Common Mac problems, fixed in plain English.
550 of the 2,400+ checked fixes inside PinSet. In the app, you just type the problem.
7 fixes free · Works offline · macOS 26 and 27
Most asked
- Limit your MacBook's charging to 80% to protect the battery
- Turn Optimized Battery Charging on or off
- Launchpad is gone: how to see all your apps now
- macOS update is stuck or very slow to install
- Change your Mac's desktop wallpaper
- Do you need antivirus on a Mac?
- Turn off Apple Intelligence on macOS 27, where there's no single switch
- Ctrl+Alt+Delete on a Mac: how to force quit a frozen app
- How to right-click on a Mac trackpad or mouse
- How to take a screenshot on a Mac (there's no Print Screen key)
- Copy and paste on a Mac (it's Command, not Ctrl)
Apps
Where to find Control Panel on a Mac: it's System SettingsSystem Settings holds all of the Mac's settings.Where's the Start menu on a MacOn a Mac, Spotlight and the Dock open apps; the Apple menu has sleep, restart and shut down.How to refresh a web page on a Mac (the F5 equivalent)Command-R reloads the page in any browser on a Mac.Where to find crash reports and system logs on a MacThe Console app shows system logs and app crash reports.Open Terminal, the Mac's command lineTerminal is an app in the Utilities folder; it's the Mac's command line.Mail won't send or receive email on your MacThe account's password or server settings changed, or Mail lost its connection to the account after an update.Make Chrome, Firefox or Safari your Mac's default browserLinks open in whichever app is chosen as the default web browser.Find the app that's slowing down your Mac with Activity MonitorOne app or process may be using most of the processor or memory.Messages not working on your MacThe Mac is offline, the date and time are wrong, iMessage has an outage, or text forwarding from your iPhone isn't set up.Safari won't open a page or load websitesA Safari extension, saved website data, a VPN or a proxy is getting in the way.Safari is slow, freezes or keeps crashingAn extension, a bad website's saved data or an out-of-date macOS usually makes Safari slow or crash.Get rid of spam events and junk calendars on your MacYou were subscribed to a spam calendar, often by clicking a link on a website.FaceTime won't connect or isn't available on your MacFaceTime needs to be signed in with your Apple Account, online, and allowed to use the camera and microphone.Make Mail check for new emails automaticallyMail can be set to check for new mail only when you click Get Mail.Make email text bigger in the Mail appMail uses its own font and size for reading and writing messages.Share my screen with someone from MessagesMessages can start screen sharing with someone you're chatting with; an audio call starts and Screen Sharing opens.Force quit an app that's frozen or won't quitThe app has stopped responding to normal quit commands.See who manages your Mac and what that meansA work, school or seller's device management profile is installed and can control settings.Stop the spinning beach ball on your MacThe app is busy or stuck, or the Mac is short of memory.Fix blurry photos in the Photos app on your MacWith Optimize Mac Storage, full-size originals stay in iCloud and download only when needed.Choose the app that opens PDF files on your MacThe default app for .pdf files is set to another program.A Mac app bounces in the Dock, then closes or never opensThe app is damaged, outdated or blocked, or its settings are corrupted.Draw on pictures and sketch on your Mac with built-in appsThere's no Paint, but Preview can draw and add text on pictures, and Freeform is a free drawing canvas.Make one kind of file always open in the app you wantEach file type has a default app that you can change in Get Info.Safari asks before every download on a site, or blocks itSafari can ask, block or allow downloads per website.Fix a Photos library that won't open with Repair LibraryThe Photos library has a problem that the built-in repair tool can fix.Turn a Safari extension or ad blocker back onExtensions are switched on and off in Safari's settings.See your iPhone notes in Notes on your MacThe Notes app shows your iPhone notes when iCloud Notes is on for both devices with the same Apple Account.Get a reminder before every meeting in Calendar on your MacNew events only get an alert if a default alert time is set.Change the hours Calendar shows in Day and Week viewDay and Week view show a fixed range of hours.Turn off Mail categories and get one plain inbox backMail sorts new messages into Primary, Transactions, Updates and Promotions.Word, Excel and PowerPoint on a Mac: use Pages, Numbers and KeynoteMacs come with Apple's free Pages, Numbers and Keynote, which open and save Word, Excel and PowerPoint files; Microsoft Office is a separate download.Turn on Inspect Element and the Develop menu in SafariSafari hides its web developer tools until you turn them on.Sign a PDF on your Mac with Preview, no printer neededPreview, the built-in PDF app, can add your signature.
Finder and files
Where is File Explorer on a Mac? Open FinderFinder is where you browse files, folders and drives.The Recycle Bin on a Mac is called the TrashDeleted files go to the Trash, at the right end of the Dock.Show file extensions like .pdf and .docx on your MacFinder hides the ending of file names unless you ask it to show them.Cut and paste files on a Mac to move themFinder has no Cut for files; you copy, then choose to move when you paste.Show hidden files and folders in FinderFiles starting with a dot and some system folders are hidden by default.Get Home, Documents and other folders back in the Finder sidebarSidebar items such as Home, Documents or Applications are switched off.Give a folder, file or drive your own picture as its iconAny file or folder can use a picture as its icon from its Info window.Use or remove Finder tags, the coloured dots on filesFinder tags are colored labels you add to files and show in the sidebar.Safely remove a USB drive or SD card from your MacEjecting first makes sure everything has finished writing to the drive.Open a zip file on your Mac, or make oneMac opens zip files with a double-click and makes them from the Control-click (shortcut) menu.Fix "You don't have permission" for a file or folder on your MacThe file belongs to another user or its permissions are read-only.Empty the Trash on your Mac and get the space backFiles stay in the Trash, using space, until you empty it.Finder is frozen or not respondingFinder got stuck, often on a network or full disk.Your Mac won't eject a disk because it's in useAn app or Finder window still has files open on the disk.Find your downloads on a MacBrowsers save files to the Downloads folder unless you changed it.Find a file you saved but can't find on your MacSpotlight searches the whole Mac by file name and contents.Make a new folder on your MacNew folders use Shift-Command-N on a Mac.Rename files and folders in FinderIn Finder the Return key starts renaming.Where's my C: drive? Find Macintosh HD on your MacMacs don't use drive letters; your main drive is called Macintosh HD.Preview files with Quick Look on your MacQuick Look previews a file when you select it and press the space bar.Get back a file you deleted on your MacDeleted files wait in the Trash until it is emptied.See a file's size, dates and location on your MacThe Mac's Properties window is called Get Info.Unlock a locked file on your Mac so you can edit or delete itThe file's Locked checkbox is ticked.Put a shortcut to a file, folder or app on your Mac desktopMac shortcuts to files and folders are called aliases.Where your apps live on a Mac: the Applications folderMac apps live in the Applications folder, each as a single icon.Find your Documents folder on a MacThe Mac's My Documents is the Documents folder in your home folder.Make your Mac empty the Trash on its own after 30 daysTrash items stay until you empty them unless an option is on.Pin your favourite folders to the Finder sidebarThe Favorites section of the Finder sidebar works like Quick Access.Show the folder path at the bottom of every Finder windowThe path bar is off by default.Create a new text file in any folder on your MacFinder has no New Text Document option; you make the file in an app and save it.Show Macintosh HD and your drives in the Finder sidebarFinder hides some locations (hard disks, external disks, cloud storage) in the sidebar.
