Mac User Guide

Welcome
- MacBook Neo
- MacBook Air
- MacBook Pro
- MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display
- iMac
- Mac mini
- Mac Studio
What’s new in macOS 27
- Desktop, menu bar, and Dock
- Quickly change settings with Control Center
- Find what you need with Spotlight
- Get notifications
- Organize your files in the Finder
- Adjust brightness and volume
- Keyboard and trackpad
- Browse the web
- Preview a file
- Take a screenshot
- Print documents
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Download apps
- Apps on your Mac
- Open apps
- Work with app windows
- Tile app windows
- Use apps in full screen
- Use apps in Split View
- Use Stage Manager
- Get apps from the App Store
- Install and reinstall apps from the App Store
- Install and uninstall other apps
- Create and work with documents
- Open documents
- Mark up files
- Combine files into a PDF
- Organize files on your desktop
- Organize files with folders
- Tag files and folders
- Back up files
- Restore files
- Change System Settings
- Choose your desktop picture
- Add and customize widgets
- Use a screen saver
- Add a user or group
- Add your email and other accounts
- Automate tasks with Shortcuts
- Create Memoji
- Change your login picture
- Change the system language
- Get started with Siri AI
- Turn on and activate Siri
- Customize Siri
- Create original images with Image Playground
- Create your own emoji with Genmoji
- Use Writing Tools to write, improve, and summarize content
- Turn on ChatGPT
- Summarize notifications and reduce interruptions
- Apple Intelligence and privacy
- Turn off and restrict access to Apple Intelligence features
- Intro to Continuity
- Use AirDrop to send items to nearby devices
- Hand off tasks between devices
- Control your iPhone from your Mac
- Copy and paste between devices
- Stream video and audio with AirPlay
- Make and receive calls and text messages on your Mac
- Use your iPhone internet connection with your Mac
- Share your Wi-Fi password with another device
- Use iPhone as a webcam
- Insert sketches, photos, and scans from iPhone or iPad
- Unlock your Mac with Apple Watch
- Use your iPad as a second display
- Use one keyboard and mouse to control Mac and iPad
- Sync music, books, and more between devices
- Get started with Screen Time
- Set up Screen Time for yourself
- Track app and device usage
- Set schedules and Time Allowances with Screen Time
- Block features or content with Screen Time
- Manage Apple Account settings
- Set your Apple Account picture
- What is iCloud?
- What is iCloud+?
- Store files in iCloud Drive
- Share and collaborate on files and folders
- Manage iCloud storage
- Use iCloud Photos
- Play music
- Watch and listen together with SharePlay
- Listen to podcasts
- Watch TV shows and movies
- Read and listen to books
- Read the news
- Write in your journal
- Track stocks and the market
- Play games on your Mac
- Set up Family Sharing
- Get Family Sharing recommendations
- Add family members to a Family Sharing group
- Remove family members from a Family Sharing group
- Share a Photo Library
- Collaborate on projects
- Find content shared with you
- Find your family and friends
- Connect an external display
- Use the camera
- Connect a wireless accessory
- Add and manage printers
- Connect AirPods to your Mac
- Optimize your Mac battery life
- Optimize storage space
- Burn CDs and DVDs
- Control accessories in your home
- Get started
- Shut down or restart your Mac
- Start up your Mac in safe mode
- Keep your Mac up to date
- Reinstall macOS
- Erase your Mac
- Control what you share
- Set up your Mac to be secure
- Allow apps to see the location of your Mac
- Use private browsing
- Keep your data safe
- Understand passwords
- Change weak or compromised passwords
- Protect email privacy in Mail
- Use Sign in with Apple for apps and websites
- Find a missing device
Resources for your Mac
Resources for your Apple devices
Copyright and trademarks

Use Control Center on Mac

Control Center on Mac gives you quick access to key macOS settings—such as AirDrop, Wi-Fi, or Focus. You can customize Control Center to add other items, such as accessibility shortcuts, battery status, or fast user switching. You can also drag items to the menu bar.

Privacy indicators, which can be dots or arrows, are located to the right of Control Center. An orange dot next to the Control Center icon in the menu bar indicates the microphone on your Mac is in use; a green dot indicates a camera is in use; a purple dot indicates the system audio is being recorded; and an arrow indicates your location is in use. Only one privacy indicator dot is shown at a time. For example, if both the microphone and a camera are in use, you see only a green dot.

When you open Control Center, the top of the window may contain a field that shows which apps are using your microphone, location, camera, or system audio. You can click that field to open the Privacy window, which may have additional information.

Control Center in the top-right portion of the screen, showing controls for Wi-Fi, Focus, Sound, and Now Playing, among others.

Use Control Center

On your Mac, click in the menu bar.
Do any of the following with items in Control Center:
- Drag a slider to increase or decrease a setting—for example, drag the Sound slider to adjust the volume on your Mac.
- Click an icon to turn a feature on or off—for example, click AirDrop or Bluetooth^® to turn it on or off.
- Click an item (or its arrow ) to show more options—for example, click Focus to show your Focus list and turn a Focus on or off, or click Screen Mirroring to choose a target display.

Tip: If you often use an item, you can put a copy on the menu bar to keep it handy. Control-click the item, then choose Copy to Menu Bar or Add to Menu Bar.

Customize Control Center

On your Mac, click in the menu bar, then click Edit Controls.
Do any of the following:
- Add an item: Drag the item from the window to a position in Control Center.
- Remove an item: Drag the item out of Control Center.
- Rearrange items: Drag items to a different position in Control Center.
- Filter items: Click a category in the sidebar to narrow your choice of items.
- Resize items: Control-click an item in Control Center, then choose a different size.
Click Done.

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