macOS Big Sur in easy steps: Covers version 11

by Nick Vandome

Overview

macOS Big Sur in easy steps is perfect for those wanting to quickly get a grasp of the latest Mac operating system. This concise guide will help you get up and running in no time, and then takes you through the key features to help you use their Mac to do more. It includes:

Multi-Touch navigation options for getting around in macOS.

Working with and managing apps.

Productivity tools on a Mac.

Getting online with Safari, Mail and FaceTime.

Enjoying a digital lifestyle with photos, music, TV shows, books, games, podcasts, and more.

The invaluable iCloud function for backing up, sharing and continuing from different devices.

Using Siri, Dynamic Desktop and Dark Mode to make things even easier.

Keeping your Mac working smoothly.

And more.

Get more out of your Mac, Mac mini, Mac Pro or MacBook with minimum time and effort!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781840789164
Publisher:	In Easy Steps Limited
Publication date:	03/09/2021
Series:	In Easy Steps
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Nick Vandome is an IT writer and trainer who specializes in digital imaging and Web authoring subjects. In addition to writing, he also designs websites and runs training courses. Before he started working with computers he wrote books about working and travelling abroad. An established In Easy Steps author with several successful guides to his credit, he lives in the UK.

Table of Contents

1 Introducing macOS Big Sur 7

About macOS Big Sur 8

Installing macOS Big Sur 9

The macOS Environment 10

About Your Mac 12

About System Preferences 16

Search Options 17

Using Siri 19

Searching with Siri 20

Dark Mode 22

Dynamic Desktop 23

Accessibility 24

The Spoken Word 25

Shutting Down 26

2 Getting Up and Running 27

Introducing the Dock 28

Apps on the Dock 29

Setting Dock Preferences 30

Using Stacks 32

Dock Menus 34

Working with Dock Items 35

Trash 37

Using System Preferences 38

Control Center 40

Notifications and Widgets 42

Using iCloud 46

About Family Sharing 50

Using Family Sharing 51

Continuity 54

Handoff 55

Desktop Items 56

Ejecting Items 57

Resuming 58

3 Finder 59

Working with the Finder 60

Finder Folders 61

Finder Views 63

Gallery View 66

Quick Look 67

Finder Toolbar 68

Finder Sidebar 69

Working with Folders 70

Selecting Items 71

Copying and Moving Items 72

Finder Search 73

Finder Tabs 74

Tagging in the Finder 76

Actions Button 78

Sharing from the Finder 79

Menus 80

4 Navigating in macOS 81

The macOS Way of Navigating 82

macOS Scroll Bars 83

Split View 84

Trackpad Gestures 86

Magic Mouse Gestures 90

Multi-Touch Preferences 91

Mission Control 93

Spaces 94

5 macOS Apps 95

Launchpad 96

Full-screen Apps 98

macOS Apps 100

Accessing the App Store 101

Downloading Apps 102

Finding Apps 104

Managing Your Apps 106

6 Getting Productive 107

Contacts (Address Book) 108

Calendar 110

Taking Notes 112

Setting Reminders 114

News 116

Voice Memos 117

Getting Around with Maps 118

Preview 122

Printing 123

macOS Utilities 124

Creating PDF Documents 126

7 Internet and Communication 127

About Safari 128

Start Page 129

Safari Sidebar 132

Safari Tabbed Browsing 133

Adding Bookmarks 134

Website Settings 135

Mail 136

Using Mail 137

Messaging 138

FaceTime 142

8 Digital Lifestyle 143

Using the Photos App 144

Viewing Photos 145

Editing Photos 148

Starting with the Music App 150

Using Apple Music 152

Apple TV 153

Podcasts 154

Reading with Books 155

9 Sharing macOS 157

Adding Users 158

Deleting Users 160

Fast User Switching 161

Screen Time 162

10 Networking 165

Networking Overview 166

Network Settings 168

File Sharing 169

Connecting to a Network 170

11 Maintaining macOS 173

Time Machine 174

Disk Utility 178

System Information 179

Activity Monitor 180

Updating Software 181

Gatekeeper 182

Privacy 183

Problems with Apps 184

General Troubleshooting 185

Index 187