Essential Skills [All Classes]

Mac Keyboard Shortcuts

Want to look like a laptop pro?

Nothing says you are a skilled operator as being able to accomplish various functions or access features without taking your hands off the keyboard.

Using keyboard shortcuts can . . .

save you time
be more efficient
be more precise

How to practice keyboard shortcuts

start by learning a few basic shortcuts (copy, paste, cut, select all)
practice using them often
revisit shortcut cheat sheet often

Make sure you select SAS_FindMe' printer to print

You do not have to collect the print job. The print request will expire in 24 hours if not collected.

Check the printer icon in your doc when you hit print. Does the job disappear? If it says "hold for authentication" then you have put in your password incorrectly and you need to remove it and try again.

Spotlight Search

A powerful, system-wide search tool on Apple devices that helps you find almost anything, not just apps. It quickly searches your computer for files, documents, emails, and contacts. It can also act as a quick calculator or currency converter.

Photo Booth

A simple and fun app that uses your Mac's camera to take photos and videos. You can use it for a quick new profile picture, a short video for a presentation, or just for fun. Use the effects button for filters, or hold the Option key to take a picture without the countdown.

Taking Screenshots

Quickly capture what's on your screen for notes, presentations, or sharing.

Full Screen: Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 3 to capture everything on your screen.
Selected Area: Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4, then click and drag your mouse over the area you want to save.
A Specific Window: Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4, then press the Space bar and click on the window you want to capture.

All screenshots are saved as an image file on your desktop, but if you add the Control key to any of these shortcuts, the screenshot will be saved to your clipboard instead, ready to be pasted directly into an email or document.

Screen Recording

You can easily create a video of your screen to show a presentation, a step-by-step process, or a bug you need to report.

Open the toolbar: Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 5. This brings up a toolbar at the bottom of the screen.
Choose your option: Click either "Record Entire Screen" or "Record Selected Portion".
Record: Click "Record" to begin. To stop, click the small square icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen.

Your video will be saved as a .mov file to your desktop by default. You can also click "Options" in the toolbar to choose a different save location, add a timer, or record audio from your microphone.

Organizing the Dock

The Dock is your Mac's central hub for quickly accessing apps, files, and folders. You can easily customize it to fit your needs.

Add an app: Drag an app's icon from the Launchpad or your Applications folder and drop it into the Dock.
Remove an app: Drag an app's icon out of the Dock until the word "Remove" appears. Don't worry, this doesn't delete the app!
Change size, position, or hide it: Right-click on the separator line in the Dock to access a shortcut menu, or go to Apple menu > System Settings > Desktop & Dock to adjust its size, position (left, bottom, or right), or set it to automatically hide.

Launchpad: App Launcher

Launchpad is a simple way to see all of your apps in one place, like a full-screen app library.

Access it quickly: Click the Launchpad icon (a silver rocket) in the Dock, or use a pinch gesture with your thumb and three fingers on your trackpad.
Find and open apps: Use the search bar at the top or swipe left and right to navigate through the pages of apps. Simply click on an app icon to open it.
Organise apps: Click and drag an app to move its position, or drag one app on top of another to create a folder.
Uninstall apps: Click and hold an app icon until they all begin to jiggle. If an app has a small "X" in the top corner, you can click it to uninstall the app.

Personalizing the Desktop

Make your Mac feel like your own. You can quickly change the look and feel of your desktop and lock screen.

Wallpaper: Go to System Settings > Wallpaper to choose from Apple’s selection or use your own photo. You can even set it to change automatically throughout the day.
Appearance: In System Settings > Appearance, you can switch between a Light or Dark mode, which changes the colors of your menu bar, dock, and app windows. You can also change the accent color for buttons and selections.
Screensaver & Lock Screen: Go to System Settings > Lock Screen to set a screensaver, choose how long before your screen locks, and add a custom message.

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