Mac Tips & Lessons
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macOS Classes5 Lessons
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New in macOS Sequoia3 Lessons
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Getting Started with the Mac13 Lessons
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14+ Tips for Getting Started with a New Mac (and older Macs)
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How to tell which macOS you are using
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Getting Around your Mac
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Working with Finder Windows
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Accessing Folders and Navigating Folders
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A Look a the Folder Hierarchy of the Mac
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Using Keyboard Shortcuts
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Notifications and the Notification Center
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Searching with Spotlight Search
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System Preferences Overview
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Mac Quick Look Demystified: Preview Files with Ease!
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Quickly access Mac system settings with Menu Bar or Dock
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Learn Cut, Copy, and Paste on Mac
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14+ Tips for Getting Started with a New Mac (and older Macs)
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Menu Bar Lessons for the Mac4 Lessons
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Dock Lessons for the Mac11 Lessons
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Automatically Hide the Dock
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Open Recent Documents from a Closed app with the Mac's Dock
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Open an App's Recent Documents through the Dock on the Mac
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Change the Position of the Dock
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Working with Applications in the Dock
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Documents and Folders in the Dock
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Customizing the Dock
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Add Printers to the Mac's Dock
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3 Easy Tips for Organizing your Folders in the Mac's Dock
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Unlock Hidden Settings for the Dock
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How to Add Folders to the Mac Dock
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Automatically Hide the Dock
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Finder Lessons for the Mac24 Lessons
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Opening an Enclosing Folder from a Finder Window
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Adding a Folder to the Sidebar in a Finder Window
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Cycle through your Open Finder Windows
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Set What Folder A New Finder Windows Shows
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Finder Window View Options
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View Unopened Documents with Quick Look
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Arranging Files and Folders
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Actions and Tasks
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Finder Windows as Tabs
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Customizing the Sidebar
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Customize the Finder Window Toolbar
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Show the Path Bar in a Finder Window
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Keep Folders on Top
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Show the Status Bar in Finder Windows
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Set what is searched in a Finder Window
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Hide your Hard Drives from the Desktop
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Add Documents to a Finder Window Toolbar
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Resizing Finder Window Columns
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Copy the location of a File or Folder as Pathname
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Set what your Finder Windows Open To
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Show the Mac's Clipboard in a Window
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Create a PDF from Multiple Images with Quick Actions on the Mac
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The ultimate guide to the Mac's Finder: 24+ tips included!
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Need help Organizing Your Mac? Master Smart Folders Today!
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Opening an Enclosing Folder from a Finder Window
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Manage Applications on the Mac24 Lessons
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Easily Open the Applications Folder
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Apps and Significant Energy
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Set which Applications Open at Login
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Add the Applications Folder to the Dock
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Close Windows when Quitting Apps
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5 Ways to Find and Open your Applications on the Mac
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Finding your Applications Folder
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Switching between Open Applications
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Hiding Open Applications
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Launchpad and Applications
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Opening Applications with Spotlight Search
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Installing Applications
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Removing or Uninstalling Applications
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Applications in Full-screen Mode
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Finding an App’s Preferences or Settings
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Open Apps with the Launchpad Icon
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Use Keyboard Shortcuts to Switch between Open Apps
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Shrink Apps to Prevent the MacBook Pro Notch from Obscuring App Controls
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Prevent In-App Rating & Review Notifications
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How to Check App Version History on Your Mac
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How to Use Multiple Desktops with Spaces
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Switch between open apps with the Mac's App Switcher
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Enhance your Mac experience by Installing iOS apps
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Add a Signature to a Document
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Easily Open the Applications Folder
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Manage Files and Folders on the Mac30 Lessons
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Selecting Documents and Folders
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Working with Save Dialog Boxes
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Deleting Files and Folders
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Copying, Moving, and Grouping Files
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Move Selected Files into a New Folder
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Specifying Applications for Documents
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4 Ways to Open a File on the Mac
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3 Ways to Force Quit an App on the Mac
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4 Ways to Edit Finder Window Sidebars on the Mac
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Create A New Folder with Selected Files on the Mac
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Using Spring-loaded Folders
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Compressing Files and Folders
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Convert and Compress Images with Quick Actions
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Viewing Document Information
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Renaming Files in Batches
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Tagging Files and Folders
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Set What App a Document Opens With
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Open Windows Media or WMV Files
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Tips for finding your Downloads Folder
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See Folder Sizes in a Finder Window
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Duplicate Documents with Stationery Pad on the Mac
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Reverse the Print Order of your Document
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Creating PDFs on a Mac: Two Easy Methods
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Save Time and Effort: How to Select Multiple Files on Your Mac
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How to Easily Zip and Unzip Files on Your Mac
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Learn how to use Find and Replace on the Mac
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Rename Multiple Files on the Mac
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How to Manage Storage on Your Mac - Easy Tips & Tricks!
