart on the trackpad. To move the windows back, press the keys again or pinch your thumb and fingers together on the trackpad.
You can change the keyboard shortcuts in , and turn off or change the trackpad gestures in Trackpad settings.
Copy or move items using Mission Control
If you have many windows or apps open and you need to copy or move items between them or to the desktop, Mission Control can make it easier.
Copy text or an image between windows: After you copy the item, enter Mission Control to show all open windows, click a window to go to it, then paste the item.
Copy a file or folder to the desktop: After you copy the item, press Command-Mission Control
to move all windows aside and show the desktop, then paste the item. Press the keys again to move the windows back.Move a file or folder to the desktop: Start dragging the item from a window, press Command-Mission Control to move all windows aside and show the desktop, then drop the item. Press the keys again to move the windows back.
Tip: To quickly use two apps in Split View, just drag a window from Mission Control onto the thumbnail of a full-screen app in the Spaces bar, then click the thumbnail.
You can change options and set shortcuts for using Mission Control in Desktop & Dock settings. On your Mac, choose Apple menu 
in the sidebar and adjust settings on the right. (You may need to scroll down.)
See alsoWork in multiple spaces on MacUse your iPad as a second display for your MacUse trackpad and mouse gestures on MacMove and arrange app windows on MacUse the Touch Bar on Mac
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