One of the great aspects of the Mac is that it ’s just about quick to go right out of the corner . Yes , macOS takes you through a few measure to countersink up your Modern political machine , but after that , you’re able to get to work . And that ’s probably what most people do , only adjusting macOS options when absolutely necessary and using whatever accoutrement that come with the Mac .
However , if you do n’t spend some metre getting to know it , you ’re not drive full advantage of your Mac . From the vital points of contact such as your black eye and keyboard , to take out the curtain of macOS ’s refined outside to adjust preferences and make hidden pinch , you ’re not far from being a serious powerfulness user .
Here are five things you could do that will make your Mac experience at once better . These compass from accoutrement to options and tweaks that will improve serviceableness . You ’ll also ascertain that you ’re knead more expeditiously , saving sentence , and being more fat .
The Magic Mouse looks nice, but you can find a third-party mouse that’s more useful.
1.Ditch Apple’s accessories
The only Macs that admit a keyboard and mouse are the iMac and Mac Pro . Regardless of what Mac you are buying , when you buy directly from Apple , the only choices you have are Apple ’s own Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard .
The Magic Mouse looks overnice , but you may obtain a third - party mouse that ’s more useful .
Thiago Trevisan
The Magic Mouse looks nice, but you can find a third-party mouse that’s more useful.
The Magic Mouse itself has a serial publication of inauspicious property that make it less than ideal . Its turn on port is on the bottom so you ca n’t use it while it charge . Furthermore , it is not the best ergonomically or most responsive technically . It lags and other quirky behaviors can often be experienced .
You ’re better off run with a third - party mouse ” see our reviews of thebest computer mouse for Macs . A democratic favorite is theLogitech MX Master 3S , which comes in both greyness and white . It work via Bluetooth but the wireless USB dongle offers better connectivity ( if you may spare a USB embrasure ) . Keep in judgment the Mac - branded version does not include this dongle , so look for the PC interlingual rendition that does . It works dead fine on a Mac since it is the same mouse .
Do n’t limit yourself to the Magic Mouse .
Don’t limit yourself to the Magic Mouse.
The Earth of black eye is vast and you ’ll find plenty of other options . Mice meant for gaming often work wondrous on the Mac and have terrific ergonomics . They are often OK - tune up for precision , tactility , and reactivity . Some , such as Logitech , even offer software for the Mac so that you’re able to configure your black eye as you ’d like .
Some stain , like Razer , work out of the boxwood but do n’t allow further tweaking since they do not offer Mac software package for customization . Third - party apps , such asMac Mouse Fix , can help you find some of that dominance . Mapping key buttons such as back , forwards , and even Mission Control can make for a more fluid workflow . We also have some tips ongetting the most out of the second button on a shiner .
If you are a MacBook Pro user and jazz the trackpad , believe picking up a Magic Trackpad for desktop role . you’re able to even use it alongside a mouse . Video editors often employ both to maximise the flexibility of mouse accuracy and the scroll potentiality of the Magic Trackpad .
Mechanical keyboards like the Keychron Q5 Max are popular.
Keyboards are a like history to shiner – option is abundant ; see our favoritebest Mac keyboards . The Magic Keyboard has Touch ID and works seamlessly with the Mac , but its shallow typing touch is lacking . You give up some gizmo with third - party keyboards , but you derive a more satisfying typing experience .
Mechanical keyboard like the Keychron Q5 Max are popular .
Mechanical keyboards have been all the rage lately , and many work superbly with the Mac . TheKeychron Q5 Max , for representative , offer up Mac headstone , Bluetooth , and a larder smooth tactile feel . Glorious offers products such as theGMMK Prowhich has Mac keys and a customizable experience . Logitech also makes theMX Keys S for the Mac , which pairs nicely with its MX 3S mouse . Many keyboard will have a toggle substitution to go from personal computer to Mac , for keys to function as you ’d bear .
An ultrawide display is a good alternative to having two displays, but it may not support higher resolutions.
Other accouterment to have it off up your setup admit a good pair of loudspeaker system . While some monitor will have them built - in , separate extraneous speakers volunteer a much better audio experience . TheHarman Kardon Sound Sticks , famously designed by Jony I ve , are still around and vocalize bang-up . TheCreative Pebble Xcan upgrade your strait without much telegram clutter .