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Ever Wondered How to Rename Mac Files? Top 7 Tips Here!
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11 Easy Ways to Optimize Your Mac's Desktop Experience
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Selecting Documents and Folders
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General macOS Lessons21 Lessons|1 Quiz
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Have your Mac Learn Spelling
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Close Notifications with a Swipe
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Working with the Today View
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Using Siri
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Using Mission Control
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Add Virtual Desktops with Spaces on the Mac
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Sharing Files with AirDrop
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iCloud Options
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Take a Screenshot of your Display
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Add Emojis as Text
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View All Open Windows as Thumbnails
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Copy, and Paste and Match Style
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Type Special Characters with the Keyboard Viewer
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Set where Screenshots are Saved
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Add a Timer to Screenshots
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Hide all your open windows to show the Mac's Desktop
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Turn on Do Not Disturb Temporarily
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Using Split View
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The Mac’s Magic Shortcut to Trashing Files and Photos Quickly
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10 Little Known Tips for the Mac
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Keyboard Navigation on the Mac
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Have your Mac Learn Spelling
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Preferences or Settings for the Mac34 Lessons
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Organize and Hide System Preference Panes
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General Preferences
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Working with Printers and Scanners
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Share Connected Printers with other Macs
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A Quick look at Sound Preferences
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A closer look at Internet Accounts
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Creating User Accounts
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Set an Animated Emoji for your Mac User Profile
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Customize the Date and Time in the Mac's Menu Bar
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Adding Parental Controls
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Change the Cursor Size
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Show the Date in the Menu bar
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Change the Clock in the Menu Bar from Digital to Analog
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Set the Scroll Bar to Always Show in a Window
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Create a New user Account
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Text Replacement
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Quickly Look up Information with the Trackpad
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Shortcuts for opening System Preference Panes
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Rename your Mac
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Searching your System Preferences
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Set the Default Browser on the Mac
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Reduce the Transparency in the Menu Bar and Dock
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Open Preference Panes from the Dock
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A closer look at Wi-fi Settings
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Using Hot Corners
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Select what macOS Updates you want to install
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Create Keyboard Shortcuts for Menu Items
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Use Keyboard Navigation to Move Focus
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Enable Fast User Switching to Switch between User Accounts
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Use Touch ID to Switch between Users on the Mac
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How to Zoom into your Mac's Display for Easier Reading
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How to Extend Your Mac Display to Your iPad
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Disabling Showing the Notification Center from the Trackpad
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Can Force Click Boost Your Productivity on your Mac? Find Out How!
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Organize and Hide System Preference Panes
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Troubleshooting Lessons for the Mac16 Lessons
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Finding Help for your Mac
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Backing Up with Time Machine
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Restoring Files with Time Machine
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Erase a Hard Drive
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Force Quit an App on the Mac
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Restart or Relaunch the Mac's Finder
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Force Quit Apps from the Apple Menu
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Putting it All Together
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Automatically delete items in the Trash after 30 Days
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Troubleshooting Bluetooth Connections
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Manage Storage Space with macOS Monterey and Earlier
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Reclaim Local Mac Storage Space by Removing iCloud Drive Downloads
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Disable Unused Sharing Options on Your Mac If You’re Not Using Them
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Forget Wi-Fi Networks that are Troublesome
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View memory usage in Activity Monitor on Mac
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Erase All Content and Settings on a Mac
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Finding Help for your Mac
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New in macOS Mojave12 Lessons
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Dark Mode Appearance
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Dynamic Desktop Pictures
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View Recent Apps in the Dock
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Gallery View for Files in Finder Windows
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macOS Software Updates in System Preferences
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Desktop Stacks for Files on the Desktop
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Keep Desktop Folders on Top of Files
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View File Metadata
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Quick Actions and Markup Files
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Continuity Camera from your iPhone or iPad
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New Privacy Options
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New Screenshot Options
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Dark Mode Appearance
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New in macOS Catalina19 Lessons
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See which apps will no longer work with macOS Catalina
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See which apps are 32-bit
