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Discover These 6 Hidden MacBook Features

Discover These 6 Hidden MacBook Features

Apple’s MacBook has been popular due to its seamless and minimalistic interface over the years. Consumers have shown an increased preference towards the device as the macOS has not changed much despite multiple updates. However, Apple has been adding several handy features to the OS. At times, many of these functions are overlooked by users. So, here are a few hidden MacBook features that could save a few clicks and make one’s workflow more productive.

1. Us e the emoji keyboard
Just like on smartphones, the Mac also has an emoji keyboard. Whether one owns a Mac Pro or has built a workstation with a Mac Mini, the emoji keyboard can be activated in both. However, it is more complex than just pressing a button on the keyboard. Launching the emoji keyboard involves using a series of buttons and combinations. All that one has to do is simply memorize the combinations, which is easy if one uses emojis all the time. When the user wants to use an emoji in a conversation, email, or document, they can easily access it by pressing the Control, Command, and Space Bar keys together. This will prompt the emoji picker to appear on the screen, along with a search bar.

2. Rename multiple files
Renaming files can be a tedious task, especially when there are multiple files to be renamed. Doing it one file at a time is not only time-consuming but also confusing. However, with a few clicks on the MacBook, this task can be done within a few minutes. It’s a simple and straightforward process. Simply open up the folder with all the files that have to be renamed. Then, select all the files. Click on the first file, hold down the shift key, and select all the files until the last one. Once the files are selected, right-click on any one of them and choose the “Rename files” option. Now, enter the new names of the files in the field provided. If it is required to change another setting, use the drop-down menu before clicking on “Rename.”

3. W ork in Split View
For those who like to multitask, switching between different apps can be a hassle. One may end up messing up in the process. Fortunately, there’s a features called Split View that can save time and improve productivity. The feature is available on all MacBooks, including the 14-inch Mac, 16-inch Mac, and 15-inch MacBook Air. Using this feature, the user can have two apps running side-by-side on a single screen without manually resizing the windows.

To enable Split View:

  • Simply place the two apps (on which work has to be done) on opposite sides of the MacBook screen.
  • Click on the green bubble on the top left corner of either app’s window. This will open a drop-down menu with two options: Tile Window to the Left of Screen and Tile Window to the Right of Screen.
  • Select the desired option for that app, and it will move to that selected side of the screen.

A similar action has to be taken on the other app and move it to the other side of the screen. Simply press ESC to exit the Split View, once work is done.

4. Automatic changing wallpaper
MacBooks allows users to set up dynamic desktop images instead of having just one static wallpaper on the screen. To have an always-changing wallpaper, open the system Preferences menu. Then, click on the Desktop & Screen Saver option and select the Apple drop-down menu. Just choose from any of the three dynamic desktop photos among the lot. Once this is done, the wallpaper changes according to the time of the day displayed on the screen. For instance, if the island photo is selected, the wallpaper will show sunrise, sunset, and night sky over the island based on the time.

5. Activate dark mode
Apple first introduced the Dark Mode feature in their MacBook even before it was made available on the iPhone and iPad. Now, this feature is available in all Mac products, including workstations built with Mac Mini (with M2 Pro), Mac Pro (with M2 Ultra), or Mac Studio (with M2 Ultra and M2 Max). When turned on, all the apps that support Dark Mode will display a black screen instead of the usual white. This feature is especially useful when working at night as it reduces eye strain.

To enable Dark Mode on the MacBook, open the System Preferences menu and select the General options. Within the Settings pane, one will find three options: Auto, Light, and Dark. Selecting Light or Dark will switch Dark Mode on and off, while Auto mode will automatically adjust the display to Dark Mode depending on the time of day.

6. Customize folder icons
MacOS offers a built-in color coding system to organize folders on the device. Users can change the default blue folder icons to any color or image to make them stand out. To begin with, select an image of one’s choice for the new folder icon and copy-paste it to the Clipboard. Then, open the icon in the Preview app. One can then adjust the color by clicking on the Tool bar and select Adjust color from the menu. Copy and paste the edited icon onto the folder info window.

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