For more options , check out our roundup of theBest Mac keyboardswe’ve reviewed .
2. Add a second display
The MacBook Pro has a gorgeous Retina display , but it still top out at only 16 inch . An iMac is 24 inches , but in a yield work flow , the concealment can feel restrictive . A larger display or multiple display can importantly improve your workflow .
The Apple 5 K Studio display pairs marvelously with the Mac and slot in importantly cheaper than theApple Pro Display XDR . It also total the capability to both charge the MacBook and connect the showing via a exclusive Thunderbolt cable . TheApple Studio Displayhas an excellent speaker system , and with its built - in photographic camera , it can also minimize the figure of equipment that you ’d take for a teleconference frame-up .
If you are thinking about getting a display , itdoesn’t have to be one by Apple . Macs can tolerate high - refresh pace monitors at 4 K and even 6 kB resolutions at 60Hz . The increased firmness of purpose alone of some selection can be good to your workflow , opening more on - screen door pixels for your screen background .
Got an iPad Pro? Use it as an additional Mac display.
If hold up from a 16 - inch to , say , a 27 - inch display is n’t enough to turbocharge your work flow , believe up the monitor count . With a two - monitor apparatus , the main display can serve the procedure of activities that you necessitate to do immediately . This will be write , crop the web , working with Final Cut Pro , etc . The second monitor can serve up the purpose of displaying more static information that is approachable via a unsubdivided glance .
I like to practice it for Mail or iMessage , so I can rapidly look at incoming messages . A third screen opens up even more possibility — the third display can serve as another unchanging place for hooey you cite throughout the day . It can also be where you’re able to keep Finder open to move files around all covert , or even have a video playing without needing to understate other apps . The Mac can also tolerate an ultrawide show – some of which come with USB - light speed charging for your MacBook .
An ultrawide display is a skilful alternative to having two video display , but it may not plunk for high resolutions .
You can add lots of widgets to personalize and enhance your desktop.
If you want to add additional monitors , you need to understand how many your Mac can support . We have aguide to connect two or more external showing on M - serial Macs , but the nitty-gritty is that the more powerful the chip , the more presentation it can manage .
If you do n’t have the outer space or budget for multiple monitors , there are other workarounds , too . MacBook Air and Pro users can utilize their laptop computer as a second monitoring gadget when connect to an outside showing . The iPad Pro can also serve as a 2d presentation , with continuity making the experience unseamed . Continuity works across all your Apple gadget , such as iPhone , Watch , and iPad . you could even apply your iPhone as a webcam for video recording conferencing .
oecumenical ascendancy allows you to use the same mouse and keyboard direct on your Mac and iPad at the same time , double its utility as a 2nd screen .
External storage devices make file management much easier.
get an iPad Pro ? practice it as an additional Mac display .
take our round up of theBest Mac monitorswe’ve reviewed .
3. Unleash the hidden power tools in macOS
Becoming a Mac great power user also means making the most out of macOS . Apple build tremendous tools within the Mac operating system to make your workflow easier and quicker .
The simple keyboard crosscut can make your everyday tasks move gracefully . For example , pressing Command + Space Bar quickly brings up Spotlight Search . A Mission Control cutoff can be mapped either to your keyboard or a button on your mouse . It is by far the easy way to move around macOS with many apps open .
you may add lots of widgets to individualise and raise your desktop
A dock provides the ports that are missing from your Mac.
Foundry
Widgets , especially when paired with big or multiple screens , can keep information ready to hand for when you ask it . Everything from Malcolm stock , and news , to the weather can be customized and write you time opening apps . For deterrent example , a widget displaying the battery status of a connected Apple equipment can be a huge help – your AirPods may need a burster , for example . It is an easy way to have one less surprisal throughout your day .
enshroud your Dock can also be a cunning direction to unloose up concealment quad . If using multiple silver screen , simply hovering near the bottom of the screen with the mouse cursor will move the dock to that monitor . you may also mechanically show and hide the sour grass , by going to your Mac ’s options under Desktop & Dock .
Apple Vision Pro has some promising features that work with the Mac.
4. Expand your storage options
At the most affordable received configurations , Macs typically arrive with stingy internal storage size . You may want to fork up more sugar for pricy upgrade .
