MacOS 14 Sonoma: 41 features and tricks to get the most out of your Mac

By admin On Oct 1, 2023

Spread the love

We bring you a compilation of 41 functions and tricks for Mac , specifically for macOS 14 Sonoma users. This way, if you are faced with a Mac for the first time with the latest version to date of Apple’s desktop operating system, you will be able to get the most out of it.

And as we always say in these articles, these are our proposals, but perhaps we have left out a trick that you know. If this is the case, we invite you to share it with everyone in the comments section .

The lower Dock of macOS, that bar where there are shortcuts to applications, is one of the distinctive elements of the operating system. And being such a present element, it is important to be able to configure and edit it to suit you . The first thing is that by dragging any application to the Dock you can add it, you can also drag them to change their location, and right click on one, go to Options and you can delete it.

If you hover your mouse over one of the Dock dividers you will see an arrow, and by holding down on it you can make it bigger and smaller. If you right-click on the Dock, you will see options to minimize it when you are not using it or to change its position on the screen , possibly being on one of the lower edges.

Explore all Dock settings

If you right click on the Dock, you can click on the Dock Settings option . This will take you to the Desktop and Dock section of the macOS settings, and inside, in the Dock section you will have all the controls to customize it . I recommend that you take some time to leave it to your liking.

Here, you can quickly adjust its size and magnification effect when you hover the mouse pointer over an application. You can also configure the minimized effect, the position on the screen, animations, hiding and everything you need to customize its behavior.

Remove recent apps from the Dock

In the Dock, by default you will have the applications that you have pinned and open, and also the most recent and other recommended ones. If you want to prevent recommended and recent apps that you don’t have open or pinned from appearing, there is a way to do it.

To do this, go to the Dock settings, in the Desktop and Dock section of your Mac settings. Here, simply disable the Show recent and suggested apps in the Dock option . Now you can save space in the dock without any hassle.

Create an app from a website

One of the new features of macOS 14 Sonoma is that in Safari you can create an application from a website , the so-called webapps. This means that you will create an application icon for a website, and that it will open in a separate window, but in the end it will still be a website.

To do this, go to the website you want with Safari, and in the menu bar click on File . When the menu is displayed, click on the Add to Dock option , and by doing so you will create a webapp.

Use Safari profiles

In the latest version of macOS, in Safari you will be able to create different profiles , so that you can have several separate contexts with their own bookmarks, cookies, extensions, history and tabs

To create them, when using this browser, click on the Safari button in the menu bar, and you will see the Create profile option . Then, you will only have to alternate them according to how you want to use them.

You have your own password manager

MacOS has its own password manager , which actually works through iCloud syncing so you can use the same passwords on both your iPhone and Mac. By default, this is the pre-activated manager in macOS, and Safari will ask you to save the passwords. passwords there. If you use Chrome, you will have a password extension in iCloud so you can use them there.

Passwords have their own section within the settings, where you can activate the iCloud keychain to synchronize them. In addition to this, they also have support for two-step verification , being able to generate the second key in the services where you have it linked.

You can share your passwords

In addition to this, in macOS 14 you also have the option to share passwords with family members and trusted people. To configure it, go to the Passwords section , and when you click on the add item button, choose the New shared group option .

You can create the shared groups you need. You can give each one a name, and you can also add the users you want to each group . Come on, it doesn’t have to be your entire family, for example, but simply some members of them if you wanted.

Don’t you like the new autocorrect?

In macOS you now have a new automatic spell checker that automatically corrects what it detects as spelling mistakes. But sometimes this concealer can get in the way and be more annoying than helpful, and if you’re feeling this way you can turn it off.

To deactivate it, you have to enter the macOS settings, and enter the Keyboard section . Inside here, go to Spelling , where you will find the toggle to turn off the Automatically correct spelling option .

Add widgets to the notification center

If you click on the date in the macOS menu bar , which is the one that appears at the top, you will open the notification center. There, you can see the latest notifications received, but you can also add widgets so that when you open it you can see certain information.

To do this, open the notification center, and at the bottom click on the Edit widgets button . This will take you to a screen where you will be able to add or remove the widgets you want.

Add widgets to the desktop

In macOS 14 Sonoma you can also add widgets to the macOS desktop. To do this, simply right-click on the desktop and press the Edit Widgets option from the context menu. This will take you to the screen where you can choose the ones you want to add.

Set active corners

In macOS you can configure active corners, which are shortcuts so that simply moving the mouse to one of the four corners of the screen performs an action. For example, you can open the application launcher, minimize the screen where you are, etc.

To configure them, enter the macOS settings, and click on the Desktop and Dock section in the left column. Then, go all the way down in this section and click on the Active Corners option . This will open a screen where you can choose what each of the corners does.

Put order in the Launchpad

Whether by pressing F4, by shortcuts on your keyboard or by your application within the Dock, the Launchpad is the window that opens and where you see all the installed apps. Therefore, it is advisable to put a little order in this window, and organize the applications as you want.