Accessibility
Your Mac is talking: how to turn off VoiceOverVoiceOver, the built-in screen reader, is on.Make your Mac's mouse pointer bigger and easier to seeThe pointer is at its default size.Turn off transparency so Mac menus and windows look solidTahoe's Liquid Glass style makes windows, the Dock, and menus translucent.Make text bigger in Finder, Mail and other Mac appsSystem text is at its default size.Get the colors back when your Mac screen is grey or tintedA color filter such as Grayscale is turned on.Turn down the animations that make you dizzy on your MacAnimations such as space switching and window zooms can cause motion sickness or feel slow.Turn off inverted colours on your Mac's screenInvert colors is turned on, perhaps by an accessibility shortcut.Ease motion sickness on your MacBook with Vehicle Motion CuesVehicle Motion Cues shows moving dots at the screen edges to ease motion sickness on newer Mac laptops.Your Mac screen is zoomed in and won't go backThe Zoom accessibility feature is on and has been triggered by a keyboard shortcut or scrolling with a modifier key.Turn off Sticky Keys and stop it coming backPressing Shift five times turns on Sticky Keys, which holds modifier keys until the next key.Zoom in on your Mac screen with the keyboardZoom is an accessibility feature that is off until you enable it.Turn VoiceOver on or off on your MacVoiceOver is the Mac's built-in screen reader.Liquid Glass hard to read? Make menus and sidebars clearerLiquid Glass lets the background show through controls, lowering contrast.Change your Mac's pointer colour so it's easier to seeThe default black pointer with a white outline can blend into some backgrounds.Your Mac's pointer disappears on dark backgroundsThe black pointer has a thin white edge that's hard to see on dark wallpapers and dark mode.Make the menu bar and its icons bigger on your MacThe menu bar uses its standard size.Move the pointer with your keyboard, or turn Mouse Keys offMouse Keys lets the keyboard or number pad move the pointer.Stop GIFs and animated images from playing on their ownAnimated images play automatically unless you turn that off.Why your Mac dims video during flashing lights, and how to control it"Dim flashing lights" darkens content that shows flashes or strobes, on Apple silicon Macs.Stop the blinking text cursor on your MacThe text insertion point blinks by default.Have your Mac read any selected text aloudSpeak selection is off until you turn it on.Make your Mac's screen easier to see with Increase contrastTahoe's see-through design lowers contrast between controls and the background.Show icons next to window titles on your MacWindow title icons are hidden unless you turn them on.Your Mac's pointer gets huge when you shake the mouse"Shake mouse pointer to locate" briefly enlarges the pointer when you move quickly.Make your Mac flash the screen when an alert soundsThe Mac can flash the screen instead of or as well as playing an alert sound.Make Mouse Keys move the pointer at the right speedMouse Keys has its own speed settings.Use keyboard shortcuts one key at a time with Sticky KeysShortcuts like Command-C need two keys pressed together.Change your Mac's voice and how fast it talksSpeech uses the default system voice and rate.Stop folders opening when you drag files over themSpring-loading opens a folder when you hold a dragged item over it.Make toolbar buttons look like buttons on your MacModern toolbar buttons are plain icons until you hover over them.
iCloud and Apple Account
New iPhone photos aren't arriving on your MacSyncing pauses when the Mac is on battery or low-data, iCloud storage is full, or it simply needs time online.Find your lost or stolen MacIf Find My Mac was on, the Mac shows on a map in Find My.Contacts, Calendar, Notes or Reminders won't sync with iCloudThe app's iCloud switch is off, or this Mac is signed in to a different Apple Account.Your iPhone messages aren't showing up on your MacMessages in iCloud is off, or the Mac isn't signed in to iMessage with the same Apple Account.Turn iCloud Photos on or off on your MaciCloud Photos is controlled both in Apple Account > iCloud and in the Photos app settings.A used Mac asks for the previous owner's Apple AccountActivation Lock stays on while the owner's Find My Mac is on, so only that Apple Account can unlock it.iCloud storage is full: see what's using it and free up spacePhotos, backups, Drive files and mail share one iCloud allowance, which has filled up.Add your Gmail, Outlook or other email account to your MacEmail, contacts and calendar accounts from Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and others are added in Internet Accounts.iMessage or FaceTime says "Waiting for activation" or won't sign in on your MacThe Mac couldn't reach Apple's iMessage or FaceTime servers, often because of the network, the date and time, or the Apple Account sign-in.Stop sign-up spam by using Hide My Email on your MacHide My Email (with iCloud+) makes random addresses that forward to you and can be turned off.Turn on Advanced Data Protection so only your devices can read your iCloud dataAdvanced Data Protection end-to-end encrypts most iCloud data; only your devices hold the keys.Sync your Mac's Desktop and Documents to iCloud, or stop syncing themDesktop & Documents Folders keeps those two folders in iCloud Drive instead of only on this Mac.Let your family get your photos and files after you dieA Legacy Contact can request access to your iCloud data after your death.Get your Apple Account verification code when it doesn't arriveThe code goes to a trusted device or phone number; the device may be off, offline or not the one you expect.Set up a way back into your Apple Account before you need itA recovery contact or recovery key helps you get back in if you lose your password or devices.A file shows a cloud icon in Finder and won't openThe file is stored in iCloud and not downloaded to this Mac.I want a physical security key to protect my Apple AccountYour Apple Account can require a physical security key instead of a code when signing in on a new device.Turn iCloud Private Relay on or off, and manage Hide My EmailThese iCloud+ privacy features are switched in the iCloud pane and can interfere with some networks.Your Apple Account is locked or disabled: how to get back inApple locked the account after too many failed attempts or suspicious activity.You deleted photos on your Mac and they vanished from your iPhone tooWith iCloud Photos on, a deletion on one device deletes everywhere (recoverable for 30 days).Find and cancel subscriptions you pay Apple for on your MacSubscriptions bought through Apple are listed in your Apple Account.Your second-hand Mac asks for someone else's Apple AccountActivation Lock: the previous owner didn't remove the Mac from their Apple Account (Find My).Start, join or leave Family Sharing on your MacFamily Sharing is managed in its own Family section of System Settings.Keep full copies of your iCloud Drive files on your MacOptimize Mac Storage swaps older iCloud files for cloud-only placeholders when space is low.Change, downgrade or cancel your iCloud+ storage plan on a MacStorage plans are changed from the iCloud storage screen, not from Finder.Sign out of iCloud and your Apple Account on a MacSigning out removes this Mac from your Apple Account services.What iCloud is, and how to see what it does on your MaciCloud is Apple's online storage and sync: it keeps photos, files, passwords and contacts the same on your Apple devices, with 5 GB free (iCloud+ adds more).Stop a family member seeing your messages and contactsEveryone signed in with the same Apple Account shares Messages, Contacts, Photos and more.Sign in to iCloud with your Apple Account on a MaciCloud starts once you sign in with your Apple Account at the top of System Settings.Turn on two-factor authentication for your Apple AccountTwo-factor authentication is turned on in Sign-In & Security; most accounts already have it.