However , you’re able to use the Mac ’s Thunderbolt / USB - C ports to connect an external computer memory machine . With a MacBook , you ’ll desire to expend the international drives for files you do n’t necessarily want all the time , unless you ’re die to use a portable outside ride and will take it along with your Mac .
Read : proficient external SSD for MacandBest Hard Drive for Mac .
External memory devices make file direction much easy .
you could also use an outside drive Time Machine , macOS ’s public utility company that can perform robotic backups of your Mac . If you do ask to recover a single file , it is easy to go back to a sealed date , find it , and recover the file . Time Machine is handy if you work with large files that are too bulky for frequent swarm musical accompaniment , such as video recording files . ( There are other Mac backup alternative in our round of drinks up of theBest software to backup your Mac ) .
Managing extraneous drives on the Mac has been fairly straightforward , with Disk Utility serving as your control center for initialize campaign , assign them , and mounting / dismount them from the Desktop .
Do n’t want to use an international ride ? you could useiCloudto seamlessly integrate with your Mac if you synchronize the Desktop and Documents folder . Anything that you drop in these areas will mechanically go to iCloud and be visible on other devices . Likewise , turn the mount on to access iCloud data point on the connection , so have access anywhere . iCloud championship also works seamlessly with the Mac and you will not need to add together external storage . It does come at an extra price and will be throttle by your net connection if you require to move around large file frequently .
If you do decide to add an external driving force — and even if you don’t – you may need to couple your Mac with a upright Thunderbolt pier to provide more port . Along with convenience such as SD card expansion slot , Thunderbolt dock can also give you a smattering of USB - A and Thunderbolt port . This can be specially useful for those using a laptop as a workstation . They can even charge and leave display functionality , too . CalDigit makes the wonderfulTS4 Thunderbolt Dock , with plenty of extra ports . OWC also has options to pop the question . Some wharf , such as theSonnet Echo 20 , can even hold an NVME SSD for supernumerary utility . arrest out our templet for the top Thunderbolt / USB dock .
A pier provides the ports that are miss from your Mac .
5. Embrace Apple’s changes
This is something many Mac veterans can turn a loss sight of . Part of being a Mac baron user includes embracing changes to the Mac ecosystem . Sure , 2013 Mac Pro owners may still have some sour note about some changes , but things typically improve with time .
One prime bleeding - edge example is the Apple Vision Pro . While it is expensive and has somewhat bound habit caseful , there are power users who have paired it nicely with their Mac . It can expand your screen background experience importantly , especially with upcoming wide video display documentation . Mirroring your Mac within the Vision Pro is one of the best features these devices can do together . Being in a practical environs surrounded by your apps and windows has the voltage to transform how you work .
Apple Vision Pro has some promising feature of speech that work with the Mac .
Thiago Trevisan / Foundry
The keyword here ispotential – spacial computing is still not quick for prize time . It remains a visionary melodic theme in its infancy , however , with miscellaneous results in actual daily use . comfortableness and a more innate integration of the technology will improve over time , as will cost .
The Mac is not afraid to leave thing behind , with Apple often getting criticized by some for some far-famed change . The removal of USB ports or even the aim of the badmouth 2013 Mac Pro still haunts some owners . Still , when Apple have it right , it is worth it to be on the bound of newfangled Mac changes .
Apple Intelligence is the next horizon that will make your work flow even better . Boasting some underwhelming feature article at present , like atomic number 99 - mail summary , it surely has a pot to improve on . Other improvements in newer software include mirror your iPhone , helping workflow , or relieve distraction while at your desk . Thenew Passwords appis also dandy , piecing together the direction of important login information in a more structured fashion .
Apple Intelligenceis a primal country for power users to keep a knifelike center on , however . When put through fully in the future , it has the potential to interchange your workflow enormously . A competent Siri help will be able to do much more than it can presently , for instance . Apple is pushing towards this finish , but at present corpse stifled with no meaning features yet .
Many of Apple Intelligence feature roll around communication and language , as do most current AI framework . better text and searching for new information are also primary goals for the technology .
With the combination of what is already inside macOS , together with some hardware and accessory , your work flow can reach an entirely newfangled level . A power exploiter is not just focused on the speed , but enjoy the cognitive operation of using your Mac , too .
