Mac User Guide
- Welcome
- What’s new in macOS Sequoia
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- Get started with Apple Intelligence
- Use Writing Tools
- Use Apple Intelligence in Mail
- Use Apple Intelligence in Messages
- Use Apple Intelligence with Siri
- Get webpage summaries
- Summarize an audio recording
- Use Apple Intelligence in Photos
- Summarize notifications and reduce interruptions
- Apple Intelligence and privacy
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- Intro to Continuity
- Use AirDrop to send items to nearby devices
- Hand off tasks between devices
- Control your iPhone from your Mac
- Copy and paste between devices
- Stream video and audio with AirPlay
- Make and receive calls and text messages on your Mac
- Use your iPhone internet connection with your Mac
- Share your Wi-Fi password with another device
- Use iPhone as a webcam
- Insert sketches, photos, and scans from iPhone or iPad
- Unlock your Mac with Apple Watch
- Use your iPad as a second display
- Use one keyboard and mouse to control Mac and iPad
- Sync music, books, and more between devices
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- Control what you share
- Set up your Mac to be secure
- Allow apps to see the location of your Mac
- Use Private Browsing
- Keep your data safe
- Understand passwords
- Change weak or compromised passwords
- Keep your Apple Account secure
- Use Mail Privacy Protection
- Use Sign in with Apple for apps and websites
- Find a missing device
- Resources for your Mac
- Resources for your Apple devices
- Copyright
Play background sounds on Mac
You can have your Mac play ambient background sounds—such as ocean waves or rain—to help you focus or rest.
On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings, click Accessibility in the sidebar, then click Audio on the right. (You may need to scroll down.)
Go to Background Sounds, turn on “Background sounds,” then set any of the following:
Background sound: Click Choose, then click the name of the sound you want to set as the background sound.
Click next to the name of a sound to download a high-quality version of it to your Mac. You must be connected to the internet.
To remove a downloaded sound, click next to the name of the sound, then click Remove. A sample of the sound remains available to use as a background sound.
Background sounds volume: Drag the slider to increase or decrease the volume of the background sound.
Turn off background sounds when your Mac is not in use: Automatically turn off background sounds when your Mac is in sleep, the screen saver is on, or the screen is locked.
Tip: You can also play background sounds right from the desktop by adding the Hearing option to the menu bar or Control Center. Choose Apple menu > System Settings, click Control Center in the sidebar, then turn on Show in Menu Bar or Show in Control Center under Hearing (you may need to scroll down). Click in the menu bar or in Control Center to start and stop background sounds, change the sound that’s playing, and adjust the volume.