It pays to know how to use some of your macOS more powerful features, even if they seem daunting and complex at first glance. It can help you identify and solve problems, automate repetitive tasks, and speed up long-term workflows. Below we describe macOS more powerful features:
Terminal
Text-based input using the command prompt will never feel as user-friendly as your Mac’s graphical user interface (GUI), but that doesn’t mean you should avoid it entirely. You can use the Terminal app (found under Applications > Utilities) to do everything from basic file operations on your Mac to blacklisting websites or changing system preferences that don’t have a toggle. We’ve put together a list of 16 terminal commands that every Mac user should know, including all the basics like navigating the file system, using flags (which modify how commands behave), and running commands as root (or superuser). by doing. There are also tricks you can perform using Terminal, such as adding blank space to the Dock or hiding files.
Another top tip that can make your time spent with Terminal easier is the ability to drag and drop folders and files directly into the window. This fills in the folder path, which eliminates the possibility of a typo-related error when executing a command. This is especially useful when whitelisting quarantined apps.
Automator
Automator is a powerful, visual tool that lets you automate repetitive tasks and create shortcuts you can use over and over again. One of the most useful Automator features is the ability to add automation to your Mac’s “Quick Actions” right-click context menu. They are context-aware, so if you create an automation that only applies to image files, it will only appear when you select an image file.
Shortcuts
The Shortcuts app is much like Automator in that it can be used to run powerful workflows and automation created using a drag-and-drop interface. Shortcuts aren’t as powerful as Automator in terms of raw utility, but the app is somewhat easier to work with and the results can be easily shared with other users. We’ve got a list of eight easy shortcuts for Mac that you can install in a few clicks, plus five more designed for office productivity.
You can make your own using the Shortcuts app in your Applications folder using native macOS and compatible third-party apps. They can be triggered from your Mac’s menu bar or by using Siri.
Shortcuts sync via iCloud and can also be used on iPhone and iPad (where the app originally launched).
Activity Monitor
Activity Monitor is the Mac equivalent of the Windows Task Manager, showing you exactly what’s going on on your Mac at any given time. Understanding this tool can help you identify and kill unresponsive apps and spot apps that are consuming the most power and other resources. Many of the processes you see here are system services like kernel_task, and cloud, which shouldn’t necessarily be tampered with. There are a few techniques for identifying non-system processes that can be safely quit. You can use Activity Monitor to check whether you’re running a native Apple Silicon app or a legacy Intel app with Rosetta 2. One of our favorite Activity Monitor tips is to keep the app in your dock and use it to display CPU, memory, or network usage.
Script Editor (AppleScript)
AppleScript has been around since 1993, and it is getting a little long in the tooth now. You’d be forgiven for not bothering with it since the advent of new tools like Automator and Shortcuts, but there are still some instances where it’s useful. Of course, you need to learn how to use AppleScript first (it’s a language, after all). You can do this by using Apple’s developer documentation or more user-friendly resources such as this guide to Mac OS X Automation or Macworld’s AppleScript tutorial. You can use AppleScript to automate tasks similar to Automator, then launch the scripts as applications or use the menu bar.
We recently used a script to start DOSBox and ask for a custom configuration file, which then added the flag for that configuration to the executable to quickly configure and launch a Windows 98 environment.
Disk Utility
Disk Utility is a useful tool if you’re using an external drive or experiencing storage-related problems. You can use this tool to format drives and partitions using the “Erase” function, create new volumes incompatible file systems, as well as view all disk images and additional volumes currently connected to your Mac. There are also more powerful functions, such as the ability to create an encrypted disk image from a folder or existing volume (under File > New Image), configure a RAID array (under File > RAID Assistant), or restore volumes from your backup images. already made. You can use the “first aid” operation on any attached drive to check (and fix) errors.
Generally speaking, you don’t need to worry about Disk Utility until you encounter disk problems or need to perform operations such as partitioning. You should be careful when deleting or creating new partitions to ensure you don’t lose valuable data that wasn’t backed up.
Spotlight
This is your Mac’s built-in search engine that can be quickly triggered using Command+Spacebar. Spotlight can do so much that you’d be forgiven for missing some of its more powerful functions. You are probably using Spotlight to search for files and folders, but did you know that you can get better results if you use natural language to narrow the field?
Launch any Mac app or just type its name into Spotlight in the System Preferences (System Settings) pane. You can perform quick sums in the search field there, or convert units including distance, temperature, and currency. You can even get the weather forecast by typing “weather in <city>” in the search field.
Once you find something you can use keyboard shortcuts such as Command+Enter to open the destination in Finder, Command+i to open the “Get Info” window for an entry, and Command+C to copy the result directly to your clipboard. Most of these tricks work with Spotlight for iPhone and iPad. Mastering Spotlight can drastically speed up the time it takes to perform everyday tasks like opening apps and folders.
