Your Mac Can Do More Than You Think
macOS is packed with powerful features that many users never discover. From keyboard shortcuts to hidden system settings, these tips will help you work faster and smarter on your Mac.
Quick Look Everything
Select any file in Finder and press Space to preview it instantly — no need to open an app. Quick Look works with images, PDFs, videos, Office documents, and even code files. Press Option+Space for a full-screen preview.
Hot Corners
Assign actions to the four corners of your screen. Move your cursor to a corner to trigger Mission Control, show the desktop, lock your screen, or start a screen saver. Set them up in System Settings → Desktop & Dock → Hot Corners.
Built-in Screenshot Tools
Key Shortcuts
- Cmd+Shift+3 — Capture entire screen
- Cmd+Shift+4 — Select area to capture
- Cmd+Shift+4 then Space — Capture a specific window
- Cmd+Shift+5 — Open screenshot toolbar with recording options
Text Replacement
Create text shortcuts that expand into full phrases. Go to System Settings → Keyboard → Text Replacements. For example, type “@@” and have it expand to your full email address, or “addr” for your mailing address.
Spotlight Advanced Search
Spotlight can do math, convert currencies, define words, and search within specific apps. Type “kind:pdf budget” to find PDFs containing “budget,” or “date:today” to find files modified today.
Conclusion
These features are built right into macOS — no additional software needed. Spend a few minutes setting up Hot Corners and text replacements, and you’ll save hours of time over the coming weeks.