Login and security
Get Touch ID on your Mac recognising your finger againThe fingerprint may not be enrolled, the 'unlock' option is off, or the finger/sensor is wet or dirty.Do you need antivirus on a Mac?macOS has built-in malware protection (XProtect and Gatekeeper) that updates on its own.Make your Mac ask for a password after sleep or the screen saver'Require password after screen saver begins or display is turned off' is set to Never or a long delay.Use your Apple Watch to unlock your MacThe 'use Apple Watch to unlock' option is off, or the Watch and Mac aren't signed in to the same Apple Account with the Watch unlocked.Make your Mac log in automatically without a password'Automatically log in as' is off.Give your Mac longer before it locks or the screen turns offThe inactivity timers for the screen saver and display-off are short, so the password screen appears quickly.Your Mac rejects a login password you know is rightCaps Lock is on, or the login screen is using a different keyboard layout, so the letters come out wrong.Your Mac keeps asking for the login keychain passwordThe login keychain still uses an old password after the account password changed.Turn on FileVault to encrypt your Mac's diskFileVault encrypts the startup disk so data is unreadable without your password.Find your saved passwords on your MacSaved passwords and passkeys live in the Passwords app (and Keychain Access for older items).Lock your Mac in a second when you step awayYou want to lock without sleeping or shutting down.Add or remove a fingerprint for Touch ID on your MacFingerprints are enrolled one by one in Touch ID & Password.Your MacBook asks to allow a USB or Thunderbolt accessoryPrivacy & Security restricts new USB/Thunderbolt accessories when the Mac is locked or by default.Forgot your Mac password? Reset it the official wayThe login password was forgotten or typed wrong, so the Mac can't be unlocked.Stop typing your password all day: unlock your Mac with your fingerprintTouch ID can unlock the Mac, but it has to be set up and switched on.Why your Mac wants your password instead of Touch ID after a restartBy design, macOS asks for your password instead of Touch ID after a restart, every 48 hours, and after five wrong fingerprint tries.Change the password you use to log in to your MacYou know the old password and want a new one.Get your Mac to fill in saved passwords and passkeys againAutoFill for Passwords and Passkeys is off in Passwords settings.Why 'Automatically log in as' is greyed out on your MacAutomatic login is unavailable while FileVault is on, or when the Apple Account password is used to log in with some setups.Switch to another user on your Mac without logging outFast User Switching lets two accounts stay logged in at once.Turn Lockdown Mode on or off on your MacLockdown Mode is an extreme-protection setting that limits web features and attachments.Show name and password boxes instead of a list of users at login'Login window shows' controls whether users appear as pictures or you type name and password.Use VoiceOver, Zoom or Sticky Keys at the Mac login screenAccessibility features for the login window are set separately from your account.Make your Mac ask for a password when it starts upAutomatic login skips the login window when the Mac starts.What the keychain on your Mac is, and which password it wantsThe keychain stores your saved passwords and keys; the login keychain normally uses your Mac login password.What to do after a scammer had remote control of your MacScammers often switch on screen sharing or install remote-control apps that keep running.Show the Sleep, Restart and Shut Down buttons on your Mac's login screenThe login window buttons are controlled by a Lock Screen switch.
Wi-Fi and internet
Mac Wi-Fi keeps dropping out: how to stop itA weak signal, a crowded channel or a glitchy saved network can make the connection drop.Your Mac shows Wi-Fi connected but nothing loadsThe Mac joined the router but the router has no internet, or the DNS or IP settings are wrong.Clear your Mac's DNS cache so websites load freshThe Mac remembers an old DNS answer for a website.Your Mac says the Wi-Fi password is wrong, but it's rightThe saved password is outdated, or the router changed its security type.Find the password of a Wi-Fi network your Mac has savedmacOS stores Wi-Fi passwords for you but doesn't show them on the Wi-Fi pane.Connect your Mac to your iPhone's Personal HotspotThe iPhone's Personal Hotspot is off or not discoverable.Let an app find printers, speakers and devices on your networkmacOS asks apps for permission before they scan your local network, and it was denied.Get your Mac's Ethernet cable or adapter working againThe adapter isn't recognised, the cable is loose or the service has a bad IP setup.Connect your Mac to a Wi-Fi networkThe Mac joins Wi-Fi from the menu bar or Wi-Fi settings.Turn the firewall on or off on your MacThe built-in firewall is off by default and is switched in Network settings.Put your Mac in airplane mode by turning off Wi-Fi and BluetoothMacs don't have an Airplane Mode switch; you turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off yourself.Turn Wi-Fi back on on your MacThe Wi-Fi switch is off, so the Mac can't see any networks.Change your Mac's DNS serverThe router's default DNS server is slow or failing, so names don't resolve to addresses.Find your Mac's IP address and your router's addressYou need the Mac's local IP or the router's address.Quick Wi-Fi fix: turn Wi-Fi off and on againThe Wi-Fi connection got into a bad state; switching it off and on clears many glitches.Save data on a hotspot or metered Wi-Fi with Low Data ModeA hotspot or limited connection runs out when apps download in the background.Stop your Mac joining your iPhone hotspot when you're at homeThe Mac can join your Personal Hotspot automatically when Wi-Fi is weak.No Wi-Fi networks show up on your MacWi-Fi is off, the scan got stuck, or the router is out of range or on a hidden network.Change your Mac's name for AirDrop, Finder and the networkThe Mac's name is what other devices see in AirDrop, Finder and the network.Add a VPN to your Mac in Network settingsA VPN needs its server and login details saved in Network settings (or an app).Fix the Weak Security warning on your Mac's Wi-FiThe router uses old encryption (WEP or WPA/TKIP) that Apple flags as weak.Stop your Mac joining the wrong Wi-Fi networkSeveral saved networks are set to join automatically and the Mac picks the weaker one.Turn off Private Wi-Fi Address when a network won't let your Mac inPrivate Wi-Fi Address changes how your Mac identifies itself, which some work, school or router filters reject.iCloud Private Relay is blocking a website or network on your MacPrivate Relay hides your IP address and some networks or sites don't allow it.Stop the Wi-Fi join pop-ups on your MacAsk to join networks pops up whenever a nearby known-type network appears.An app asks to accept incoming network connections on your MacThe firewall is blocking incoming connections for that app.
Dock and desktop
The Mac taskbar is called the DockOn a Mac, open apps and your favourite apps sit in the Dock at the bottom of the screen.Your Mac's Dock has disappeared or keeps hidingAutomatic hiding of the Dock is turned on, so it only appears when the pointer touches the screen edge.Remove the delay before your hidden Dock appearsThe Dock has a built-in delay and animation time when auto-hide is on, and there is no slider for it in Settings.Launchpad is gone: how to see all your apps nowmacOS Tahoe replaced Launchpad with the Apps view in Spotlight.Change your Mac's desktop wallpaperWallpaper is set in the Wallpaper pane.Change or turn off your Mac's screen saverThe screen saver is controlled in the Screen Saver pane, and its start time is in Lock Screen settings.Hide desktop widgets on your Mac, or keep them in colourDesktop widgets are controlled by "Show Widgets" and widget style options.Set up or turn off Hot Corners on your MacHot Corners run an action when the pointer moves into a screen corner.Make your Mac's app icons look normal againAppearance has an "Icon & widget style" option (Default, Dark, Clear, Tinted) that changes app icons.Put a folder or file in your Mac's DockFolders and files live on the right side of the Dock, past the divider line (below it if the Dock is on the side).Tidy up and sort the icons on your Mac desktopDesktop icons were placed by hand, or Stacks are turned off.Make the Dock hide itself so you get more screen spaceThe Dock is set to stay visible all the time.Move your Dock to the left, right or bottom of the screenThe Dock position is set to Left or Right.Remove an app icon from your Mac's DockThe app is set to Keep in Dock.Keep an app in your Mac's DockThe app is not set to stay in the Dock after you quit it.Make your Mac's Dock smaller or biggerThe Dock size slider is set high or magnification is making icons large.Use the same wallpaper on every desktop Space, or a different one on eachWallpaper can be set per Space, and a setting controls whether it applies to all Spaces.Your Mac desktop icons disappeared: bring them back"Show Items: On Desktop" is off, or the files are in iCloud Desktop & Documents or in another Space.Put the Downloads folder in your Mac's DockThe Downloads folder only sits in the Dock if you add it.What the dots under your Dock icons mean, and how to hide them"Show indicators for open applications" controls the small dot under running apps.Turn Dock magnification off, or set how much it zoomsDock Magnification is turned on.Remove the recent and suggested apps from your Dock"Show suggested and recent apps in Dock" is turned on.Stop your Mac wallpaper getting darker or lighter during the dayA dynamic or automatic wallpaper follows the time of day or the Light/Dark appearance.Fix a Dock icon that shows a question markThe Dock shortcut points to an app that was moved or deleted.
