Seven Useful macOS Tips You Might Not Know

Friday August 3, 2018 1:51 PM PDT by Juli Clover
There are many hidden features in both macOS and iOS that often go under the radar, either because they haven't received a lot of attention from Apple in marketing materials or they've been forgotten after a period of time.

In our latest video over on YouTube, we've done a second video in our macOS tips series, offering up some useful tricks and shortcuts you might not know about.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.


  1. Custom Keyboard Commands - You can create custom keyboard commands for specific applications or for all of your apps by going to System Preferences --> Keyboard --> Shortcuts and choosing App Shortcuts. From here, click on the "+" button to add a new keyboard shortcut and a title for it. In our example in the video, we've replaced standard paste with paste and match style, which strips out formatting for copy pasted content. With this replacement, when we use the Command + V keys to paste, it uses paste and match style instead of regular paste.


  2. Spotlight Calculator - Rather than opening up the calculator app, you can use Spotlight to do quick and easy calculations. Just type Command + Space to open up spotlight and type in the simple math problem you need to solve.


  3. Using Keychain Access to Find WiFi Passwords - If you've forgotten the password to a WiFi network, you can use Keychain Access to figure out what it is. Open up the Keychain Access app and then choose "System" to see all of the saved passwords for WiFi networks you've connected to. Select one, click on "Show Password," enter your account credentials, and the info will be shown in plain text. You can access all of your saved logins and passwords in Keychain Access if needed.


  4. Hide the Menu Bar - A lot of people have their docks hidden for more available screen space when the dock isn't in use, and you can do the same thing with the menu bar at the top of your Mac. Go to System Preferences --> General and then check the "Automatically hide and show the menu bar."


  5. Touch Bar Escape Keyboard Command - If you hate the non-physical escape key on Apple's Touch Bar MacBook Pros, there's a keyboard command alternative that's supported by most apps. Use Command + Period in lieu of the escape key to do things like exit out of full screen windows.


  6. Make Minute Volume and Brightness Adjustments - If you hold down Option + Shift while you use your volume or brightness keys, you can adjust the brightness or volume in smaller increments.


  7. Use Command + Tilde to Switch Between Windows - If you have multiple windows of the same application open, you can shift between them quickly using Command + Tilde. So, for example, if you have a ton of Safari windows open, this keyboard command will let you sort through them quickly.
For more of our how tos and guides, make sure to check out our How To and Guide roundup sections on the site. For more Mac specific tips, keep an eye on our macOS High Sierra roundup and our macOS Mojave roundup, where we highlight macOS tips and tricks in addition to everything you need to know about the two operating systems.

Have some awesome lesser-known tips and tricks for macOS that more people should be aware of? Let us know in the comments and we may include them in a future video.
68 comments


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donglewhine
2 weeks ago
Here goes one I find extremely useful: when you highlight a file in Spotlight (and many other apps too), use cmd+R to locate it, i.e. open the containing folder.
Also, keeping cmd pressed (this one in Spotlight only) reveals a status bar down below displaying the path to the file.
Rating: 13 Votes
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Lopezzi
2 weeks ago
I believe it's Option-Shift for the incremental volume and brightness, not just shift by itself. Shift by itself does seem to mute the feedback with the volume buttons though.
Rating: 6 Votes
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lec0rsaire
2 weeks ago
I just really love macOS. I get that most people believe an OS should just be something that stays out of the way while you use programs. However, for me macOS is the main attraction. It is just so beautiful and always a pleasure to use. I used to think Leopard and Snow Leopard were the pinnacle but the truth is it has never been as good as it is today. All of the new features introduced since Yosemite would be hard to live without today. I haven’t installed the Mojave beta but I’m sure I’m going to like it more than Sierra/High Sierra.

While it is really intuitive and looks simple, it is also incredibly complex as well in a good way. Lots of customization is available for those that want it. It is loaded with tons of features and little things that even long time users probably aren’t aware of although I’m not talking about these examples in particular.
Rating: 5 Votes
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HiRez
2 weeks ago
Great tips as usual! I’ve been using Macs every day for over 30 years but I always get something out of these I didn’t know.
Rating: 3 Votes
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Sdtrent
2 weeks ago
Actually, number 6 does work with the Touch Bar. Do shift + option and then swipe/flick on the volume button on the Touch Bar to get it to go up and down in increments.
Rating: 2 Votes
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alvindarkness
2 weeks ago

Here goes one I find extremely useful: when you highlight a file in Spotlight (and many other apps too), use cmd+R to locate it, i.e. open the containing folder.
Also, keeping cmd pressed (this one in Spotlight only) reveals a status bar down below displaying the path to the file.


Thank you so much, wish I knew this a long time ago. I used to do the extra unnecessary step of doing searches in finder instead of spotlight just to find locations :(

Also #7 (command + tilde) in the original article is a brilliant tidbit I never knew, and will find mega useful going forward. Great article.
Rating: 2 Votes
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MacBH928
2 weeks ago

Here goes one I find extremely useful: when you highlight a file in Spotlight (and many other apps too), use cmd+R to locate it, i.e. open the containing folder.
Also, keeping cmd pressed (this one in Spotlight only) reveals a status bar down below displaying the path to the file.


thank you!!
Rating: 2 Votes
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jclo
2 weeks ago

#4 – whoa, since when is the Mac's menu bar called the status bar? (And the option refers to hiding and showing the "menu bar," not the "menu bar app.")


You're right, I should have called it the menu bar. I've updated. Thank you :)

I've also fixed the bit that said option shift didn't work with Touch Bars, it does! I'm not sure what I was doing wrong earlier, but so long as the Touch Bar is expanded, it works when you tap the volume keys. Thank you guys for the feedback, I really appreciate it.
Rating: 2 Votes
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ignatius345
2 weeks ago

If you hold down Option + Shift while you use your volume or brightness keys, you can adjust the brightness or volume in smaller increments.


If you hold just Option when hitting any of the volume keys (up/down/mute), it will open the Sound preferences.

Same goes for

- brightness (opens Displays)
- Mission Control (opens Mission Control preferences)
- keyboard brightness (opens Keyboard preferences)

Option-pressing media playback keys and the Launchpad keys seems to do nothing.
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I knew about this for macOS, but is there a similar volume incrementer for iOS? I always have to make minute volume adjustments by using the Digital Crown on my Apple Watch.


Long-standing iOS irritation: there are only 16 levels of volume when using the volume buttons! It's pretty easy to get "caught" between two when adjusting the volume to your preferred level. This carries through with connected Bluetooth speakers and headphones with volume controls.

Why not at least 32 levels or even 64? If there's a concern about volume changes being too slow, play with the acceleration so it changes faster as you hold it. Not exactly UI rocket science.

Feels like a very basic shortcoming in a device that gets used frequently used for audio playback.
Rating: 2 Votes
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Gameboy70
2 weeks ago

Make Minute Volume and Brightness Adjustments - If you hold down Option + Shift while you use your volume or brightness keys, you can adjust the brightness or volume in smaller increments. This is for Macs with physical volume and brightness keys only - it won't work on the Touch Bar.

I knew about this for macOS, but is there a similar volume incrementer for iOS? I always have to make minute volume adjustments by using the Digital Crown on my Apple Watch.
Rating: 2 Votes
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