Mind-blowing Mac Productivity Tips & Tricks that You Probably Haven’t Heard Of

The latest version of macOS, macOS Monterey, was unveiled by Apple at WWDC21. Apple also held a special event on September 14 to talk about iPhone 13 and reveal exciting features of the next major update on the Mac lineup. Surely, Monterey will add convenient and amazing new features to your Mac, such as the ability to drag files and folders back and forth between Mac and other Apple devices using Mac’s keyboard and mouse or the ability to copy text from any picture. You can even test the features before the official release of macOS 12 by downloading and installing the public beta version. However, before you get excited about mastering new features, it is time to step back and appreciate all that your Mac can do for you right now to make you more productive.

Don’t know where to start? Here’s a guide to teach you all the Mac productivity hacks that you need to do.

#1.Sign documents with your Mac

Even in this era of PDFs and emails, people are still required to print out a document, sign it, scan it and send it back in. Thanks to Mac, you don’t have to go through so much hassle. You can use Preview to sign your documents. All you need to do is open the document you need to sign in Preview > click on the pencil icon at the top > click on the signature logo. Then, use your iPhone to create and save our signature. You can add this to your document.

Alternately, you can drag and drop the file into the email you want to send and hover the mouse cursor at the top-right corner to reveal a button. Then, click it to reveal an option for signing documents. You can either sign by scribbling on the trackpad or hold a signed paper up to your Mac’s webcam to have your signature captured.

#2.Take screenshots using keyboard shortcuts

There’s no need to worry about enabling or turning on screenshots on your Mac because the feature is always on by default. You can take screenshots using a series of keyboard shortcuts, starting with Command + Shift and then a number. For instance, Command + Shift + 3 takes a screenshot of the entire screen, while Command + Shift + 4 lets you drag a crosshair across the specific area you want to capture.

The best screenshot keyboard shortcut is Command + Shift + 5, as it brings up a small toolbar with options as to what you want to capture. You can even start recording your Mac’s screen and select the location where the screenshot will be saved. If the screenshot feature is not working on Mac, you can check out how to troubleshoot here  https://setapp.com/how-to/screenshot-on-mac-not-working

#3.Enable dark mode on your Mac

Enabling dark mode ensures that there is minimal eye strain when you are working on your Mac for hours. When you turn on the dark mode, all applications that support the feature will turn from bright and light colors to nearly black.

To enable dark mode, go to System Preferences > click General, and at the top of the Settings pane, find three options: Auto, Light, or Dark. You can turn on Dark mode or choose Auto, which will automatically switch between dark and light depending on the time of day.

#4.Rename multiple files quickly

Do you have to rename a group of files? There’s no need to waste time by individually naming them. You can open the folder with all the files > select all of them by clicking on the first file, holding down shift, and clicking on the last file. Then, right-click on the highlighted files and select Rename X files. Fill in all the information by using the drop-down menus to adjust the settings and click Rename when you are done.

#5.Turn your iPad into an additional display

Apple Sidecar enables users to use the iPad as an external display for their Macs. It is a wireless connection and takes only a second to turn on. However, you would need iPadOS 13 or later installed to use this feature, and your Mac will need macOS Catalina or newer.

To use your iPad as an additional display, place it near your Mac > go to Control Center > click Display and select your iPad on your Mac to turn on Sidecar. Alternately, you can open System Preferences > click Sidecar settings.

Your iPad will either act as an extended desktop or mirror your Mac’s display. If you plan to connect your iPad to your Mac for a long time, it would be better to use a cable.

Wrapping up

These Mac productivity hacks should make your work smoother, easier and quicker, and even give you a richer Mac experience.