Getting your hands on a new Mac is exciting. But before you start downloading software and browsing the internet, there are things you should do. This guide will show you nine things you should do with a new Mac.
Move over your data
When you buy a new Mac, you will probably need to move data over from your old laptop or PC. This should be easy with an external hard drive or SSD. Alternatively, you can save your files to iCloud and access them that way. However you do it, you should populate your Mac with all the important files you need.
Connect to iCloud
The next step is to connect to iCloud. If you don’t have an iCloud account already, it’s worth setting one up. You automatically get 5GB of data storage free, so you can make a backup of your most important files. Then, if you need more data, you can pay on a monthly subscription.
Use the Help menu
For any problems you have during the setup, you can check out the help menu. This is situated in the top bar of your new Mac, and it’s full of useful information. In addition to the normal FAQs, it can tell you about the new features on your Mac. This is great if you’re moving over from an old model.
Get familiar with the Menu
The Mac menu (also known as Launchpad) holds all of the pre-installed programs on your Mac. This is a good time to browse through them and see what you will use most frequently. Then, you can customize the Dock at the bottom of the screen. It’s best to keep your most-used apps here for quick access.
Visit the Mac App Store
Next, head over to the Mac App Store and start browsing through the apps you can install on your new Mac. There are thousands of free and paid apps to choose from, so it’s worth having a look, even if you don’t need anything specific.
Set up your email
The Mail app will appear in the Dock at the bottom of your screen automatically. Click on it and set up your email address. To do this, you need to press ‘Add Account’, then select an account type and enter your account information.
Learn keyboard shortcuts
If you’re used to Windows, getting to know the Apple keyboard shortcuts might take a while. However, most of them are pretty similar. The most commonly used are:
- Command-X: Cut the selected item and copy it to the clipboard.
- Command-C: Copy the selected item to the clipboard.
- Command-V: Paste the contents of the clipboard into the current document or app. Command-Z: Undo the previous command.
- Command-A: Select all items.
Start browsing
Now you’re ready to start browsing and enjoying the power of your new Mac. Whether you’re watching videos on YouTube or looking for Euro info, your new Mac can handle it.
Back up regularly
When using your new Mac, you need to make sure that you back it up regularly. You can use an external hard drive or iCloud to do this automatically. Doing this will ensure that your data is secure, even if your Mac suffers physical damage. Also, consider getting insurance – there’s nothing worse than a broken Mac.