Mac User Guide
- Welcome
- What’s new in macOS 27
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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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- Get started
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- Accessibility features for vision
- Get started with VoiceOver
- Zoom in on what’s around you
- Zoom in on your Mac screen
- Increase font size and icons
- Adjust the display colors
- Hover to zoom in on text and colors
- Listen to or change how text appears in apps
- Customize onscreen motion
- Increase the size of what’s on your screen
- Make the pointer easier to see
- Have your Mac speak text that’s on the screen
- Resources for your Mac
- Copyright and trademarks
- Resources for your Apple devices
Adjust brightness and volume on your Mac
Mac keyboards from Apple — including the built-in keyboard on MacBook models and the Magic Keyboard — have dedicated brightness and volume keys in the top row. Press them to adjust one step at a time. Hold Option while pressing to jump straight to Display or Sound settings in System Settings.
If your keyboard doesn’t have these keys, or you want a slider for more precise control, open Control Center in the menu bar and drag the Brightness or Sound slider. This works on any Mac, regardless of which keyboard you’re using. To mute from Control Center, click Sound and drag the slider all the way down, or click the volume level to toggle mute.
Increase brightness Press the increase brightness key in the top row. Hold Option while pressing to open Display settings. | Decrease brightness Press the decrease brightness key to dim the display. Hold Option while pressing to open Display settings. |
Increase volume Press the volume up key. Hold Option while pressing to open Sound settings. | Decrease volume Press the volume down key. Hold Option while pressing to open Sound settings. |
Mute Press the mute key to silence audio instantly. Press it again to unmute. | More display and sound options Go to Apple menu > System Settings, then click Display or Sound to choose an output device, set Night Shift, or adjust other options. |
Tip: If your keyboard is set to use standard function keys, hold the Fn key while pressing a brightness or volume key to use its media function.
Want to learn more?
Control Center Quickly change settings like screen brightness, connect to Wi-Fi, and turn on Do Not Disturb. | Notification Center Get all of your notifications from apps like Messages and Mail, in one place. | Spotlight Search for anything on your Mac with Spotlight. |
Or if you’re ready for something new, check out how you can customize your wallpaper on your desktop to add a personal touch. Then, get familiar with Safari (the built-in browser on your Mac) by searching the web, take a screenshot using a keyboard shortcut, or download a new app to your Mac.