Mac power-user information 2026: High equipment, show tweaks & macOS storage hacks

One of many nice facets of the Mac is that it’s nearly able to go proper out of the field. Sure, macOS takes you thru a number of steps to arrange your new machine, however after that, you may get to work. And that’s most likely what most individuals do, solely adjusting macOS settings when completely obligatory and utilizing no matter equipment that got here with the Mac. 

Nonetheless, should you don’t spend a while attending to comprehend it, you’re not taking full benefit of your Mac. From the important factors of contact resembling your mouse and keyboard, to pulling the curtain of macOS’s polished exterior to regulate settings and make hidden tweaks, you’re not removed from being a critical energy person. 

Listed here are 5 issues you are able to do that may make your Mac expertise instantly higher. These vary from equipment to settings and tweaks that may enhance usability. You’ll additionally discover that you simply’re working extra effectively, saving time, and being extra productive.

Ditch Apple’s equipment

The one Macs that embody a keyboard and mouse are the iMac and Mac Professional. No matter what Mac you’re shopping for, whenever you purchase immediately from Apple, the one decisions you’ve got are Apple’s personal Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard.

Thiago Trevisan

The Magic Mouse itself has a collection of unlucky attributes that make it lower than very best. Its charging port is on the underside so you’ll be able to’t use it whereas it costs. Moreover, it isn’t the perfect ergonomically or most responsive technically. It lags and different quirky behaviors can usually be skilled. 

You’re higher off going with a third-party mouse. (See our opinions of the greatest mouse for Macs). A well-liked favourite is the Logitech MX Grasp 3S, which is available in each gray and white. It really works through Bluetooth, however the wi-fi USB dongle provides higher connectivity (should you can spare a USB port). Take into account the Mac-branded model doesn’t embody this dongle, so search for the PC model that does. It really works completely nice on a Mac since it’s the similar mouse. 

The world of mice is huge, and also you’ll discover loads of different choices. Mice meant for gaming usually work splendidly on the Mac and have terrific ergonomics. They’re usually fine-tuned for precision, tactility, and responsiveness. Some, resembling Logitech, even provide software program for the Mac in an effort to configure your mouse as you’d like. 

Some manufacturers, like Razer, work out of the field however don’t enable additional tweaking since they don’t provide Mac software program for personalization. Third-party apps, resembling Mac Mouse Repair, may help you regain a few of that management. Mapping key buttons resembling again, ahead, and even Mission Management could make for a extra fluid workflow. We even have some recommendations on getting probably the most out of the second button on a mouse.

Thiago Trevisan

In case you are a MacBook Professional person and love the trackpad, contemplate choosing up a Magic Trackpad for desktop use. You may even use it alongside any mouse. Video editors usually use each to maximise the pliability of mouse accuracy and the scrolling capabilities of the Magic Trackpad. 

Keyboards are an analogous story to mice–alternative is plentiful; see our favourite greatest Mac keyboards. Apple’s Magic Keyboard has Contact ID and works seamlessly with the Mac, however its shallow typing contact is missing. You quit some comfort with third-party keyboards, however you achieve a extra satisfying typing expertise. 

Mechanical keyboards have been all the craze these days, and plenty of work splendidly with the Mac. The Keychron Q5 Max, for instance, provides Mac keys, Bluetooth, and a buttery easy tactile really feel. Superb provides merchandise such because the GMMK Professional, which has Mac keys and a customizable expertise. Logitech additionally makes the MX Keys S for the Mac, which pairs properly with its MX 3S mouse. Many keyboards may have a toggle swap to go from PC to Mac, for keys to operate as you’d count on. For extra choices, take a look at our roundup of the Finest Mac keyboards we’ve reviewed.

Different equipment to jazz up your setup embody a very good pair of audio system. Whereas some shows may have them built-in, separate exterior audio system provide a a lot better audio expertise. The Harman Kardon Sound Sticks, famously designed by Jony Ive, are nonetheless round and sound nice. The Inventive Pebble X can improve your sound with out a lot wire litter. 

Thiago Trevisan

Add a second show

The MacBook Professional has a stunning Retina show, but it surely nonetheless tops out at solely 16 inches. An iMac is 24 inches, however in a manufacturing workflow, the display can really feel restrictive. A bigger show or a number of shows can considerably enhance your workflow. 

The Apple Studio Show pairs splendidly with the Mac and slots in considerably cheaper than the Apple Professional Show XDR. It additionally provides the potential to each cost the MacBook and join the show through a single Thunderbolt cable. The Apple Studio Show has a wonderful speaker system, and with its built-in digicam, it could possibly additionally decrease the variety of units that you simply’d want for a teleconferencing setup. 

In case you are occupied with getting a show, it doesn’t need to be one by Apple. Macs can help high-refresh-rate displays at 4K and even 6K resolutions at 60Hz. The elevated decision alone of some choices could be helpful to your workflow, opening extra on-screen pixels on your desktop. 

If going from a 16-inch to, say, a 27-inch show isn’t sufficient to turbocharge your workflow, contemplate upping the monitor depend. With a two-monitor setup, the primary show can serve the operate of actions that you might want to do immediately. This shall be writing, looking the online, working with Ultimate Minimize Professional, and many others. The second monitor can serve the aim of displaying extra static data that’s accessible through a easy look.

Thiago Trevisan

I like to make use of a second monitor for Mail or Messages, so I can rapidly take a look at incoming messages. A 3rd display opens up much more potentialities–the third show can function one other static place for stuff you reference all through the day. It will also be the place you’ll be able to hold Finder open to maneuver information round all screens, or also have a video enjoying without having to attenuate different apps. The Mac also can help an ultrawide show–a few of which include USB-C charging on your MacBook. 

