macOS Tahoe 26 macOS Sequoia 15 macOS Sonoma 14 macOS Ventura 13 macOS Monterey 12 macOS Big Sur 11.0 macOS Catalina 10.15 macOS Mojave 10.14 Select version: macOS Tahoe 26 macOS Sequoia 15 macOS Sonoma 14 macOS Ventura 13 macOS Monterey 12 macOS Big Sur 11.0 macOS Catalina 10.15 macOS Mojave 10.14 Modifying this control will update this page automatically Search this guide Clear Search Table of Contents
Mac User Guide
Welcome
About your Mac model
MacBook Air
MacBook Pro
iMac
Mac mini
Mac Studio
Mac Pro
What’s new in macOS Tahoe
Get to know the desktop
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
Organise your files in the Finder
Mac basics
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
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
Files and folders
Create and work with documents
Open documents
Mark up files
Combine files into a PDF
Organise files on your desktop
Organise files with folders
Tag files and folders
Back up files
Restore files
Personalise your Mac
Change System Settings
Choose your desktop picture
Add and customise 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
Get to know Siri
Find out what Siri can do
Get information with Siri
Call, text and email with Siri
Play music and podcasts with Siri
Control your Apple devices and smart home accessories with Siri
Use Siri with apps
Turn on and activate Siri
Customise Siri
Apple Intelligence
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
Summarise notifications and reduce interruptions
Use Apple Intelligence with apps
Use Apple Intelligence in Mail
Use Apple Intelligence in Messages
Use Apple Intelligence in Notes
Use Apple Intelligence in Phone
Use Apple Intelligence in Photos
Use Apple Intelligence in Reminders
Use Apple Intelligence in Safari
Use Apple Intelligence in Shortcuts
Use ChatGPT with Apple Intelligence
Apple Intelligence and privacy
Block access to Apple Intelligence features
Beyond Mac basics
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
Use Apple devices together
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
Apple Account and iCloud
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
Screen Time
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
Family Sharing
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
Watch, play and learn
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
Subscribe to Apple services
Apple Music
Apple TV
Apple Arcade
Apple News+
Apple Podcasts
Manage subscriptions in the App Store
View your family subscriptions
Use accessories and hardware
Connect an external display
Use the camera
Connect a wireless accessory
Connect a printer to your Mac
Connect AirPods to your Mac
Optimise your Mac battery life
Optimise storage space
Burn CDs and DVDs
Control accessories in your home
Use Windows on your Mac
Accessibility
Get started
General
Quickly turn accessibility features on or off
Change Shortcut settings for accessibility
Allow accessibility apps to access your Mac
Turn on accessibility options in the login window
Use Accessibility settings while sharing screens
Vision
Accessibility features for vision
Get started with VoiceOver
Zoom in on your surroundings
Zoom in on what’s onscreen
Make text and icons bigger
Adjust the display colours
View a larger version of colours or text
Read or listen to text in apps
Customise onscreen motion
Hearing
Accessibility features for hearing
Get live captions of spoken audio
Use subtitles and closed captions
Use Name Recognition
Use hearing devices with your Mac
Play background sounds
Change Audio settings for accessibility
Mobility
Accessibility features for mobility
Get started with Voice Control
Use the Accessibility Keyboard
Use Full Keyboard Access
Use Switch Control
Use head pointer
Use Dwell
Speech
Accessibility features for speech
Have what you type spoken out loud
Create a Personal Voice
Use Vocal Shortcuts
Have your Mac speak text that’s on the screen
Change Siri settings for accessibility
Privacy and security
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
Restart, update, reset and restore
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
At any time, you can get rid of files, folders and other items that you no longer need. You start by dragging items to the Trash in the Dock, but the items aren’t deleted until you empty the Trash.
Note: If you turned off Time Machine or haven’t backed up your files recently, you may want to store a backup copy on a storage device, just in case you change your mind and want the item later.
Delete an item from your Mac or iCloud Drive
On your Mac, drag the item to the Bin in the Dock or select the item, then press Command-Delete. If an item is locked, click Continue to confirm you want to move the locked item to the Bin.
To search for and locate files you want to delete, see Narrow your search results.
If an item is locked, you need to confirm you want to move it to the Trash, or unlock the item before putting it in the Trash. To unlock the item first, select it, choose File > Get Info (or press Command-I), then deselect the Locked tickbox. If you’re not logged in as an administrator, you may need to click to unlock it, then enter an administrator name and password (or use Touch ID or your Apple Watch).
Empty the Trash
On your Mac, click the Trash icon in the Dock.
In the window that appears, do one of the following:
Empty one item from the Trash: Control-click the item you want to delete, then choose Delete Immediately.
In the warning message that appears, click Delete.
Empty all of the Trash: Click the Empty button in the upper-right corner of the Finder window. You can also click in the Dock, then choose Finder > Empty Bin.
In the warning message that appears, click Empty Trash.
Items that you move to the Trash from your Mac remain until you empty the Trash. You can choose to
to unlock it, then enter an administrator name and password (or use Touch ID or your Apple Watch).