Sorting applications is easy, you just have to drag them with the mouse. Also, just like on mobile, you can put an app icon on top of another to create a folder where there are several applications.

Don’t forget Spotlight

Command + Space . If you are new to Mac, you should know that this is the magic shortcut to launch Spotlight. It is a search engine in which you can write the name of a file or application , and it will show it to you so you can open it. He also does online searches.

Within the Siri and Spotlight settings you will be able to deselect the result categories in case you do not want any of them to be shown autocompleting the word you have typed.

Change where Spotlight appears

There is a little-known little trick, and that is that you can change the position where Spotlight appears each time you invoke it. This way, you can relocate it to another part of the screen where you think you will see it better.

The only thing you have to do is open Spotlight, and in the search bar that appears, before writing anything, click on the magnifying glass icon and drag it with the mouse. You will see that the entire Spotlight bar moves and you can place it wherever you want.

You can also do conversions and calculations

You can also do unit conversions in Spotlight , whether they are measurements or currency. You just have to write something like “6 euros in dollars.” In addition, it can also act as a calculator, and in both cases you can copy the results to paste them into another application or document.

Design the look of your interface

In macOS you will be able to configure some of the colors of the operating system interface. To begin with, if you go to the Appearance section within the operating system settings you can choose between light and dark mode , or you can also make it change automatically depending on whether it is day or night.

You will also be able to choose the highlight control that appears when you click on an option, in addition to other options such as showing the scroll bars or the size of the sidebar icons.

Wallpapers and screensavers

As in any operating system, you will also be able to choose wallpapers and screensavers . In fact, they are two options that appear as sections within the settings.

When you enter each of these two options, you will be able to see macOS suggestions with the wallpaper or screensaver themes they offer. In both you can choose to show them in all Spaces , which are the virtual desktops. Additionally, in the case of backgrounds you will also be able to use your own photos.

Manage your desktops

In macOS you can configure multiple desktops, so that you can have different contexts with different applications open on each of them. To control the desktops, press Shift + F3 to go to Mission control, where you will see all the windows for each desktop, and at the top you can add a new one.

Here are some tips for your desks. By right-clicking on one of the Dock icons you can make this application open exclusively on a specific desktop. Additionally, each desktop can have its own wallpaper , so you can better separate contexts. You can also switch between desktops by pressing Control + left or right arrow.

Prevent an app from starting automatically

Sometimes when you install an app it can be configured to start automatically when you turn on your computer. It seems convenient, but too many apps doing this can slow down your Mac. However, you can manage which apps start automatically when you start macOS to prevent this.

For this you have to go to the settings and click on General . Inside here, click on the Startup Items option . You will see a list of the applications that have requested this permission, and you can deactivate or activate it in as many as you want.

Close the apps you have open

Okay, this might be a no-brainer for long-time Mac users. But new macOS users might have a hard time telling whether an app is open or minimized.

Basically, the ones with a dot below the icon in the Dock are minimized. To close them, right-click on them and choose the Exit option , or press Command + Q when you have one open to close it.

Switch between applications

A very useful keyboard shortcut is to press the Command + Alt keys on your keyboard at the same time . When you do this, the apps you have open will be previewed, and by pressing this shortcut you will be able to go from one to another. This will allow you to switch between your open apps very easily.

Go to the beginning or end of a website

This is a useful shortcut, if you combine the Command key with up or down arrow , you will go to the beginning or end of a web page in the browser you are using. It’s a quick way to go back up when you’re in the middle of reading or down if you want to look at the end.

Navigate between Finder folders

Finder is macOS’s file explorer. With it, you can enter folders in your operating system. If you want to navigate through them more easily without clicking, you combine the Command key with an up or down arrow .

Upwards you will return to the previous folder, and downwards you will open the selected folder. If you press Enter, remember that you will not enter the folder, but rather you will edit its name. If you want to delete a file without the delete dialog , press Option + Command + Delete .

Add files to your Finder favorites

In the left column of the Finder you have a favorites section, which are shortcuts to important folders. Just by dragging any folder to the Finder favorites you will anchor it there along with the others that appear.

The preview is your friend

This is my favorite feature since switching to Mac. If you’re in File Explorer and selecting a file, you press Space , it will open the file without having to use any applications. You can open documents, photos and videos. Not all formats, but most.

This function is called Preview , and when you move with the arrow keys on the Finder documents, you will also move from one to another in the preview without having to do anything else.

Sign PDF documents without printing them

The preview also has light editing options, which combined with the PDF viewer means you can sign PDF documents without having to print them. Simply open a document and click on the edit button that appears with the pen tip icon. Among the options that open there will be one to make signatures.

Manage notifications

Something very important when you are configuring macOS to your liking is managing the operating system’s notifications , to prevent the applications that interest you least from bothering you with them, and to decide what is shown and when.