Keyboard
Copy and paste on a Mac (it's Command, not Ctrl)Macs use the Command key where Windows uses Control.Delete the character to the right of the cursor on a MacThe Delete key on a Mac is a backspace; forward delete is a combination.Where to find Home, End, Page Up and Page Down on a MacMac keyboards have no dedicated keys; they use combinations.Ctrl shortcuts on a Mac use the Command keyMost Mac shortcuts use Command (⌘), not Control.What the Command (⌘) key does on a MacCommand (⌘) is the key for most shortcuts: Command-C copies, Command-V pastes.Undo on a Mac: the Ctrl+Z shortcut is Command-ZUndo uses the Command key on a Mac, not Control.Use F1, F2 and the other F keys without holding fnThe top row is set to special features (brightness, volume) by default.Stop your Mac changing words as you type"Correct spelling automatically" is on.Type emoji on your Mac with one shortcutThe Emoji & Symbols viewer is opened with a shortcut or the Globe key.Fix keys that type the wrong symbols on your MacThe selected input source (layout) doesn't match your physical keyboard.Get Dictation working again on your MacDictation is off, using the wrong microphone, or lacks Speech Recognition/microphone permission.Stop your Mac keyboard language switching on its ownMultiple input sources are installed, and "Automatically switch to a document's input source" or a shortcut changes them.Some keys on your Mac keyboard aren't working or type the wrong thingA key may be stuck with dust/debris, or a software glitch is present.The Alt key on a Mac is called Option (⌥)Option sits between Control and Command and gives keys and menus extra choices.Type with your voice on a Mac using DictationDictation turns your speech into text in any text box once it is turned on.How to type letters with accents on a Mac: é, ñ, üAccented letters come from press-and-hold or a keyboard layout with accents.Stop the emoji picker opening when you press Globe or fnThe Globe/fn key is set to Show Emoji & Symbols.Type the @ and # symbols on your MacOn US and Indian keyboards @ is Shift-2 and # is Shift-3; on British keyboards # is Option-3.What the fn / Globe (🌐) key does on your Macfn/Globe makes the top row act as F1–F12 while held, and on its own can switch input language, show emoji or start dictation.Switch between keyboard languages on your MacThe Mac switches typing languages (input sources) with a shortcut or the menu bar.Make your Mac's top row control brightness and volume againThe F-keys are set to act as standard function keys, so the media keys need fn.Make keys repeat faster when you hold them downKey repeat rate and Delay until repeat are set to slow values.Type a backslash, pipe, tilde or backtick on your MacOn a US layout \ and | share the key above Return, and ` and ~ share the key left of 1; other layouts put them elsewhere.Caps Lock won't turn on or off on your MacCaps Lock ignores very quick taps so it isn't turned on by accident.
iPhone and sharing
AirDrop doesn't show your iPhone or other MacAirDrop is set too tight, or Wi-Fi or Bluetooth is off, or the other device is locked or too far away.Copy on your iPhone and paste on your Mac with Universal ClipboardUniversal Clipboard needs Handoff, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on, with both devices on the same Apple Account.Make and answer iPhone calls on your Mac (or stop the Mac ringing)Your Mac only rings for iPhone calls when Calls from iPhone is turned on in FaceTime.Share your Mac's internet connection with other devicesInternet Sharing lets the Mac act as a router for other devices.Use your Mac as an AirPlay screen or speakerThe Mac only receives AirPlay if AirPlay Receiver is turned on.Use your iPad as a second screen with SidecarSidecar needs the Mac and iPad on the same Apple Account, near each other, with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Handoff on.Move photos and videos from your iPhone to your MacPhotos imports over a cable, or iCloud Photos and AirDrop move them wirelessly.Get your iPhone's green-bubble texts on your MacThe iPhone isn't forwarding standard SMS texts to this Mac.Get iPhone Mirroring working on your MaciPhone Mirroring needs the iPhone locked and near the Mac on the same Apple Account, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on.AirDrop a file from your Mac to an iPhone, iPad or another MacAirDrop sends files wirelessly to nearby Apple devices.Connect to a NAS or a shared folder on your networkNetwork folders must be mounted from Finder using their address.Download Apple updates once for every device at homeContent Caching lets this Mac keep a copy of Apple downloads for other devices on your network.Get Universal Control to reconnect by itselfAuto-reconnect and push-through-the-edge are separate switches in Advanced display settings.Where AirDrop files go on your Mac, and how to find themMost AirDropped files go to your Downloads folder; some items open in the app they came from.Share your Mac's keyboard and mouse with an iPad or another MacUniversal Control needs to be allowed on the Mac and the devices need to be near each other with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Handoff on.Apple Watch won't unlock your Mac: check Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and the watch switchApple Watch unlock needs Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both devices, a passcode on the watch and Two-Factor Authentication on.Can't connect to another Mac with Screen SharingThe other Mac has Screen Sharing off, is asleep, or your user isn't allowed.Keep your Mac private on café and hotel Wi-FiSharing services you turned on at home, like File Sharing or Screen Sharing, also run on other networks.Stop messages coming to your MacMessages on the Mac is signed in with your Apple Account, and iPhone can forward SMS to it.Copy music, photos and files to your iPhone with FinderFinder does what iTunes used to: select the iPhone in the sidebar to sync music, photos and files.Let another Mac see or control your screenScreen Sharing is off until you switch it on.Change your Mac's local network name (name.local)The local hostname is how other computers reach your Mac as name.local.Answer "Trust This Computer?" when you connect your iPhone to a MacAn iPhone or iPad asks before it lets a Mac see its photos and data over a cable.
Battery and power
Your MacBook battery drains too fastHeavy apps, background indexing after an update, bright screen or high-power settings drain the battery.Check your MacBook's battery health and cycle countBattery Health shows the condition and maximum capacity, and System Information shows cycle count.Limit your MacBook's charging to 80% to protect the batterymacOS 26.4 and later lets Apple silicon Macs cap the charge between 80% and 100%.Turn Optimized Battery Charging on or offOptimized Battery Charging pauses at about 80% to slow battery aging.Find the app that stops your Mac going to sleepAn app or process is holding a request that stops the Mac from sleeping.Your Mac wakes up on its ownA network request, scheduled task, Bluetooth device or app is waking it.Using a different or phone charger with your MacBookYes: any safe USB-C charger works, even a lower-wattage one, but a small one charges slowly or not at all while you work.Keep your Mac awake and stop it going to sleepThe Mac sleeps after a period of inactivity.MacBook is plugged in but the battery isn't chargingThe cable/adapter has a fault or too little power, the port is dirty, or charging is on hold by a battery setting.Your MacBook's battery menu says Charging On HoldOptimized Battery Charging or a Charge Limit has paused charging at your set level.Your MacBook battery says Service RecommendedThe battery has worn down enough that Apple recommends replacing it.MacBook battery drains while it's asleep or the lid is closedWith the lid closed, the Mac keeps waking up for a moment to check the network and mail, and each wake uses battery.Make your desktop Mac start up by itself after a power cutDesktop Macs stay off after a power cut unless you allow them to start by themselves.Find out which app is draining your MacBook's batteryOne or two apps or processes are using most of the energy.Stop your MacBook screen dimming when you unplug it"Slightly dim the display on battery" is on.Keep big downloads and uploads going when your Mac's screen turns offWhen the screen turns off, the Mac also goes to sleep and stops network work.Make your Mac start up and shut down at a set time each daySystem Settings has no schedule setting on any Mac; a repeating schedule is set with a Terminal command.Charge your MacBook to 100% now when it's holding at 80%Optimized Battery Charging waits at 80% until it thinks you need the Mac.Use High Power Mode for more performance on your MacSome MacBook Pro, Mac mini and Mac Studio models can trade more fan noise and power use for sustained performance.Stop your iMac, Mac mini or Mac Studio sleeping mid-jobDesktop Macs sleep after the display turns off unless told not to.Why your MacBook charges so slowly, and how to speed it upA low-wattage charger, a thin cable, or heavy use means power in is barely more than power used.Fix the "USB Devices Disabled" or "USB Accessories Disabled" alertA device plugged in by USB is asking for more power than the port can give, so macOS cuts power to protect the Mac.
