All-In-One video library & player for iOS/macOS/tvOS
...
Best local and net disk movie/tv player on Mac, creating a local personal media library.
Price reduced to Free Trial!
  • $29.99
  • 0
5 Tips for Mac Users
5 Tips for Mac Users
  • NotionAI
  • 2026-02-13 10:14:06


5 Tips for Mac Users

Introduction

If you are a new Mac user, you might have noticed that the operating system is quite different from what you're used to. However, it is user-friendly and easy to use once you get the hang of it. In this blog post, we will discuss five tips that will help you get the most out of your Mac experience.

Use Spotlight search

Spotlight is a built-in search tool that can be accessed by pressing Command + Spacebar on your keyboard. It allows you to search for files, emails, contacts, and even web searches. This search feature is incredibly helpful, especially when you need to find a file quickly without having to manually search through all of your folders.

One of the best things about Spotlight is that it's very fast and accurate. It can even search within files, which can save you a lot of time if you're looking for a specific piece of information. To use Spotlight, simply press Command + Spacebar on your keyboard, and then type in your search query.

Use Time Machine

Time Machine is a built-in backup tool that automatically backs up your files, including documents, music, photos, emails, and system files. It is essential to use Time Machine to ensure that you do not lose any important data in case of a hardware failure or accidental deletion. To use Time Machine, all you need is an external hard drive or a network storage device.

Time Machine is incredibly easy to set up, and once you have it running, you can forget about it. It will automatically back up your files every hour, so you can always restore your data to a specific point in time. To set up Time Machine, simply connect your external hard drive or network storage device to your Mac, and then follow the on-screen instructions.

Learn the Gestures

MacBooks come with a trackpad that supports many advanced gestures. Learning these gestures can make your Mac experience more efficient and enjoyable. For example, you can use two-finger scrolling to navigate web pages or documents, or you can use the three-finger swipe to switch between open applications.

One of the great things about using gestures is that they can save you a lot of time. For example, if you're working on a document and want to scroll down to the bottom of the page, you can simply use two fingers to scroll down quickly. This is much faster than using the scroll bar on the side of the page.

Customize Your Dock

The Dock is the bar of icons that appears at the bottom of your screen. It allows you to quickly access your favorite applications and folders. You can customize your Dock by adding or removing icons, changing the size of the Dock, or even hiding it altogether. To customize your Dock, simply click and drag the icons to the desired location.

Customizing your Dock can be a lot of fun, and it can also save you a lot of time. For example, if you use a specific application frequently, you can add it to your Dock so that you can access it quickly. You can also remove applications that you don't use often to free up space on your Dock.

Use Siri

Siri is Apple's virtual assistant that can help you perform various tasks, such as sending messages, setting reminders, or even opening applications. You can activate Siri by clicking on the Siri icon on your Dock or by pressing and holding the Command key and the Spacebar. Siri can make your Mac experience much more comfortable and efficient.

One of the great things about Siri is that it's very easy to use. You can simply ask Siri to perform a task, and it will do it for you. For example, if you want to send a message to a friend, you can simply say "Hey Siri, send a message to John". Siri will then open the Messages app and create a new message for you.

Conclusion

These are just a few tips that can help you get the most out of your Mac experience. Whether you are a new or experienced user, these tips can make your daily tasks more manageable and efficient. With time and practice, you will see that using a Mac is easy and enjoyable. So, go ahead and give these tips a try, and let us know which ones you found the most helpful!