For this, in the settings you have a Notifications section . In it, you will first be able to determine if these are displayed when the Mac is at rest, with the screen locked, or when you share the screen. Then, below you have a list of your installed apps , and in it you can configure which applications show notifications, what types they show, and in what way.

Use concentration modes

Focus modes are a system with which you can create different types of contextual settings. For example, one setting for when you are working, another for when it is night, etc. In each of them you can configure schedules, notifications and all the elements you want.

To configure these modes, go into settings and click on the Concentration section . Here you will see several predefined modes and you can configure them or create a new one. In each mode you can choose which people use it, the apps allowed, and add all kinds of filters.

Master screenshots

MacOS has great versatility when it comes to screenshots. You can take one of everything, one in which only the open window or application appears, or select a specific strip. All the screenshot shortcuts are in our guide to screenshots on Mac .

Change the format of screenshots

Although it is a somewhat unknown trick, you can change the format in which macOS screenshots are saved, so that instead of png it uses jpg, for example. For that, you have to open the terminal and type the following command:

defaults write com.apple.screencapture type jpg;killall SystemUIServer

This command is to convert the screenshots to jpg from now on. You can also choose where you want to save the screenshots by launching the screenshot application by pressing Shift + Command + 5 . When you do, click on the Options button , and by doing so you can choose the Other location option within the menu.

Limit the time you use each app

If you don’t want to fall into temptation and want to limit the use of some apps , you will be able to do so to establish how long you can use some of them. To configure it, go to the Usage Time section of macOS settings.

Within the Screen Time options , click on App Usage Limits . Here you can activate the option and click on Add limit . With this, you can choose an app and set the time limit you want.

Benefit from text replacement

macOS text replacement allows you to replace this text with another text when you type something specific. Think about its uses when writing long things that you write often. For example, you can create a shortcut so that when you type something like m4il macOS automatically replaces it with your email address.

To do this, go into the settings and click on the Keyboard section . In it, where it says Text Introduction, click on the Text Substitutions button . Here you can add all the substitutions you want, writing the word to replace and what you want to replace it with.

Animations with reactions in video conferences

There is a small curiosity hidden in macOS 14 Sonoma, and that is that if you make some gestures during video conferences , animations with reactions will appear in your windows. For example, a thumbs up or down, greetings, etc.

In addition to this, if during the video conference you click on the camera icon at the top of the menu bar, a window will open where you will be able to manually choose the reaction you want to use.

Scan documents with iPhone on Mac

If you have an iPhone on the same WiFi as your Mac and using the same iCloud account, you can use it as a wireless scanner . All you have to do is right-click on your Mac desktop, choose the Import from iPhone option , and within it choose Scan document .

There is a shortcut to write emojis

If you are a person who really likes emojis, you should know that there is a shortcut to show you a panel with them , and that just by clicking on the ones you want, they will be added to the text you are writing.

The only thing you have to do is press the Control + Command + Space keys at the same time . This will open the emoji window and you just have to click on the one you want. This window has a search engine so you can find the specific thing you want to write.

Change folder icons

If there is a special folder in the Finder that you want to change the icon, you can do it relatively easily, as long as you use PNG and JPG images for it. To do so, right-click on one and choose the Get Information option from the context menu.

When you do this, a small window will open with the folder information. In it, at the top right you will see the folder icon in small size, and if you drag an image to that icon , this will become the image that you use in the folder. Be careful with this, because you can make it look like a folder is an image or another type of document.

Show hidden files in Finder

There is a very curious keyboard shortcut. If you press Command + Shift + . (dot) , all hidden Finder files will automatically be shown. If you click on this shortcut again, the files will be hidden again.

Change the metadata of a photo or video

With the macOS Photos app, if you select a photo and click on the information button you can open a window with its metadata. Data such as the date and time where the photo was taken, or the geographical location where it was taken. You can modify these data , or at least those related to time and location.

Simply go to the info window for a photo or video in your gallery in the Photos app. In this window, double click on the date . A new window will open with this information and location expanded, and you can make modifications there.

Control your plays in the menu bar

When you click on the menu bar, if you enter the Control Center where shortcuts appear such as activating WiFi, Bluetooth or AirDrop, you will also see where music is playing on your computer. And if you click there, a box with playback controls will open. For example, to control Spotify playback.

Quickly hide a window

Do you have an application or window open on your Mac that you want to quickly hide? Press the Command + H keys and that’s it, the active window will be minimized instantly. Then, tap the app icon in the Dock to reopen it.

Unlock the screen with your Apple Watch

One of Apple’s advantages is that in its ecosystem all devices connect to each other. And this gives rise to interactions such as being able to unlock your Mac with the Apple Watch , and thus not needing to use any type of password. It is also used to unlock applications that require you to verify your identity.

If you have an Apple Watch and a Mac, and both are using the same iCloud account, in the macOS settings go to the Sign-in password section . In it, you can activate the Apple Watch option to use it to unlock your Mac and applications.