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Table of Contents

Top tips, tricks, and keyboard shortcuts for MacBook Pro

As you get started with your new MacBook Pro, here are some top tips, tricks, and keyboard shortcuts you can try.

Take a screenshot

Press Command + Shift + 5, then use the controls at the bottom of the screen to take a screenshot or record video. (To move even faster—press Command + Shift + 3 to automatically take a screenshot of your whole screen and Command + Shift + 4 to quickly select a portion of your screen to screenshot.) A thumbnail appears at the bottom of the screen—drag it into a document or folder, swipe it to the right to save it, or click it to edit or share.

Use hot corners

With hot corners, you can quickly start actions by moving the pointer to a corner of the screen. Go to System Settings, click Desktop & Dock , then click Hot Corners at the bottom. For each corner you want to use, click the pop-up menu, then choose an option.

Organize your desktop with Stacks

Keep the files on your Mac neatly grouped by file type or date. Control-click the desktop, then choose Use Stacks. To expand a stack, click it. To change how Stacks are grouped—for instance by date created or by kind of file, Control-click the desktop, click Group Stacks By, then choose an option from the pop-up menu.

Share files with other computers on your network

Turn on File Sharing so other computers on your network can access the folders on your MacBook Pro. This can be especially useful if you use your MacBook Pro as a household or workplace hub. Go to System Settings , click General in the sidebar, click Sharing, then turn on File Sharing.

Use Smart Folders for saved searches in Finder

Instead of manually organizing files into folders, you can create a folder that auto-collects files with specific criteria—for instance, all PDFs modified this week. In Finder , choose File > New Smart Folder, add your criteria in the Search field, then click Save.

Use the Center Stage camera

Your MacBook Pro comes with a 12MP Center Stage camera, which can help keep you and anyone else with you in the frame while you use video apps like FaceTime. Go to an app that captures video, such as FaceTime. Click in the menu bar, then click Center Stage.

Search and perform quick actions with Spotlight

You can search for files, photos, and more with Spotlight. You can also perform quick actions from the Spotlight window, like sending a message, setting an alarm, and converting currencies. Press Command-Space bar to open Spotlight. To limit your search only to a specific app, type the app name then press tab . To search for a specific type of item, type “kind:”, then the item, like folder or image.

A Spotlight search request with results below the search field.

To learn more, see Find what you need with Spotlight, Narrow your search results on Spotlight, and Take actions and shortcuts in Spotlight.

Get more done with Siri AI

With Siri AI (Beta),* powered by Apple Intelligence, Siri is a more capable AI assistant that helps you find information and get more done. Press Command-Space bar to ask Siri a question, right in Spotlight, or click the dedicated Siri app in the Dock. You can also Control-click an item on your screen, then choose Ask Siri to ask a question. Siri uses Visual Intelligence so you can ask questions, search, or take action based on what’s on your screen. Press Command + Shift + Space bar to select a window or Command + Shift + 6 to select a portion of your screen, then choose an option that appears.

To learn more, see Get started with Siri AI.

Use your MacBook Pro with another Apple device

When you use your MacBook Pro with another Apple device—like your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch—you can take advantage of special Continuity features that let you use your devices in unique ways.

Note: For many Continuity features, both devices must have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on and be within 30 feet (10 meters) of each other.

Share items with AirDrop

Wirelessly send photos, videos, documents, and more to a nearby iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Click in the menu bar, then click to make sure AirDrop is on (it should be highlighted). Open the item you want to share, click in the toolbar, then click AirDrop.

Control your iPhone with your MacBook Pro

With the iPhone Mirroring app on your MacBook Pro, you can use your iPhone directly on your Mac, as well as receive iPhone notifications and see Live Activities—so you never miss a thing.

Use your iPhone camera as a webcam

With Continuity Camera, you can set up your iPhone as the camera for your MacBook Pro. First, turn on Continuity Camera on your iPhone. Then, when using an app on your Mac with camera access, choose your iPhone as your camera in the app’s menu bar or settings.

Copy here, paste there

With Universal Clipboard, you can copy text, images, photos, and videos on one Apple device and paste them onto another. First, make sure you have Handoff turned on for both devices. Next, copy something on one device—for instance, copy a phone number on your MacBook Pro. On your other Apple device, like an iPhone, choose where you want to insert the phone number, then paste.

Mirror your Mac on a TV

You can use AirPlay to mirror content on your MacBook Pro to a TV, or use the TV as an additional display. On your Mac, click in the menu bar, click , then select your TV. If asked, enter a four-digit code on your Mac.

Other ways to use your Apple devices together

For more Continuity features, like handing off tasks between your devices, inserting sketches or marking up files from your iPhone or iPad, and setting up your MacBook Pro to receive phone calls and texts, see Use Continuity to work across Apple devices.

Arrange your workspace

Change the layout of your app windows so that you focus only on what you need. With Stage Manager, you keep one app front and center, while your other open apps appear on the left side of your screen. To turn on Stage Manager, click in the menu bar, then click .

You can also tile your windows side-by-side or in a grid formation. To tile your windows, drag a window to the edge of your screen, then drop it when the highlight appears.

Keyboard shortcuts

You can press key combinations to do things on your Mac that you’d normally do with a trackpad, mouse, or other device. Here’s a list of useful keyboard shortcuts to make you even more efficient.

Command + C

Copy a selected item.

Or use Command + X to cut a selected item. Use Command + V to paste.

Command + Z

Undo the previous command.

Press Command + Shift + Z to redo.

Control + Command + Space bar

Open the character viewer to add an emoji or symbol.

Command + Y

Perform a Quick Look on a selected file in Finder or desktop.

Command + Q

Quit the current app.

Command + Option + Esc

Force quit an app.

Command + M

Minimize the front window to the Dock. Press Command-Option-M to minimize all windows of the front app.

Or use Command + Control + F to toggle full screen on and off for your current app window.

Command + Tab

Switch between open apps.

Use Command + ` (backtick) to switch between open windows of your current app.

Control +

Open Mission Control.

Double press Fn

Start dictation.

Command + , (comma)

Quickly open an app’s Settings menu.

Option + Shift + or

Adjust the brightness of your screen or volume in smaller increments.

Want to learn more?

For more information on how to take a screenshot or screen recording, see Take screenshots or screen recordings.
For more about how to organize your desktop with Stacks, see Use desktop stacks.
For more about how to use folders and files in Finder, see Organize files with folders.
For more keyboard shortcuts, see the Apple Support article Mac keyboard shortcuts.

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