Bluetooth
AirPods won't connect to your MacThe AirPods are connected elsewhere or their pairing is stale.Bluetooth headphones say connected but there's no soundThe Mac connected the device but is still sending sound to another output.Bluetooth device won't pair with your MacThe device isn't in pairing mode, is still paired elsewhere or has a stale pairing.See the battery level of your mouse, keyboard or AirPodsMac shows connected accessories' battery levels in the Bluetooth list.Stop your AirPods jumping from your Mac to your iPhoneAirPods switch automatically between Apple devices on the same Apple Account.AirPods or a Bluetooth headset sound bad when the mic is onBluetooth switches to a low-quality call mode when headphones' mic is active.Stop Bluetooth devices dropping off your MacInterference, distance or a stale pairing breaks the connection.Bluetooth won't turn on, or the switch is greyed outThe Bluetooth service is stuck or the Mac hasn't loaded the Bluetooth hardware.Connect a Bluetooth speaker or headphones to your MacBluetooth devices must be put in pairing mode first.Switch Bluetooth on or off on your MacBluetooth is controlled with a single switch.Connect a game controller to your Mac with BluetoothGame controllers pair like any other Bluetooth device once they're in pairing mode.Clean up old Bluetooth pairings on your MacOld pairings can clash with new ones.Bluetooth stopped working properly after a macOS updateAfter an update a saved pairing can glitch, so the device drops out or won't reconnect.Only one AirPod, or one side of your headphones, plays sound on your MacThe Balance slider is off-centre or the earbud is dirty or not charged.Connect a Bluetooth keyboard, mouse or trackpad to your MacBluetooth keyboards and mice pair from Bluetooth settings when they are in pairing mode.Stop your AirPods lowering your music when you start talkingConversation Awareness (on supported AirPods) lowers media when you start talking.Fix a laggy Bluetooth mouse or keyboard on your MacLow battery, interference or distance slows the device's signal.Pair your Magic Mouse, Keyboard or Trackpad using its cableApple's Magic accessories pair automatically when plugged in with the cable.Connect your AirPods to your Mac for the first timeAirPods must be in pairing mode before the Mac can see them.
Users and Screen Time
Safari says "You cannot browse this page because it is restricted"Screen Time's web content filter is blocking the site.Block websites, adult content or apps on your MacContent & Privacy restrictions control websites, apps, stores and settings.Make a user an administrator on your Mac, or take admin rights awayOnly administrator accounts can install most apps and change protected settings.Add another user account to your MacEach person who uses the Mac should have their own login.Turn the Guest User account on or off on your MacA Guest User lets someone borrow the Mac without seeing your files, and everything is deleted when they log out.Turn on Ask to Buy so your child needs your OK to buyWithout Ask to Buy, a child in your family can buy or download without asking you.Set a daily time limit for an app or website on your MacApp Limits stop or warn you after the chosen time per day.Stop the Mac being used at night with Screen Time DowntimeDowntime blocks apps outside the hours you choose, except the ones you allow.Set, change or reset your Mac's Screen Time passcodeThe passcode stops others from changing limits; it is separate from the Mac password.Turn on Screen Time to see how long you use your MacScreen Time only records usage after App & Website Activity is switched on.Why your Mac asks for an administrator's name and passwordYou're signed in with a standard account, so an administrator must approve.Change your account picture or full name on a MacYour account picture and full name are edited in Users & Groups.Let your young child use only a few websites you chooseScreen Time can allow only websites you list and block everything else.Rename your Mac user folder and account name safelyThe account name and home folder are set when the account is made and need care to change.Stop strangers messaging your child with Communication LimitsCommunication Limits control who a child can call and message, during allowed time and Downtime.Lend your Mac to a visitor with the Guest User accountThe Guest User account gives visitors a clean session that is wiped when they log out.Stop your child getting around Screen Time limitsWithout a Screen Time passcode, anyone using the account can change the limits.Share your App Store purchases with your familyPurchase Sharing lets family members use apps, books and films someone else in the family bought.Find your child's Screen Time settings in Family on macOS 27macOS 27 moved parental controls for children into a new Family pane; the child's devices need 27 too.
Sound
Find the sound settings on your MacOutput, input and volume are in Sound in System Settings; Audio MIDI Setup has the advanced device options.No sound from your Mac's speakersThe Mac is sending sound to the wrong output or the volume is muted.Your Mac is using the wrong microphoneAnother device (Bluetooth headset, monitor or iPhone) became the default input.Headphones plugged in but no sound on your MacThe Mac hasn't switched its output to the headphone jack or the plug isn't fully seated.Your Mac microphone is too quietThe Input volume is set low for that microphone.Choose which speaker or headphones play your Mac's soundmacOS chose a different output device (monitor, Bluetooth speaker, AirPlay) than the one you want.No sound from a monitor or TV connected by HDMI or DisplayPortThe monitor's speakers are not selected as the Mac's output.Change the volume of just one appmacOS has no built-in per-app volume mixer.Your Mac is too quiet even with the volume turned all the way upA low app volume, an unbalanced output or a quiet source limits loudness.Add the volume control to your Mac's menu barSound only shows in the menu bar when you turn it on in Menu Bar settings.Boost the bass or change the EQ for music on your MacmacOS has no system-wide equaliser; EQ is available inside the Music app.Turn your Mac's volume up or downVolume is set with the volume keys (F11/F12), Control Center or Sound settings.Your Mac's sound stopped after sleep, or cuts out at randomThe Core Audio service has hung and needs a restart.Get sound back when your Mac is muted or the volume keys don't workOutput is muted or the volume is at zero, or the selected output has no volume control.Get your USB headset, DAC or audio interface to show up on your MacThe device isn't recognised by the Mac, often because of a bad port, cable or hub.Why you can't change the volume of an HDMI monitor from your MacmacOS can't control the volume of digital HDMI or DisplayPort outputs; the monitor or TV controls it.Your AirPlay speaker doesn't show up on your MacThe Mac and the speaker aren't on the same Wi-Fi network, or one of them is asleep or needs a restart.Play sound through two speakers or headphones at oncemacOS only uses one output at a time unless you build a combined device.
Menu bar and Control Center
The Mac version of the Windows system trayStatus icons and Control Center sit on the right side of the menu bar at the top of the screen.Get back menu bar icons hidden by the notchThere is no room for every icon next to the camera notch, so extra icons are hidden.Show the battery percentage in your MacBook's menu barThe battery icon only shows the percentage if you turn that on.Open Control Center on your Mac for quick settingsControl Center collects quick switches in one place in the menu bar.Stop your Mac menu bar from hiding at the top of the screenAuto-hide for the menu bar is on, so it only appears when the pointer touches the top of the screen.Remove icons you don't want from your Mac menu barThe icon is switched on in Menu Bar settings or belongs to an app that shows its own icon.Keep the menu bar visible when an app is full screenIn full screen the menu bar slides away until you move the pointer to the top edge.Bring back the Wi-Fi icon in your Mac's menu barThe Wi-Fi item is turned off for the menu bar.Change how the clock looks in your Mac's menu barThe menu bar clock shows only the basics until you change its options.Hide your name (or user icon) in the Mac menu barFast User Switching puts your account name or icon in the menu bar.Put the Bluetooth icon back in your Mac's menu barThe Bluetooth item is turned off for the menu bar.Get a missing app icon back in your Mac menu barmacOS lets you switch menu bar items on or off per app, so the app may have been blocked or turned off.Add, remove and move controls in Control Center on your MacControl Center only shows the controls you have added, and Tahoe lets you edit it.Get the clock back in your Mac's menu barThe clock is always shown, so when it seems gone, other icons are crowding it out.Bring the battery icon back to your MacBook's menu barThe Battery item is turned off for the menu bar.Keep the Screen Mirroring icon in your Mac's menu barThe Screen Mirroring item is set to show only when active, or is turned off.Bring back Recent Items in your Mac's Apple menuRecent items depend on the "Recent documents, applications, and servers" setting.Put a brightness slider in your Mac's menu barThe Display item is set to show only when needed, or is turned off.