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Opening Recent Folders from the Dock
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Reorganized System Preferences
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New Window Management Options
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New Screen Time Preferences
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New Music App
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New TV App
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New Podcasts App
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Manage your iOS Devices through the Finder
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What's New in the Photos App
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What's New in the Notes App
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What's New in Safari
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What's New in the Mail app
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New FindMy App
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New Catalyst Apps
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New Security and Privacy Features
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New Redesigned Reminders App
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Use an iPad as a second Display with Sidecar
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See which apps will no longer work with macOS Catalina
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New in macOS Big Sur15 Lessons
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What hasn't changed with macOS Big Sur
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Notification Center
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Allow Wallpaper Tinting in Windows
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Filtering Mail Messages
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New Control Center
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A look at the Finder Window Toolbar
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New with Desktop Pictures
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Play Startup Sound
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Drag and Drop Controls to the Menu Bar
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Battery Usage Preferences
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Change the Date & Time in the Menu Bar
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Do Not Disturb location in macOS Big Sur
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See what is Now Playing
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It’s Time to Consider Upgrading to macOS 11 Big Sur
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How to Reveal the Proxy Icon in Big Sur
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What hasn't changed with macOS Big Sur
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New & Updated in macOS Ventura12 Lessons
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How to Manage your Open Windows with Stage Manager
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New Setup Options and Filters in Focus on the Mac with macOS Ventura
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View Forecasts and More in the New Weather App on the Mac
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Add Multiple Stops to Routes in the Maps App with macOS Ventura
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Create Templates for Reminders Lists with macOS Ventura
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Maximizing Your Storage on macOS Ventura: A Guide to Managing Space
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Discover the New Clock App on MacOS Ventura
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How to Keep Scroll Bars Always Visible on Mac (macOS Ventura)
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Manage App Store and Streaming Services Subscriptions through the Mac
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Save time typing text and Emojis on your Mac with Text Replacement!
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3 Ways to Remove the Background in a Photo
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Stop Apps from Launching when your Mac Starts Up
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How to Manage your Open Windows with Stage Manager
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Favorite Features in macOS Sonoma9 Lessons
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Make Your Favorite Websites Act Like Apps with macOS Sonoma
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macOS Sonoma: Screensavers & Wallpapers
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Click your Wallpaper to Show the Desktop
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Add Widgets to your Mac's Desktop
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My 3 Favorite New Features in Reminders with macOS Sonoma!
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iCloud Passwords for Chrome: Seamless Access to Your Passwords
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Make your next Zoom Presentation stand out with Presenter Overlays
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Turn off Click Wallpaper to Show Desktop
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Build your own Apple Passwords app in 5 minutes! A Step-by-Step Guide
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Make Your Favorite Websites Act Like Apps with macOS Sonoma
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New in macOS Monterey6 Lessons
Notifications and the Notification Center
Learn how to view your notificaitons you receive on your Mac in the Notificaiton Center.
In this lesson for macOS, I look at the Notification Center on the Mac. This includes viewing your Notifications in the Notifications Center, managing your notifications, and disabling notification with Do Not Disturb. Learn all about notifications and the Notifications Center on the Mac in this lessons.
Video Transcript (video also has closed captions):
Introduction: In this video, we’re going to look at notifications and the notification center on the Mac. Let’s go to my Mac.
Let’s first go and open up the calendar. I have an event there, and I have an alert or notification set up with it. Now, I’m going to go down to my calendar here, and you’re going to see I have a happy hour at 4:35. I’m going to double click on this. What I have is, I have it set to alert me one hour before. It’s going to alert me at 3:35. We can see it is now 3:32. I have a couple more minutes before we see that notification.
Notification Types: Let’s talk about the types of notifications while we’re waiting. With notifications on the Mac, there are two types of alerts. We can have a banner, and then we can also have an alert. It’s going to show in the upper right-hand corner over here with a banner, and then, it will disappear after a few seconds. When you receive an email, by default, they are set up as a banner. You’ll see the email, and then, a few seconds later, it’ll disappear. With alerts, what will happen is, it’ll come across the top of the screen in the upper right-hand corner, and then, it’ll stay there until you interact with it. An alert requires some form of input before it disappears.
I’m going to go ahead and close my calendar here. With both types of these notifications, we’re able to interact with that notification depending on the app. As an example, with the mail app, what I’m able to do is I’m able to trash the mail. If it’s junk mail, I can just click on the trash button in the actual notification. With the calendar, what I’m able to do is either close it or snooze it. Depending on which app is sending the notification, you may have other options. With some apps, you will not have any options. It’ll just disappear. We have alerts that will stay there until you interact with it, and then, we have banners, which will show, and then, they will disappear.
The calendar notification is going to be an alert. It’s going to stay there until I interact with it. I either have to close it or what I have to do is I have to snooze it. We’re going to get that notification here very shortly. It’s going to come across in the upper right-hand corner here. There’s our notification. We can see it’s happy hour, and it’s set for 4:35. Again, I can either close it or snooze it. With the calendar app, if I click and hold on snooze, I can set how long I want to snooze it for. If I wanted to snooze this for one minute, I select one minute, and now, it disappears. It’ll come back in one minute.
