Mac OS X Tips and Tricks

Mac OS X Tips and Tricks: Get the most out of your Mac Operating System. Simple Solutions for Apple product owners! Practical advice for enhancing, customizing, and getting the most out of your Mac OS experience. For all skill levels.

How to Create a Text File on Mac OS

Make a new text file on a Mac OS X

How to Create a Text File on Mac OS: When you want to create a text file on Mac, the process works a little differently than on Windows. On Windows, you can simply right-click and select "New > Text Document" from the context menu, but on Mac, this option isn't available by default. Although this may seem a bit unfamiliar, creating a new text file on Mac is quite simple once you get the hang of it.

Make Bootable macOS USB Installer or Backup DVD

Burn Lion IMG to a DVD

Make a Bootable macOS USB Installer: Whether you’re running a modern macOS or a vintage version like Lion OS X, having a backup copy of your installer is a smart move. A backup ensures that you can reinstall macOS if something goes wrong, set up another Mac without redownloading the installer, or preserve an older version for compatibility reasons. In this guide, I’ll show you how to create modern macOS bootable USB installer backups and, for historical reference, how to create a Lion OS X backup DVD.

Reverse Mouse Scroll Mac OS X - Change Direction

Set Mouse Scrolling Direction Lion

Reverse mouse scroll Mac OS: By default the Apple Mac OS X Operating System reverses the standard mouse wheel scrolling direction. This change was made with the release of the Mac OS X Lion Version 10.7, to allow a more natural mouse scrolling method (similar to push scrolling or scrolling in the same direction as you would when finger scrolling touch screens).

Easily Rename a File or Folder on Mac OS X

Mac OS Rename File Folder

What is the easiest way to rename a file or folder on Mac OS X? In the following simple solution, I show you how to easily rename a file or folder from within your Mac OS X Operating Environment. If you are relatively new to your MacBook, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro, renaming files or folders is an issue you are likely to encounter early on with your new machine.

Print Screen on a MacBook Keyboard in Windows

print screen on a MacBook Keyboard in Windows

Print Screen on a MacBook Keyboard in Windows; Want to take a screenshot while running Windows on a MacBook? If you are used to a traditional Windows keyboard, you may be confused when you realize there is no physical PrintScreen (PrtScn) key on a Mac keyboard.

When Windows is installed on a MacBook using Boot Camp or a similar setup, Apple maps the Print Screen function to a different key combination. Once you know the shortcut, taking screenshots works just like it does on a regular Windows PC.

How to Open a docx file

Want to open a docx file without Microsoft Word? Whether you are on a Mac, Windows PC, Chromebook, or Linux system, you no longer need to install software or rely on discontinued tools. Today, .docx files can be opened easily using built in apps or browser based editors.

This guide explains the easiest and safest ways to open .docx files with no downloads required.

Switching Between Graphics Cards on a MacBook Pro

select logout to change graphics settings

Switching Between Graphics Cards on a MacBook Pro: Some older MacBook Pro models include dual graphics cards: a lower power nVidia 9400M for battery efficiency and a higher performance nVidia 9600M GT for demanding graphics tasks. By default, macOS favors the 9400M to conserve battery life, but you can manually switch to the 9600M GT when maximum performance is needed.

This guide walks through the exact steps to switch graphics cards on supported MacBook Pro models.

How to Check Macbook Warranty Status

mac warranty results

How to Check if Your Mac is Still Under Warranty: If you want to check your MacBook warranty status, this simple guide will show you how to quickly find out how much time remains on your Mac's factory warranty. This is especially useful if you have recently purchased, or are planning to purchase, a used Apple MacBook or MacBook Pro product.

Can't Empty Trash on a Mac

empty trash error

Help! I can't delete a file from the Trash bin on my Mac. When I try to 'Empty Trash' I get an error message saying 'The operation cannot be completed because the file is locked'. Believe it or not, this is a fairly common problem and one which almost every Mac user will encounter at some point in time. In the following simple solution, I show you how to once and for all, delete the file from your system.

How to Install Software on a Mac

Installing Software on a Mac

Installing software on a Mac is actually easier than on Windows or Linux, though it can be a little confusing if you’re new to macOS. The process is simple and usually involves just three steps:

How to Print Screen on Mac

Print Screen on a Mac

In the following simple solution, I will show you How to Print Screen on Mac OS X operating environment. Although the process is relatively simple and elementary, when your first being introduced to a Mac and do not know where to start, even the rudimentary tasks can quickly become daunting. If your a beginning Mac user, you should find the following introduction to taking screenshots with a Mac or screenshot capturing with a Mac, useful.

How to Copy and Paste with a Mac

copy and paste with a mac

How do I Copy and Paste with a Mac? As simple as it might seem, this is one of the most common questions asked by new Apple users. Whether you're just getting started with a MacBook Air, Pro, or iMac, the process of copying, cutting, and pasting on a Mac can feel a bit unfamiliar, especially if you're switching from Windows.

Easily Install Windows on a MacBook Pro

efi boot camp boot menu

Easily Install Windows on a Mac: In the following simple solution, I cover the process of installing Windows on a Macbook Pro. For many people, migrating from a Windows PC to a Mac is a tough transition. You can become quickly overwhelmed when trying to learn how to navigate and use the Mac OS X Leopard operating system. In many cases, a user will need to find equivalent software in order to establish the creature comforts they were accustomed to with Windows.

SOLVED: Unrecognized Partition Table for Drive 80

vista boot error

In the following simple solution, I show you how to fix the Unrecognized Partition Table for Drive 80 boot error that may occur while attempting to boot Windows from your MacBook Pro. The error may read or appear as follows: "Unrecognized Partition Table for Drive 80. Please rebuild it using a Microsoft-compatible FDISK tool. Can't boot from NTLDR from drive 0x80. NTLDR is missing.