Installing and removing apps
How to uninstall an app on a MacOn a Mac most apps are removed by moving them to the Trash; there is no separate uninstall step.Choose which apps your Mac allows: App Store or known developers'Allow applications from' controls where apps may come from; macOS no longer offers an 'Anywhere' option.Fix an App Store download that's stuck or won't installAn unpaid order, an App Store outage or a network problem can stop App Store downloads.Reinstall an app I bought beforePurchased apps stay in your Apple Account and can be downloaded again.See and stop apps that run in the background on your MacApps can install helpers that run in the background; 'Allow in the Background' lists them.Why you can't delete Safari, Mail and other built-in Mac appsApps that ship with macOS live on a protected system volume and can't be removed.Install an app you downloaded from a websiteApps from websites come as a .dmg (a disk you open) or a .pkg installer.Your Mac says you need to install Rosetta to open an appThe app was built for Intel Macs and needs Rosetta on Apple silicon.An old app won't open after a macOS upgradeThe app is too old for the current macOS or has no version for your Mac's chip.Stop the App Store asking for your password for free appsMedia & Purchases is set to require a password for free downloads and purchases.Will your Intel apps still work on macOS 27 Golden Gate?macOS 27 still runs Intel apps with Rosetta, but it's the last version with general Rosetta, and an upgrade may not bring Rosetta back by itself.Open a blocked .pkg installer on your Mac, safelyGatekeeper is blocking an installer package that isn't notarised.Delete an app your Mac says is open or in useThe app or one of its helper processes is still running.Download and install apps on your MacThe App Store is the simplest and safest place to get Mac apps.What the "Background Items Added" notification meansAn installed app registered a helper or login item and macOS is telling you.An app is stuck on Waiting or Installing on your MacA stuck download leaves a placeholder icon.
Display
Where to find display settings on a MacResolution, brightness, Night Shift and monitor arrangement are all under Displays in System Settings.Mac screen looks yellow or the colours keep shiftingTrue Tone adjusts the white point to match the light around you, so colours can look warmer.Everything on your Mac screen is too smallThe display resolution shows too much content for the size of the screen.Stop your Mac screen changing brightness by itself"Automatically adjust brightness" uses the ambient light sensor to change brightness as the room lighting changes.Your Mac screen is too darkBrightness is low, or automatic brightness has dimmed the screen for the room light.Keep your Mac screen on longer before it goes blackThe timers that turn the display off (Lock Screen) or start the screen saver are set short.Use Night Shift for warmer screen colors at nightNight Shift shifts the screen to warmer colours on a schedule or on demand.Switch your Mac between Dark Mode and Light ModeAppearance is set to Light or Dark.Get your Mac screen to turn off when you're not using itThe display-off timers are set to Never, or an app is keeping the Mac awake.Change your Mac's icon and widget style, and your folder colourIcon and widget style (Default, Dark, Clear or Tinted) controls how icons and widgets look.Fix washed-out or wrong colours on your Mac screenThe display is using an unsuitable Color profile, or a colour setting like True Tone or a filter is on.Make Liquid Glass more solid and easier to readmacOS Tahoe uses Liquid Glass, and by default parts of it are very transparent.Stop your Mac switching to Dark Mode on its ownAppearance is set to Auto, which follows sunrise and sunset.Show every screen resolution your Mac can useDisplays shows only a few friendly choices at first.Find the Liquid Glass slider on macOS 27macOS 27 replaces the two-way Clear / Tinted choice with a slider.Change your Mac screen's refresh rate (ProMotion, 120Hz or 60Hz)The Refresh rate is set to a fixed lower value, or a different mode is chosen for the display.
Notifications and Focus
Not getting any notifications on your Mac? Turn off FocusA Focus (such as Do Not Disturb) is turned on and is silencing notifications.Stop one app from sending notifications on your MacThe app is allowed to send notifications.Do Not Disturb or Focus keeps turning on by itself on your MacA Focus has a schedule, an automation, or is being synced from your iPhone.Get rid of the red number badges on your Mac's app icons"Badge app icon" puts an unread count on the Dock icon.Turn on Do Not Disturb or another Focus on your MacDo Not Disturb and other Focus modes silence notifications; you switch them on in Control Center.Open Notification Center on your Mac to see past notificationsNotification Center opens from the clock in the menu bar, not from its own icon.Make Do Not Disturb or Work Focus turn on by itself at set timesA Focus only runs automatically if a schedule is set for it.Calendar or Reminders alerts don't pop up on your MacNotifications for Calendar or Reminders are off, or a Focus is on.Stop your iPhone's Focus from turning on Do Not Disturb on your Mac"Share across devices" syncs your Focus status between your Apple devices.Make Mac notifications stay on screen, or go away on their ownEach app's Alert Style is Temporary (disappears after a while) or Persistent (stays until you dismiss it).Turn notification sounds on or off for one app on your Mac"Play sound for notification" is off (or on) for that app.Stop notifications popping up while you share your screen or presentNotifications are allowed while mirroring or sharing the display.Stop websites sending you notifications on your MacA website you allowed (or an ad network) is sending browser notifications.Turn Apple Intelligence notification summaries on or off"Summarize notifications" is an Apple Intelligence feature that condenses stacks of alerts.Make your own Focus on your MacYou can create extra Focus modes beyond the built-in ones.Get Messages alerts and FaceTime ringing back on your MacNotifications are off for Messages or FaceTime, or a Focus is silencing calls and texts.
External displays
Your Mac isn't detecting your external monitorThe cable, adapter or port is not giving the Mac a signal, or macOS has not noticed the display yet.Use your MacBook with the lid closed on an external monitorThe MacBook needs power, a display and an input device before it stays awake with the lid closed.Make text sharp on your Mac's external monitorThe monitor is using a non-native or low-resolution mode, or is a low-pixel-density screen.Your external monitor is connected but stays blackThe monitor is detected but the mode or cable cannot carry the picture, or it is stuck after sleep.Connect a second monitor or TV to your MacPlug the monitor into a Thunderbolt/USB-C or HDMI port (with an adapter if needed); the Mac extends the desktop onto it.Your external monitor flickers or keeps blanking outA weak cable, adapter or the refresh rate setting is often the cause.Mirror or extend your Mac's screen on a monitor or projectorThe "Use as" setting decides whether a display extends your desktop or shows the same picture.Find out how many external displays your Mac supportsIt depends on the chip: base M1 and M2 laptops drive one external display, while newer and Pro or Max chips drive two or more.Fix an external monitor that's at the wrong resolution on your MacmacOS picked a lower resolution, or the cable or adapter cannot carry the full one.Arrange your displays so the mouse moves the right wayThe Arrange layout does not match how the monitors sit on your desk.Use an iPad, Apple TV or another Mac as a displayWireless and iPad displays are added from the Displays menu.Rotate your external monitor to portrait (or fix a sideways screen)The "Rotation" setting for the display does not match how it is physically placed.Make text bigger or smaller on your Mac's external monitorExternal monitors use a scaled resolution that sets text size.Your external monitor is stuck at 30Hz or 60Hz on your MacThe cable, adapter or port cannot carry the picture at a high refresh rate and resolution together.Why your M1 or M2 MacBook shows only one external monitorMacBooks with the base M1 or M2 chip support only one external display, no matter what hub you use.