Notification Center: In addition to getting that notification, we can also view our notifications in the notification center. Let’s say, I can’t remember when I set that notification for, and I want to view that notification. We do this through the notification center. I’m going to go ahead and snooze this again, and let’s go with 30 minutes. Now, what I want to do is I want to view that notification. To do that, we go to our notification center. The notification center is located on the right side. What we have to do is, we have to click on these three horizontal lines. When I click on this, I’m going to have two options. It’s either going to show me the today view or the notification center. It all depends on what you looked at last.
I’m going to click on this, and we can see that I looked at my notifications last because it shows my notifications. If I go over to the today view, I’m looking at my today view– I’ll talk about the Today view in another lesson. I close this. Now, when I go back up to my notifications, what it’s going to do is it’s going to show me the today view again. Now, what I need to do is, I need to go into notifications, and there is my notification. What I can do is, I can click on this, and it’ll open up that notification in the calendar app.
Let’s go back over to my notification center. I have a trackpad. Another way of getting to the notification center is by going to the very right edge of your trackpad and then swipe over to the left with two fingers. I’m going to swipe over to the left with two fingers on the right edge of my trackpad, and I have my notification center. I can also close this by clicking on the X. I want to see when this notification is going to come across again. Remember, I snoozed it. I moved my cursor outside here, and we can see it says, in 29 minutes. In 29 minutes, I’m going to get this notification again. That’s how we receive notifications and the different types of notifications, banners, and alerts, and how we can view them in the notification center.
Notification Preferences: Now, let’s take a look at our preferences for notifications. How do we tell the app that we want to receive an alert or a banner? Well, we do that through our system preferences. We have a couple of different ways to get to it. If you’re in the notification center, all you have to do is click on the gear in the lower right-hand corner. When I click on this, it opens up my system preferences, and it goes to notifications. Now, if you do not have your notifications open, I’m going to quit out of this, what you can also do is go down to your system preferences, and then, go over to notifications. Click on it, and now, we’re looking at preferences for notifications.
Do Not Disturb: Our first option here is for do not disturb. What we can do is we can set our Mac to do not disturb us, so if there’s a notification, it actually won’t notify us. What we can do is, we can set that for a specific time. If I were to turn this on, I would not receive any notifications from 10:00 PM until 7:00 AM. I can also set it not to receive any notifications while the display is sleeping and while I am mirroring my Mac to a TV. Also, when we have do not disturb turned down, I can set it to allow calls, FaceTime calls, from everyone, or allow repeated calls. If you allow repeated calls, if you get a second call from the same person within three minutes, it’ll let that call. The first time you get a call from it, it will not let it through. What they’ll have to do is, they’ll have to call you twice within three minutes, and then, you’ll get that call.
Now, we can also turn do not disturb on from our notification center. I’m going to go back over to my notification center. I click on the three horizontal lines. If I swipe down here, I’m going to swipe down on my trackpad; you’re going to see I have do not disturb. All I have to do is turn this on, and now, I will not receive any notifications until tomorrow. You can also access this. I’m going to turn it back off. We can also access this from the Today view. Click on it; I’m looking at my today view again. Again, I’ll talk about the Today view in another lesson. If I swiped down here, I still have access to my do not disturb.
Now, let’s go back over to our system preferences. Our next options here are for individual apps. Remember how I said that the calendar app is set up for alerts, which means it’s not going to go away until I dismiss it? I click on it, and we can see we have calendar alert style. I can set it for none, which means I’m not going to get a notification at all, I can set it for banners, which will disappear, and then, I have alerts, and we can see that alerts is blue, which means that is what this is set for. If I wanted to change this to banners, all I have to do is click on banners. Now, when I get a notification from my calendar, it’ll show up for a few seconds, and then, it’ll disappear. I’m going to bring it back over to alerts.
Notifications on the Lock Screen: We can also set if we want to show notifications on the lock screen. If your computer is locked, you’ll still receive notifications when this has checked. I can show the notification preview. If the app supports preview, I’ll be able to see what the notification is such as messages. Then, I also have an option to show it in the notification center. Remember how, when we go up to our notification center, we can see that notification? Well, it’s because of this is selected.
We have our badge app icon. If we look here, my OmniFocus has a badge app. I have seven alerts or seven notifications here. If I no longer want to see this, what I would do is, I would go over to OmniFocus here in my list and then turn off the badge app icon. Then our last option is to play sound. If you do not want to have a sound when that notification comes through, you just turn this off. Our last option here is for the sort order. Right now, it is set for recent, which means it’s going to show my most recent notification at the top. I can also have it sort by app or manually by app.
That’s notifications and the notification center on the Mac.