Updated Sat 2025-10-11

Some basic macOS use tips

(Initially in email 2025-10-10)

Mac tips for Windows switchers – support.apple.com/en-us/102323

Above include some keyboard shortcuts, for Copy, Cut, Paste, and a couple of screenshots.

• google.com/search?q=macos+for+windows+users
  • alvinalexander.com/blog/post/mac-os-x/ui-design-differences-between-mac-windows/
• google.com/search?q=Windows+vs+Mac+OS+comparison
• google.com/search?q=macos+w+windows+side-by-side+usability

Finder – File Manager

‘ The macOS equivalent of Windows’ File Explorer is Finder, which is the application for managing files and folders. For searching files, folders, and apps, macOS uses Spotlight, accessed by pressing <<+>>Command + Spacebar or clicking the magnifying glass icon in the top-right corner. Other useful features for Windows users include using <<+>>Command + Option + Esc to force quit an unresponsive application (like Ctrl + Alt + Delete), and the System Settings (which is like the Control Panel) for adjusting preferences. ‘

• (Mac User Guide) Use the Finder on Mac
  support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/organize-your-files-in-the-finder-mchlp2605/mac
• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finder_(software)

Recommended Settings (Finder)

1. Finder (menu) > Settings, Advanced (tab):
   1. Make sure Show all filename extensions is checked. Simply a good practice.
   2. Can change When performing a search from Search This Mac to Search the Current Folder, to possibly lessen confusions for former Windows users.
2. View (menu) > Show Path Bar (Alt-Command-P) to see whole path to current folder/file. Simply helps understanding where in file system ‘you are’, the files your working on are situated.
3. (More setting in the View menu can be good to explore. Including maybe using as List when see folder contents.)

Keyboard shortcuts

(Some parts below initially  in email 2025-10-10)

• In general, for ex. Win-users, in many cases when use Control (Ctrl) on Windows, the Command-key is corresponding key in macOS. For instances:
  • Copy: Ctrl-C on Win. = Command-C on Mac
  • Cut:    Ctrl-X on Win.= Command-X on Mac
  • Paste: Ctrl-V on Win.= Command-V on Mac
• Control-key is also available as special key on Mac but – like Linux – is more commonly used in Terminal (Command Line Interface, e.g. Control-C is used
  • ‘ In a terminal environment, Ctrl+C is primarily used to send an interrupt signal (SIGINT) to the currently running foreground process. This signal typically causes the program to terminate, effectively stopping its execution and returning control to the user’s shell prompt. ‘
• More on keyboard in general from Apple: Mac keyboard shortcuts – https://support.apple.com/en-us/102650
• Some useful when deal with files and folders in Finder:
  • Shift-Command-N:       Create a new empty folder in the Finder.
  • Control-Command-N: Create a new folder that contains the currently selected items.
  • (‘Just’) Command-N:     Create a new window in the Finder, to use for navigate file system, move files, …
• Apple’s Quick Look function is really useful for a quick preview of file content’s.
  • Space bar: Use Quick Look to preview the selected item.
  • More also in our page jandp.biz/is/macos/quicklook/

Screenshots

(For macOS – beginners, initial email 2025-10-10 referenced a file directly into Dropbox instead of this section which is more macOS-focused.)

• Very frequently used by J, Capture a whole WINDOW:
  1. Shift-Command-4
  2. The pointer turns into a crosshair .
     1. EITHER drag mouse pointer over area to capture, OR
     2. Press Spacebar. to highlight a WHOLE window to capture, and click on this window.
  3. File with screenshot is saved onto Finder’s Desktop [folder].
• See OUR page at jandp.biz/is/macos/screenshots/
• (For an OAS around screenshots on Mac, Win, *NIX – see jandp.biz/oas/ and Screen Capturing-doc.)

Spotlight – Apple’s Desktop/File System Search

One of more frequently used functions by J to navigate file system, i.e. for finding files and folders.

• Command-Space to bring up, or hide.
• I J use ‘tags’ to make finding things more efficient.
  • E.g. searching on simply something like ‘re’ would either give no hits or ‘zillions’ but ‘re!’, as I since many years been using exclamation mark as ‘special tag’ letter.
    • (Our Db cloud has a number of ‘RE!’ things for real estate – related topics around the World.)
    • (Our [private] Guide_to_Dropbox_ forJ&P.pdf has many examples.)
  • OAS18001 – !,#,###,ƒ and More Tagging, by J&P – Start Here, incl. info on “- Start Here” –
    jandp.biz/oas/18/001-tagging-by-jp/
• Also using Spotlight to quickly find all sorts of things I J am tracking progress for.
  • More  at jandp.biz/track/
• Our page with more [technical, advanced]: Spotlight! Apple Search Technology – jandp.biz/is/search/spotlight/

YouTube – Videos

NEW TO MAC? Mac Tutorial for Beginners 2025

(R: 2025-10-10)

860,923 views  Mar 16, 2025
Here’s everything you need to know about your new Mac in 2025 – this is the ultimate beginner’s guide to macOS!
I spend weeks writing, filming and editing every new video. If you enjoy the concise style and want to see more, a sub to the channel would make my day!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag3NWYr5CD8

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