Startup and shutdown
Stop apps opening by themselves when you start or log in to your MacThose apps are in your Login Items list.macOS update is stuck or very slow to installThe installer is still working, or low storage/power interrupted it.Choose which disk or version of macOS your Mac starts fromThe Mac starts from the disk selected in Startup Disk.Erase and factory reset your Mac before you sell or give it awayErase All Content and Settings removes your data and signs you out so the Mac is ready for a new owner.Your Mac restarted because of a problem: what to doA kernel panic from a faulty app, driver, peripheral or hardware.What to do when your Mac won't turn onThe battery is flat, the charger or cable is faulty, or the Mac is stuck.Start up your Mac in macOS RecoveryRecovery gives you Disk Utility and macOS reinstall tools outside your normal system.Put your Mac to sleep and wake it up againSleep saves power and resumes right where you left off.Start your Mac in Safe Mode, and leave it againSafe Mode starts the Mac with minimal software, helping to find startup problems.Force restart your Mac when it's frozenThe Mac is unresponsive and normal restart does not work.Reinstall macOS from Recovery and keep your filesReinstalling macOS from Recovery replaces system files and keeps your data.Find the power button on your MacBook, iMac or Mac miniOn a MacBook, the Touch ID button at the top-right of the keyboard is the power button.Get your Mac past the Apple logo when startup gets stuckA damaged install, a failed update or an external device can stall startup."Background Items Added": see and switch off what runs in the backgroundAn installed app added a helper or launch agent that runs in the background.Stop your MacBook turning on when you open the lid or plug it inApple silicon laptops start up automatically on lid open or power connect.
Trackpad and mouse
How to right-click on a Mac trackpad or mouseOn a Mac trackpad you right-click with two fingers, or by holding Control while you click.Mac trackpad scrolling backwards? Change the scroll direction"Natural scrolling" matches iPhone-style movement; some people prefer the opposite.Tap to click on your Mac trackpad instead of pressingTap to click is off, so only a physical press clicks.Mouse scrolls the opposite way from my trackpadMouse and trackpad each have their own "Natural scrolling" setting.Stop the cursor jumping while you type on a MacBookTap to click lets your palm or thumb register as a click while typing.Change your mouse pointer speed on a MacMouse Tracking speed isn't tuned for your mouse.MacBook trackpad won't press down, or looks raisedA swollen battery can push the trackpad up and stop it clicking.Turn off mouse acceleration on your MacPointer acceleration is on in Mouse settings, so fast moves travel further.Stop the dictionary or previews popping up when you press harder"Force Click and haptic feedback" triggers Look Up and previews.Double-click not registering on your Mac, or opening things too easilyDouble-click speed is set too tight or too loose.Trackpad scrolling is too slow or too fast on your MacTrackpad scrolling speed is tuned in Accessibility, not the Trackpad pane.Learn every trackpad gesture your Mac knowsThe Trackpad pane has a built-in video demo for each gesture.Stop your Mac cursor growing when you shake the mouse"Shake mouse pointer to locate" is on.Change how fast your mouse scrolls on a MacMouse scroll speed is set in Accessibility, not in Mouse settings.
Windows on the screen
The Mac version of Alt+F4: quit an app properlyOn a Mac, closing an app's window often leaves the app running; quitting closes it fully.Maximize a window on a Mac without going full screenThe green button enters full screen; Fill makes a window fill the screen without hiding the menu bar.Switch between windows of the same app on a MacCommand-Tab switches apps, not windows; windows of the same app use Command-`.Snap windows side by side on a Mac by holding Option"Hold ⌥ key while dragging windows to tile" lets you tile only when you hold Option.Alt+Tab on a Mac: switch between your open appsCommand-Tab is the Mac's app switcher.Show the desktop on a Mac, like Windows+DOn a Mac, Show Desktop slides every window to the edges of the screen.Minimize a window on a Mac (and bring it back)Minimizing on a Mac sends the window to the right end of the Dock.A window is off screen or I cannot find itThe window position is off the visible area, often after changing displays.Stop Mac windows snapping to the edges of the screenEdge-drag tiling is on, so dragging a window to an edge or the top resizes it.Get out of full screen on your Mac, or go into itThe app window is using the whole screen as its own Space.Stop your Mac's desktops (Spaces) from rearranging themselves"Automatically rearrange Spaces based on most recent use" reorders them.Stop Quick Note opening when your pointer hits the cornerThe bottom-right hot corner is set to Quick Note by default.What the red, yellow and green window buttons do on a MacRed closes the window, yellow minimises it to the Dock, and green makes it full screen (hover over green for tiling options).Turn your Mission Control keyboard shortcuts back onMission Control shortcuts are changed or off in Keyboard Shortcuts.
Screenshots
How to take a screenshot on a Mac (there's no Print Screen key)Macs take screenshots with keyboard shortcuts.Make your Mac save screenshots as JPG instead of PNGScreenshots are saved as PNG files by default, which can be large.Where your Mac saves screenshots, and how to find themScreenshots are saved to the Save to location in the Screenshot toolbar, usually the Desktop.Record your Mac screen, with or without soundScreen recording is built into the Screenshot toolbar.Shift-Command-3 or Shift-Command-4 does nothing on your MacThe screenshot shortcuts may be turned off or changed, or a keyboard app is intercepting the keys.Save your Mac screenshots to a different folderScreenshots go to the Desktop by default.Copy a screenshot so you can paste it, without saving a fileScreenshots are saved as files unless you add the Control key.Your Mac screen recording has no soundThe screen recorder only records sound from the microphone chosen in Options; if Microphone is None, the recording is silent.Fix a Mac screenshot that won't saveThe folder chosen for screenshots was deleted, moved, or is not writable.Fix a black or blank screen when you share or record your MacThe app does not have permission to record the screen.Take a screenshot on a timer to capture menus and hover effectsThe Screenshot toolbar has a timer option for capturing menus or hover states.Mark up, crop or draw on a screenshot straight after you take itThe floating thumbnail opens a markup editor if you click it before it disappears.Take a screenshot of a single window on your MacShift-Command-4 normally captures an area, not a window.
Storage and speed
Ctrl+Alt+Delete on a Mac: how to force quit a frozen appThe app stopped responding.The Mac's Task Manager: see what's using CPU and memoryActivity Monitor shows every running app and process, and how much CPU, memory and energy each uses."Your startup disk is almost full" on a Mac: free up spaceThe internal drive is nearly full, which also slows the Mac.Your Mac is slow: find out why and speed it upToo many apps open, too little free memory or disk space, one app working too hard, or the Mac hasn't restarted in a long time.See how much storage you have left on your MacThe Storage pane shows used and free space by category.Your Mac is hot and the fan is loud: how to cool it downHeavy work, blocked vents, indexing after an update or a runaway app produce heat.Your Mac is slow after a macOS update: what's going on and what to doAfter an update Spotlight, Photos and iCloud rebuild their indexes in the background for hours or days.Mac says "Your system has run out of application memory"Apps are using more memory than the Mac has, so it relies on slower disk swap.Check or repair your Mac's disk with Disk Utility First AidDisk Utility's First Aid checks the drive's structure for errors.Find the app that's hogging your Mac's CPUA single app or helper process is stuck or very busy.See how much RAM your Mac has and which chip is insideAbout This Mac shows the chip, memory and macOS version.Find big files and downloads to delete on your MacA few big files (videos, disk images, old installers) often use most of the space.Make room when your Mac says there's not enough space to updatemacOS updates need many GB of free space to download and install.