Hottest Articles

Latest Articles

Mac System Data Exceeding 200GB? Here’s How to Actually Clear It — A Deep Dive with Heavy Keynote Usage and Time Machine as Examples I. Problem Overview After long-term use, some macOS users discover that “System Data” in Storage Settings grows abnormally large. Common symptoms include: System Data occupying 200GB or more https://cdn.okaapps.com/resource/图2.webp No corresponding files can be located in Finder Deleting caches or log files has little effect Third-party cleaning tools are ineffective Uninstalling and reinstalling apps (such as Keynote) does not help Even after reinstalling macOS, the issue reappears after some time This problem is especially common among heavy productivity users, such as those working extensively with Keynote, Final Cut Pro, or design tools. II. Commonly Tried but Ineffective Solutions Users typically attempt the following methods, most of which fail to solve the problem at its root: Manually deleting directories such as ~/Library/Caches and ~/Library/Logs Using third-party cleaning tools like CleanMyMac or similar utilities Uninstalling and reinstalling Keynote Reinstalling macOS via “Reinstall macOS” These approaches are limited because they do not address the real sources behind System Data inflation. III. What Exactly Is “System Data”? It is important to understand that: System Data is not a real folder, but rather a collection of data that macOS cannot accurately categorize. System Data may include, but is not limited to: macOS system temporary files Application and system caches Portions of the user Library (~/Library) Files Spotlight cannot classify Large resource files inside application packages Local caches from cloud services (such as iCloud or OneDrive) iPhone / iPad backup files Residual data from deleted user accounts Time Machine local snapshots As a result, System Data cannot be reliably inspected or reduced through simple cache deletion or Finder-based browsing. IV. Key Cause #1: Time Machine Local Snapshots Consuming Disk Space How Local Snapshots Work Even when no external drive or NAS is connected, macOS will: https://cdn.okaapps.com/resource/图3.webp Create a Time Machine local snapshot every hour Retain snapshots from the last 24 hours by default If the backup destination remains disconnected, keep local snapshots associated with the most recent full backup These snapshots: Are based on the APFS file system Do not appear as regular files Are entirely counted under System Data In some cases, local snapshots can consume tens or even hundreds of gigabytes. https://cdn.okaapps.com/resource/图4.webp Why They Sometimes Cannot Be Deleted When Time Machine uses a NAS or network storage device as its backup destination, the following situations may occur: The NAS was previously disconnected The network path or IP address changed The backup was not re-“claimed” by the system As a result, macOS may treat these snapshots as belonging to an unreachable backup destination, leading to: tmutil deletion failures Errors such as Stale NFS file handle Snapshots that cannot be reclaimed, causing persistent disk usage V. Key Cause #2: How Keynote and Similar Apps Amplify System Data Keynote itself is not malfunctioning, but its design inherently amplifies System Data usage: Keynote files are actually packages containing large numbers of resources These may include: High-resolution images Embedded videos Fonts Animation and transition assets Spotlight sometimes fails to correctly classify these resources, causing them to be grouped under System Data. For users who frequently create large, media-heavy presentations, steady growth in System Data over time is expected. VI. Effective Solutions (Prioritized) Solution 1: Verify and Restore Time Machine Backup Status (Recommended) Open Disk Utility From the menu bar, select Show APFS Snapshots Select the system Data volume Check whether a large number of Time Machine local snapshots exist If using a NAS as the backup destination: Reconnect the NAS Select the original backup in Time Machine settings Follow the prompts to claim the existing backup Once the backup relationship is properly restored, macOS can automatically manage and reclaim snapshot space. Solution 2: Use Disk Analysis Tools to Identify Real Space Usage It is recommended to use tools that analyze disk usage without automatically deleting files, such as: GrandPerspective EtreCheck The goal is to identify: Which files or directories consume the most space Whether disk usage is abnormally concentrated in specific areas Avoid relying on “one-click cleanup” tools. Solution 3: Check for Residual Data from Old User Accounts If the device previously: Had multiple user accounts Removed accounts without deleting their home folders Then old home directories may still exist and be counted as System Data. Solution 4: Rebuild the System Environment Completely (Last Resort) When System Data usage becomes severely unmanageable and no clear source can be identified, the only definitive solution is: Fully back up all current data Erase the disk and reinstall macOS During setup: Migrate only the user account Do not migrate system settings, applications, or Library data This approach completely removes legacy data structure issues. VII. Long-Term Prevention Tips (for Keynote and Content Creators) Archive older Keynote projects to an external drive or NAS Avoid storing large volumes of presentation files locally for long periods Keep the Time Machine backup destination consistently available Avoid third-party tools that perform automated “system-level cleaning” Periodically monitor disk usage with analysis tools VIII. Conclusion Abnormally large macOS System Data usage is rarely caused by a single cache or log issue. Instead, it is typically the result of Time Machine local snapshots, application package resources, and inherited historical data structures working together. Only by understanding what System Data actually contains—and addressing the root causes—can disk space issues be resolved effectively and long-term.