10 Ways to Customize Your Mac – Apple has created and optimized macOS to be flexible (within very specific limits) and able to adapt to the needs of each individual user , whether you are using a MacBook or if you prefer to opt for a “desktop” Mac such as the iMac or the Mac Mini thanks to a few simple tricks. Apple’s operating system, especially in its latest evolutions, lends itself to various customization options.
In fact, users can transform their Mac by intervening on the macOS options and adapting the characteristics of the operating system to their own way of using the Apple computer. There are no particularly complicated computer secrets or tricks that require advanced computer knowledge to be put into practice.
With a few simple steps you can customize macOS, adapting it to your use regardless of the type of Mac you have chosen to purchase from the various options in the Apple range. So here are 10 simple tricks you need to know to transform and customize your Mac and improve the user experience offered by computers made by Apple.
Rearrange the taskbar
Let’s start with a fundamental element of the Mac user experience: the Dock with the application bar . It is one of the central components of Apple’s operating system which aims to guarantee quick access to already installed applications, with the possibility for the user to switch from one app to another in a simple and fast.
Users can rearrange the app bar by choosing the precise arrangement of the icons in a very easy way. Just press the Command key and then click and drag the icon you want to move to the desired location. Some bar items are fixed and cannot be moved from their position.
Note that it is also possible to add an app to the Dock in a very simple way. Just open the app in question. In fact, this app will immediately appear in the section dedicated to recently used apps of the bar. At this point, just Ctrl-click the app icon, then choose Options > Keep in Dock.
Note that users have the ability to customize the Dock in a very simple way. Simply go to the Apple menu and then choose System Preferences > Dock & Menu Bar . In this section it is possible to modify various options by choosing the preferred display mode of the elements, adjusting their size or positioning the application bar laterally.
Easily customize and locate your mouse pointer
Among the various tricks available, Mac users have the ability to customize the mouse pointer , also to make it more easily identifiable (especially when a large monitor is combined with the Mac). To complete the operation, simply rely on the Accessibility options integrated in macOS. The procedure to follow is really simple.
First, you need to go to the Apple menu and then choose System Preferences . At this point just click on Accessibility and then choose Screen > Pointer . In this section it is possible to access a series of options for modifying the pointer of one’s Mac. For example, users have the possibility to enlarge the pointer or change its colors to adapt it to their own style.
Note that you can activate the Shake the mouse pointer to locate it option . By activating this option, in fact, just move your finger quickly on the trackpad or move the mouse quickly to temporarily enlarge the pointer and be able to locate it without problems. This trick also becomes particularly convenient when you have to use macOS with a very large display. This settings section is useful for troubleshooting mouse issues in macOS .
Manage app windows
macOS offers the user a number of tools for managing app windows . These are really very convenient features to use, both when using a MacBook (with a display characterized by a small diagonal, generally between 13 and 16 inches) and when you connect your Mac to a large monitor and they look for tricks to improve the user experience
The management of app windows allows you to work more easily , occupying the workspace better and displaying more information at the same time. For example, let’s assume we have to write a text referring to a specific source (such as a web page). Organizing your app windows in the best way will make it easy for you to view the writing app and web page.
The first thing to do in these cases is to move a window to one side of the screen. To do this, simply hold down the Option key as you move the pointer over the green button in the upper corner of the window. At this point, you can choose ” Move window to the right side of the screen ” or ” Move window to the left side of the screen” in order to better organize the workspace.
Note that you can manually move a window to the desired position, and align two windows by simply dragging one next to the other (the two windows will automatically align, without overlapping). Thanks to the window management features, therefore, improving the experience of using a Mac will be decidedly simple.
Change the characteristics of the subtitles
Those with a Mac can take advantage of some tricks to change the subtitle preferences in a really simple way. This is a feature that improves the experience of using all applications that use subtitles. Again, you can refer to the Accessibility section of Apple’s operating system.
Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Accessibility > Subtitles . In this section it is possible to customize the font, color, transparency and background of the subtitles, adapting this functionality to the needs of the users. There are several options to focus on to better optimize the subtitles.
Note that it is also possible to create a custom style by selecting all the desired settings to adapt the subtitles to your needs. Once this change is made, the settings will be active and all apps that require the use of subtitles will use the preferences set by the user.
Create a custom Memoji
Starting with macOS 11, users have the ability to create a custom Memoji . In this way it will then be possible to send Memoji stickers to express your mood, for example via the Messages app. It is a very simple feature to use and able to customize your Mac even more.
Creating and personalizing a Memoji is very simple. Just open the Messages app on your Mac and select a conversation. On the left of the field under the window, you can click on the App button and then select the button dedicated to Memoji stickers. At this point, you need to click Add and follow the on-screen instructions to customize the Memoji from skin tone to the clothes used.
Copy text from an image
Another trick to make the most of your Mac is represented by the Active Text function . This is a feature that allows you to copy the text in a photo to reuse it , for example, in a text document without having to type it yourself. Let’s take an example to clarify how Active Text works.
Let’s imagine having to “recover” information, such as a telephone number, present in a photo of an advertising billboard. Thanks to Testo Attivo it is possible to recover this number in a very simple way. First you need to go to Photos and open the picture displaying the text of interest to us. At this point, you need to place the pointer over the text and then drag it to select it.
Now the user can access various features like copy text (Command-C), search the meaningful, translate it, search the text on the web or share it with other users. To complete one of these operations just click on the selection holding down the Ctrl key and choose the desired option. If the text is a website, it is also possible to immediately access the relative web page.
Activate Private Relay to browse safely
To maximize privacy, it is possible to activate Private Relay with your Mac, without having to exploit trick computers. This is one of the main privacy-related features of macOS . The feature, currently in beta, is accessible to users who have activated an iCloud+ plan , which is also included in Apple One . To activate this function with the Mac, simply go to Apple > System Preferences > Apple ID and then select iCloud > Private Relay > Options . Once the Private Relay is activated, it will be possible to maximize privacy on the Internet by browsing with Safari in an even more secure way with outgoing traffic that will be encrypted.
Add Extensions to the Share menu
One of the most convenient tricks to optimize the operation of the Mac allows you to customize the Share menu by adding Extensions. The procedure to follow is really very simple. Just go to Apple menu > System Preferences and then click on Extensions . At this point just click on Share and select the sharing extensions you want to add or remove from the Share menu. Note that if an extension has been included but is not shown in the Share menu, then the content you wish to share cannot be shared with that particular extension.
Customize the MacBook Pro Touch Bar
Those who use a MacBook Pro with Touch Bar have the ability to customize this component, activating a series of options to adapt the Touch Bar to their lives. Just go to the Apple menu > System Preferences > Keyboard to access all the features available for complete customization of the Touch Bar integrated into some MacBook Pro models.
Erase all content and settings on your Mac
To quickly delete the contents and settings of your Mac, you can use a special tool made available by Apple which completes our list of useful tricks to make the most of the operating system. This is the Erase Content and Settings feature accessible from the Apple menu > System Preferences . Using this tool, you can perform quick removal of the listed settings, media files, data and other items.