Privacy and permissions
Terminal says "Operation not permitted" on your MacTerminal itself doesn't have Full Disk Access, so macOS blocks it from protected locations even with sudo.Apps on your Mac don't know your locationLocation Services is off globally or for the app.Check what each app is allowed to access on your MacPrivacy & Security lists each kind of data and the apps allowed to use it.Make a shared office Mac log people out when they walk awayThe Mac can log out an account after it has been idle for a while.Stop seeing unwanted nude photos on your MacSensitive Content Warning blurs nude photos and videos before you see them.See which apps can use your Mac's locationEach app that asked for your location is listed with a switch.Stop your Mac sharing analytics and crash reportsAnalytics & Improvements controls what diagnostics and usage data the Mac shares.Why some photos are blurred on your Mac, and how to see themSensitive Content Warning blurs photos and videos that may contain nudity.If your Mac is stolen, could someone read your files?FileVault encrypts the disk so nobody can read it without your password.See which apps can use your Mac's camera and microphoneOnly apps you allowed are listed under Camera and Microphone, and a dot shows when either is in use.See and change which apps can use your camera, files and moreEvery permission (camera, microphone, files, location and more) has a list in Privacy & Security.See who you've blocked on your Mac and unblock themPeople you block for FaceTime, Messages and phone calls are listed in Privacy & Security > Blocked Contacts.
Backup
Time Machine backup failed or couldn't be completedThe backup disk has errors, is nearly full, or was unplugged during a backup.Set up Time Machine to back up your MacTime Machine needs a backup disk chosen before it can save anything.Check that Time Machine is really backing up your MacTime Machine shows the date of the last backup and the next one for each disk.Move your apps, files and settings to a new MacMigration Assistant copies apps, files and settings from a backup or another Mac.Protect your Time Machine backup with encryptionEncryption is chosen when the backup disk is first added.Get a file or folder back from your Time Machine backupTime Machine keeps older copies you can bring back.Make Time Machine back up less often so it stops slowing you downTime Machine backs up every hour by default.Put your Mac back to how it was yesterday with Time MachineMacs have no restore points; a Time Machine backup can put the whole Mac back to an earlier date.Back up your Mac to two drives and keep one somewhere elseTime Machine can use more than one backup disk and takes turns between them.How often Time Machine backs up, and how to change itTime Machine backs up every hour, keeping hourly backups for 24 hours, daily backups for a month and weekly backups until the disk is full.Show the Time Machine icon in your Mac's menu barThe Time Machine menu bar item is off by default.
Updates
Check for macOS updates and install themUpdates are found and installed from Software Update.Software Update says your Mac is up to date, but there's a newer versionSoftware Update shows only versions your Mac supports, and a beta setting can change what you see.Fix a macOS update that fails with 'installation failed' or 'an error occurred'The update download was incomplete or a temporary problem interrupted it.Choose when your Mac installs updates by itselfAutomatic updates are switched in the info button next to Automatic updates.Check which macOS version, Mac model and serial number you haveThe About page shows your macOS version, chip and serial number.Not enough storage to install a macOS updateA major macOS update needs free disk space for the download and installation.Mac stuck on the Apple logo or progress bar after an updateThe Mac is applying the update after restart, which can take a long time and look frozen.Update your Mac's App Store appsApp Store apps update from the App Store, not from Software Update (unless automatic app updates are on).Your Mac doesn't get the macOS 27 Golden Gate updatemacOS 27 supports Apple silicon (M1 and later) Macs only; Intel Macs stay on macOS 26 Tahoe.Get the full Install macOS app from Terminalsoftwareupdate can download the complete Install macOS app into Applications.
Language and time
Change how your Mac shows dates, numbers and currencyFormats follow the Region setting, not the display language.Fix the wrong time or date on your MacDate & Time isn't set to update automatically or the time server can't be reached.Fix the wrong time zone on your MacThe time zone is set manually or Location Services is blocking automatic updates.Change your Mac's language, or switch it back to EnglishThe first language in Preferred Languages decides what macOS and most apps show.Show the date, day of the week or seconds next to your Mac clockThe menu bar clock shows only the time until you change its options.Change your Mac clock to 24-hour or 12-hour timeThe 12-hour or 24-hour clock is chosen in Date & Time settings.Set your Mac's date and time by handAutomatic time must be switched off before you can type a date and time.Switch your Mac between Celsius and Fahrenheit, or metric and imperialUnits follow the Temperature and Measurement system settings in Language & Region.Fix Calendar events showing at the wrong time on your MacThe calendar app has its own time zone support setting.
Printers and scanners
Your printer says Offline or Not Responding on your MacThe Mac lost contact with the printer, usually after sleep, a Wi-Fi change or a stale queue.Your Mac can't find your printer: add it in Printers & ScannersThe printer is off, on a different network, or hasn't been added yet.Your scanner or scan button doesn't work on your MacThe scanner isn't connected, or its driver or network connection is missing.Get the right printer software on your MacThe Mac couldn't pick a driver; most modern printers work with AirPrint instead.Scan a document from your printer or scanner to your MacScanning uses the Scan tab in Printers & Scanners or the Image Capture app.Print job is stuck or won't printA job is stuck in the queue or the printer is paused.Print on both sides, or in black and white, by default on a MacTwo-sided and colour options live in the Print window, not in System Settings.Remove your printer from the Mac and add it againA damaged printer entry or driver can stop printing; re-adding creates a fresh one.
Camera
Show your Mac screen on a TV or Apple TVScreen Mirroring sends your display to an AirPlay-capable TV or Apple TV on the same Wi-Fi.Your Mac's camera is allowed but the picture is black or frozenAnother app is holding the camera or the camera software got stuck.Your Mac says there is no connected cameraA system service that runs the camera got stuck.How to turn on your Mac's cameraThere's no camera switch: the camera turns on by itself when an app uses it, and the green light shows it's on.An app is missing from the Camera list in Privacy & SecurityApps only appear in the Camera list after they first ask to use the camera.Use Center Stage on your Mac to keep you in frameCenter Stage keeps you in frame; it's in the Video menu in the menu bar while an app uses the camera.Choose which camera an app uses on your MacApps choose their own camera and may have picked the iPhone or another webcam.
Spotlight
Rebuild the Spotlight index when search shows old or missing filesThe index of your files is damaged or stale.See what you copied earlier with Spotlight's clipboard historySpotlight can keep recent clipboard items searchable, and it is a setting you can switch.Spotlight can't find a file you know is on your MacThe file is excluded from Spotlight, or the search index is out of date or damaged.Open Spotlight to search your Mac and launch apps by typingSpotlight is the Mac's search box: it finds and opens apps, files and settings.Stop Spotlight showing websites and suggestions you don't want"Show Related Content" lets Spotlight show content from Apple partners and the web.Spotlight is indexing forever on your MacAfter an update or a drive change Spotlight re-indexes everything, which can take hours to days.Put the Spotlight magnifying glass back in your menu barThe Spotlight icon is turned off in Menu Bar settings.
Siri and Apple Intelligence
Turn off Apple Intelligence on macOS 27, where there's no single switchmacOS 27 removed the single Apple Intelligence switch; you turn off Siri and each AI feature separately.Apple Intelligence isn't available or isn't showing on your MacIt needs an Apple silicon Mac (M1 or later), macOS and Siri language set to a supported one, and a supported region.Writing Tools missing from the right-click menu on your MacWriting Tools needs Apple Intelligence turned on and an app that supports it.Turn On Siri on your MacSiri is switched off in System Settings.Get "Hey Siri" working again on your Mac"Listen for" is off, set to a different phrase, or the microphone/lid state blocks it.Find Apple Intelligence & Siri settings on macOS 27On macOS 27 the Apple Intelligence & Siri pane is just called Siri; Listen for is now Requests and Siri responses is now Responses.
Sounds and alerts
Turn your Mac's startup chime off or onSome Macs play a chime at startup; you can turn it on or off in Sound Effects.Change your Mac's alert sound to one you likeThe alert sound is the beep the Mac plays for errors and prompts; you choose it in Sound Effects.Stop your Mac beeping at youThe alert sound plays whenever a key or action isn't allowed.