8 Super Helpful MacBook Pro Tips and Tricks for New Users

Macbook Pro Tips

Did you just purchase your first Macbook?

If so, congratulations! Macbooks are great devices, and once you get a handle on, you’ll realize how useful and life-changing they can be.

But, as great as Macbooks are, they do come with a learning curve.

What do you need to know about your new Macbook?

Check out this guide to discover the top Macbook Pro tips and tricks for beginners.

1. Quick Look

Quick Look is one of the most important features of a Macbook. And, once you get used to using this feature, you hardly have to open any files as it allows you to see the content of a file without fully opening it.

To get a Quick Look, all you have to do is select the file you want to see and tap the spacebar once. For example, let’s say you want a quick glance at a PDF file. All you have to do is select the PDF and then quickly hit the spacebar to scan the content of the file without opening it.

However, keep in mind that Quick Look does come with some limitations. The type of preview you get depends on the type of file you’re opening. If it’s an image file or a document, you’ll be able to see the entire content of the file without opening it.

But, if it’s an eBook or a folder, you’ll only be able to see superficial information from the file.

2. Access Emoji Keyboard

If you’re a big fan of emojis, then you’ll love this Macbook pro tip for beginners.

To access emojis on your Macbook, all you need to do is hit Cmd+Ctrl+Space, and the emoji keyboard will open. From here, you can scroll down to figure out which emoji you want. You can also perform a word search to find the one you want so you don’t have to keep scrolling.

3. Move Files With Cut and Paste

If you previously owned a Windows computer, then you know how frustrating it can be to when you’re not able to cut and paste right from your keyboard.

Luckily, with a Macbook, cutting and pasting couldn’t be easier. All you have to do is copy the file using the Cmd+C action on your keyboard. Then, open the location where you’d like to paste the file and hit Cmd+Opt+V.

And voila! You’ll have your file copied and pasted.

4. Force Quit Apps

One of the biggest benefits of a Macbook is that you rarely have to deal with an app being unresponsive. However, it does happen on a rare occasion.

When this does happen, you’ll need to know how to force quit the app. They keyboard combo that you need to hit to force quit is Cmd+Opt+Esc. Once you hit this combo, the “force quit application” box opens in a floating window.

Then, you just need to select the app that’s giving you problems and then click the force quit button.

5. Making Use of Spotlight

Over the years, Spotlight has evolved quite a bit, and it is no longer just a search mechanism for your Macbook. Now, you can perform many functions using the Spotlight app.

For example, you can use Spotlight to carry out unit and currency conversions. You can also use it to perform simple mathematical calculations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Additionally, you can use Spotlight to search weather information for any city in the world. All you have to do is type the word weather followed by the name of the city into the search bar, and you’ll get the current weather condition.

You can also use Spotlight as a mini dictionary. All you have to do is type in a word and hit Cmd+L, and you’ll get a definition for that word.

6. Trash Files Quickly and Easily

Trashing files on a Macbook is very simple as long as you know what you’re doing.

While you can always delete an item on your Macbook by dragging it to the Trash or right-clicking and selecting “move to trash,” there’s also a keyboard shortcut you can make use of.

To trash a file quickly, all you have to do is hit ⌘+Delete, and the item will be moved to the trash. If you want to skip trashing a file and permanently delete it instead, you can hit ⌘+⌥+Delete. Remember, however, that this means that you’ll never be able to recover the file if you do this.

7. Let Siri Help You out

Even if you’re new to the world of Macbooks and Apple, you’ve probably heard of Siri. Siri is a virtual assistant that replies to questions and even can perform some tasks for you.

While Siri originally debuted on the iPhone, you can now find her on iPads, Macbooks, and other Apple devices. To access Siri, all you have to do is click on the icon on the top right-hand corner of your screen (the one that is a bit purple and blue and kind of looks like a lightning bolt).

Once Siri launches, you can start making requests such as, “Make the screen brighter,” or “Show my downloads folder.”

Once you get the hang of Siri, you’ll really be able to get a lot more done.

8. Capturing Screenshots

Capturing screenshots is one of those things that does not come intuitively to new Macbook users. To capture a screenshot on your Mac, here’s what you need to do:

To capture your entire screen, press Command+Shift+3
To capture just a portion of your screen, press Command+Shift+4, then once the crosshair appears, tap and drag it over the area you wish to screenshot

Typically, the images you capture will be stored on your desktop. You can also use a snipping tool for Mac, and the image will then be pasted there.