I use macOS every day and I still learn something new now and then. If you want to move faster, stay secure, and squeeze extra productivity out of your Mac, these macOS tips and tricks will help. This guide covers practical steps for beginners and intermediate users—everything from customizing System Settings to power-user moves in Terminal, plus easy wins in Safari, Shortcuts, and Time Machine. Ready? Let’s make your Mac feel smarter.
Quick wins: simple macOS settings that save time
Some changes take seconds but pay off daily. I recommend checking these first.
- Enable Tap to click in Trackpad settings for faster gestures.
- Set up hot corners in System Settings to trigger Mission Control, Lock Screen, or Quick Note.
- Use Spotlight (Cmd+Space) for quick calculations, file search, and app launches—customize shortcuts under Keyboard settings.
- Turn on Night Shift or True Tone for easier reading at night.
Customize System Settings for comfort and speed
macOS gives a lot of control. Tweak these to match how you work.
- Dock: reduce size, enable auto-hide, or switch to magnification.
- Finder: show path bar and set new Finder windows to open your preferred folder.
- Notifications: use Focus modes to silence interruptions during deep work.
Tip: rename and rearrange Control Center items
Drag frequently used controls (like Dark Mode or Sound) to the menu bar to save clicks.
Shortcuts: automate repetitive tasks
Shortcuts on macOS is a game-changer—I’ve used it to automate exports, batch-rename files, and open multi-app workflows in one click. Start with built-in gallery actions and adapt them.
Apple’s Shortcuts guide is a helpful place to begin: Shortcuts for Mac (Apple Support).
- Create a shortcut to resize images before emailing.
- Make a launcher shortcut that opens your daily apps and files.
- Assign keyboard shortcuts or add them to the Touch Bar for one-tap access.
Safari tips: faster, safer browsing
Safari is tightly integrated with macOS. Use these tricks to browse smarter.
- Pin frequently visited tabs to keep them available.
- Use Reader view (if available) to strip clutter from articles.
- Use Passwords in System Settings to manage logins and enable iCloud Keychain for sync.
- Enable Privacy Report to see trackers blocked on sites.
Backup and recovery: Time Machine made clear
Don’t wait until something breaks. Time Machine is simple and effective—connect an external drive or network volume and let it run.
Official guidance is here: Time Machine backup overview (Apple Support).
- Set a dedicated external SSD or NAS for continuous backups.
- Exclude large folders you don’t need to reduce backup time.
- Test recovery occasionally to ensure the backups are usable.
Terminal tips for intermediate users
Terminal unlocks deeper control. You don’t need to be a developer—small commands can tweak behavior quickly.
- Show hidden files: defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool true; killall Finder
- Speed up animations: defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSWindowResizeTime -float 0.001
- View disk usage: du -sh * | sort -h
Always back up before changing system defaults. If a command looks unfamiliar, look it up first.
Compare recent macOS versions (quick table)
Choosing when to upgrade depends on features you need. Here’s a short comparison.
| Feature | macOS Ventura | macOS Sonoma |
|---|---|---|
| Focus on collaboration | Stage Manager, continuity updates | Widgets on Desktop, performance tweaks |
| Security | Lockdown improvements | Enhanced privacy controls |
| Best for | Stable pro workflows | Everyday productivity + creative users |
For the official feature list, check Apple’s macOS page: macOS overview (Apple) and the broader history on macOS (Wikipedia).
Security and privacy: simple safeguards
Security is mostly about small habits.
- Enable FileVault for disk encryption.
- Use a password manager and enable two-factor authentication where possible.
- Review app permissions in System Settings—camera, mic, and file access.
Power-user workflows I actually use
- Automate daily report export with Shortcuts + Automator fallback.
- Use a small shell script plus Cron/launchd for nightly maintenance tasks.
- Keep a dedicated external drive for large media projects and archive old files to free internal SSD space.
Troubleshooting basics
- Safe Mode (hold Shift during boot) for diagnosing startup issues.
- Reset NVRAM/PRAM for display or battery oddities.
- Use Activity Monitor to find resource-hungry apps and quit or relaunch them.
Next steps: make a small change today
Pick one tip—maybe enable Time Machine or create a Shortcuts automation—and spend ten minutes. Little wins compound quickly. From what I’ve seen, habit beats heroics: consistent small tweaks make your Mac feel faster and more reliable.
Further reading and official resources
Apple’s documentation and community pages are great references. Start with the links above to verify version-specific instructions and get official downloads or support.
Want more? Try building one Shortcuts automation this week and test a Time Machine restore—small experiments are the easiest way to learn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Free up storage, disable unnecessary startup items, and check Activity Monitor for resource-heavy apps. Small steps like reducing visual effects and keeping macOS updated often improve responsiveness.
Time Machine provides reliable local backups and easy file recovery. For full protection, pair it with an offsite backup or cloud solution to guard against theft or physical drive failure.
Yes. Use the Shortcuts app to create automations with a visual builder. Many tasks can be automated without scripting, though Terminal commands can extend functionality for advanced users.
Open Terminal and run: defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool true; killall Finder. To hide files again, change true to false and relaunch Finder.
Not always. Check compatibility with your critical apps and read release notes; upgrading soon after release is fine for most users, while professionals may wait for widely reported stability confirmations.