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Table of Contents

Welcome
- MacBook Air
- MacBook Pro
- iMac
- Mac mini
- Mac Studio
- Mac Pro
What’s new in macOS Tahoe
- Work on the desktop
- What’s in the menu bar?
- Quickly change settings
- What’s in the Apple menu?
- Search with Spotlight
- How to use Siri
- Get notifications
- Open apps from the Dock
- Organize your files in the Finder
- Connect to the internet
- Sign in to your Apple Account
- Set up iCloud
- Browse the web
- Preview a file
- Take a screenshot
- Change your display’s brightness
- Adjust the volume
- Use trackpad and mouse gestures
- Use Touch ID
- Print documents
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Apps on your Mac
- Open apps
- Work with app windows
- Tile app windows
- Use apps in full screen
- Use apps in Split View
- Use Stage Manager
- Get apps from the App Store
- Install and reinstall apps from the App Store
- Install and uninstall other apps
- Create and work with documents
- Open documents
- Mark up files
- Combine files into a PDF
- Organize files on your desktop
- Organize files with folders
- Tag files and folders
- Back up files
- Restore files
- Change System Settings
- Choose your desktop picture
- Add and customize widgets
- Use a screen saver
- Add a user or group
- Add your email and other accounts
- Automate tasks with Shortcuts
- Create Memoji
- Change your login picture
- Change the system language
- Increase the size of what’s on your screen
- Turn on and activate Siri
- Customize Siri
- Intro to Apple Intelligence
- Translate messages and calls
- Create original images with Image Playground
- Create your own emoji with Genmoji
- Use Apple Intelligence with Siri
- Find the right words with Writing Tools
- Summarize notifications and reduce interruptions
- Use ChatGPT with Apple Intelligence
- Apple Intelligence and privacy
- Block access to Apple Intelligence features
- Set up a Focus to stay on task
- Block pop-ups in Safari
- Use Dictation
- Perform quick actions with hot corners
- Send emails
- Send text messages
- Make a FaceTime call
- Edit photos and videos
- Use Live Text to interact with text in a photo
- Start a Quick Note
- Get directions
- 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
- Manage Apple Account settings
- Set your Apple Account picture
- What is iCloud?
- What is iCloud+?
- Store files in iCloud Drive
- Share and collaborate on files and folders
- Manage iCloud storage
- Use iCloud Photos
- Get started with Screen Time
- Set up Screen Time for yourself
- Set up Screen Time for a child
- Track app and device usage
- Set time limits for apps and websites
- Set up content and privacy restrictions
- Set up Family Sharing
- Get Family Sharing recommendations
- Add family members to a Family Sharing group
- Remove family members from a Family Sharing group
- Manage sharing and parental settings
- Share a Photo Library
- Collaborate on projects
- Find content shared with you
- Find your family and friends
- Play music
- Watch and listen together with SharePlay
- Listen to podcasts
- Watch TV shows and movies
- Read and listen to books
- Read the news
- Write in your journal
- Track stocks and the market
- Play games on your Mac
- Connect an external display
- Use the camera
- Connect a wireless accessory
- Connect a printer to your Mac
- Connect AirPods to your Mac
- Optimize your Mac battery life
- Optimize storage space
- Burn CDs and DVDs
- Control accessories in your home
- Run Windows on your Mac
- Get started
- 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
- Use Mail Privacy Protection
- Use Sign in with Apple for apps and websites
- Find a missing device
- Shut down or restart your Mac
- Start up your Mac in safe mode
- Keep your Mac up to date
- Reinstall macOS
- Erase your Mac
Resources for your Mac
Resources for your Apple devices
Copyright and trademarks

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. See the Apple Support article Use Background Sounds to help with sleep, focus, and more.

On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings, click Accessibility in the sidebar, then click Audio. (You may need to scroll down.)
Open Audio settings for me
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.
- Equalizer: Click Choose, then turn on Equalizer to adjust the volume of different frequency ranges.
  Tone: (You may need to scroll down.) Choose Broad to hear wider frequency ranges with a richer sound. Choose Focused to hear specific frequency ranges with less audio distraction.
  Balance: Drag the slider left or right to adjust the sound balance.
- Timer: Click Choose, then set a timer to stop playing background sounds at a specific time or after an amount of time.
- Turn off background sounds when your Mac is not in use: Turn on to automatically silence background sounds when your Mac is in sleep mode, the screen saver is on, or the screen is locked.
- Sound Settings: Adjust the volume of your Mac in Sound settings.

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 Menu Bar in the sidebar, click Add Controls, click Hearing, then choose Add to Control Center or Add to Menu Bar under Hearing Accessibility (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.

See alsoChange Audio settings for accessibility on Mac Set up a Focus on Mac Accessibility features for hearing on Mac

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