You might be a graphic designer, in the creative industries, or just love the aesthetics and functionality of Apple products? Yet, no matter the reason for your purchase it’s essential that you know how to get the most from your Mac. The good news is you can read all about how to do this in the post below.
How to sign in and set up iCloud
The first thing that all Mac owners and users need to know is how to make use of the amazing functionality that Apple offers. Of course, this means being able to save or access a range of media and files across all your devices.
To be able to do this you need to have an iCloud account and be signed in. Happily, if you don’t already have one you can easily set up an iCloud account by following the steps below:
- Go to the left, top corner of your screen.
- Click the Apple Logo
- Navigate To System Preferences
- You will see an Apple ID logo in the right-hand top corner of the box
- Click it and follow the prompts to Start using iCloud
- You will then be prompted to enter your password and Apple ID.
- Do this and click Next.
- Then choose the apps you wish to use via Icloud by clicking the checkbox next to them in the prompt and that is you now have an iCloud account and be signed in!
How to optimise your Storage
Storage matters when it comes to your Mac as if you have too many old files it can slow things down. Happily, Mac has made provision for this and you can optimise the storage on your device in the following manner.
- Find the Apple Logo in the left-hand corner of your screen.
- Navigate to About this Mac
- Then find the Storage tab in the System Information window and click on it.
- Select Manage
- Then select optimise
Additionally, you can also make the most of your storage by using additional storage like a memory stick or a hard drive.
How to protect your Mac from Viruses and Malware
Apple is well aware of the importance of security and has included very robust precautions within its operating systems. However, it is also true that cybercriminals are becoming more advanced and creating new threats all the time. With that in mind knowing how to protect your Mac, and rid it of any nasties like Malware or Viruses is essential.
First of all, this means finding some suitable Mac compatible antivirus software. Yes, I know that many people believe that you simply don’t need it for Apple devices. Yet, while security is good on OS, it is not as robust as on IOS and this means it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
To rid your Mac of any nasties that have got through, using a tool such as CleanMyMac X is the best approach. This is because it can help you locate any viruses or other nasties, and then help you clean them from your system. Thereby making your Mac both more secure and faster too.
To ensure your Mac runs as fast as possible
While we are on the subject of speed, don’t forget that there are other things you can do to ensure yours runs quicker. In particular, ridding it of any demanding processes, as these then use up the CPU and slow things down.
Of course, before you can get rid of them you will have to locate them. A process you can complete by accessing the
- Activity Monitor in Utilities.
- Once open the Activity Monitor will display all processes running on your CPU.
- Filter the Activity Monitor results by User Name to avoid deleting any necessary processes. Then sort by Usage to find the ones that are using up your CPU’s capacity.
- Any over 6% that you do not need should go, and your Mac will run far faster for it!
How to prep your Mac for resale
As an expensive piece of kit, it’s quite likely that you will want to claim back some of the cost of your Mac when you choose to upgrade. The best way of doing this is to sell it on the second-hand market. Although before you hand it over to its new owner there are some tasks you will want to complete. Both to ensure your own security and to make it as appealing to a buyer as possible.
First of all, you will want to mirage your data to your new machine. Fortunately, you can read all about how to do that below. Then, once your data is securely migrated, for security purposes it is vital that you delete all of your data on your old machine by restoring it to factory settings. Be sure to sign out of any online accounts to include Apple ones like iCloud, and the Applestore.
Last of all, be sure to give the monitor, keyboard, and mouse a good go-over with a microfibre cloth to make sure your old Mac looks as presentable as possible for its new owner.
How to migrate your files
Finally, the last task that every Mac owner and user needs to be able to do is migrate their files. However, before you begin the migration there is some work to do first. This includes:
- Naming your old Mac
- Updating your software
- Connecting both machines to power outlets
Once all of that is done you can begin the migration in earnest
On your new Mac:
- Find the Migration Assistant In the Utilities folder.
- Select the correct transfer option: Startup disk, Mac, or Time Machine
On your old Mac:
- Find the Migration Assistant In the Utilities folder.
- Select the to transfer to another Mac option
On your new Mac:
- When asked to select a Mac, choose other Mac option
- Review the security code to make sure it’s the same as your old Mac.
- Highlight the info you wish to migrate.
- Let the Migration Assistant do its work
- Check your new Mac holds the files you need.