If you wish to add further displays, you might want to perceive what number of your Mac can help. Now we have a information to connecting two or extra exterior shows on M-series Macs, however the gist is that the extra highly effective the chip in your Mac, the extra shows it could possibly deal with. Learn our round-up of the Finest Mac displays we’ve reviewed. 

If you happen to don’t have the house or funds for a number of displays, there are different workarounds, too. MacBook Air and Professional customers can use their lap as a second monitor when linked to an exterior show. The iPad Professional also can function a second show, with continuity making the expertise seamless. Continuity works throughout all of your Apple units, resembling iPhone, Watch, and iPad. You may even use your iPhone as a webcam for video conferencing. 

Common management means that you can use the identical mouse and keyboard immediately in your Mac and iPad concurrently, doubling its utility as a second display. 

Thiago Trevisan

Turning into a Mac energy person additionally means making probably the most out of macOS. Apple builds super instruments inside the Mac working system to make your workflow simpler and quicker. 

The only keyboard shortcuts could make your on a regular basis duties transfer gracefully. For instance, urgent Command+Area Bar rapidly brings up Highlight Search. A Mission Management shortcut could be mapped both to your keyboard or a button in your mouse. It’s by far the best strategy to transfer round macOS with many apps open. 

Foundry

Widgets, particularly when paired with massive or a number of screens, can hold data helpful for whenever you want it. Every part from shares and information to the climate could be custom-made to avoid wasting you time opening apps. For instance, a widget displaying the battery standing of a linked Apple system generally is a big assist–your AirPods might have a cost, for instance. It’s a straightforward strategy to have one much less shock all through your day. 

Hiding your Dock will also be a intelligent strategy to unencumber display house. If utilizing a number of screens, merely hovering close to the underside of the display with the mouse pointer will transfer the dock to that monitor. You can too mechanically present and conceal the Dock by going to your Mac’s settings below Desktop & Dock. 

Develop your storage choices

On the most inexpensive customary configurations, Macs sometimes include stingy inner storage sizes. You might have to fork up extra dough for pricy upgrades. Nonetheless, you should use the Mac’s Thunderbolt/USB-C ports to attach an exterior storage system.

With a MacBook, you’ll wish to use the exterior drives for information you don’t essentially want on a regular basis, until you’re going to make use of a transportable exterior drive and can carry it alongside together with your Mac. Learn: Finest exterior SSD for Mac and Finest Exhausting Drive for Mac.

You can too use an exterior drive with Time Machine, macOS’s utility that may carry out automated backups of your Mac. If you happen to do have to recuperate a file, it’s simple to return to a sure date, discover it, and recuperate the file. Time Machine is helpful should you work with massive information which are too cumbersome for frequent cloud backups, resembling video information. (There are different Mac backup choices in our round-up of the Finest software program to backup your Mac).

Managing exterior drives on the Mac has been pretty simple, with Disk Utility serving as your management heart for formatting drives, partitioning them, and mounting/dismounting them from the Desktop. 

Thiago Trevisan

Don’t wish to use an exterior drive? You need to use iCloud to seamlessly combine together with your Mac should you sync the Desktop and Paperwork folder. Something that you simply drop in these areas will mechanically go to iCloud and be seen on different units. Likewise, flip the setting on to entry iCloud information on the net, so have entry wherever. iCloud backup additionally works seamlessly with the Mac and you’ll not want so as to add exterior storage. It does come at an additional price and shall be restricted by your web connection if you might want to transfer round massive information steadily.

If you happen to do resolve so as to add an exterior drive–and even should you don’t–you could wish to pair your Mac with a very good Thunderbolt dock to provide extra ports. Together with conveniences resembling SD card slots, Thunderbolt docks also can provide you with a smattering of USB-A and Thunderbolt ports. This may be particularly helpful for these utilizing a laptop computer as a workstation. They’ll even cost and supply show performance, too. CalDigit makes the great TS4 Thunderbolt Dock, with loads of further ports. OWC additionally has choices to supply. Some docks, such because the Sonnet Echo 20, may even maintain an NVME SSD for further utility. Take a look at our information for the highest Thunderbolt/USB docks.

Thiago Trevisan

Embrace Apple’s adjustments

That is one thing many Mac veterans can lose sight of. A part of being a Mac energy person contains embracing adjustments to the Mac ecosystem. Certain, 2013 Mac Professional homeowners should still have some bitter notes about some adjustments, however issues sometimes enhance with time. 

One prime bleeding-edge instance is the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional. Whereas it’s costly and has considerably restricted use instances, there are energy customers who’ve paired it properly with their Mac. It could broaden your desktop expertise considerably, particularly with upcoming large show help. Mirroring your Mac inside the Imaginative and prescient Professional is without doubt one of the greatest options these units can provide. Being in a digital setting surrounded by your apps and home windows has the potential to rework how you’re employed. 

Thiago Trevisan/Foundry

The key phrase right here is potential–spatial computing remains to be not prepared for prime time. It stays a visionary concept in its infancy, nevertheless, with blended ends in precise every day use. Consolation and a extra pure integration of the expertise will enhance over time, as will the associated fee. 

The Mac shouldn’t be afraid to depart issues behind, with Apple usually getting criticized by some for some notable adjustments. The elimination of USB ports and even the design of the maligned 2013 Mac Professional nonetheless haunts some homeowners. Nonetheless, when Apple will get it proper, it’s price it to be on the sting of recent Mac adjustments.

Apple Intelligence is the following horizon that may make your workflow even higher. Boasting some underwhelming options at current, like e-mail summaries, it absolutely has loads to enhance on. Different enhancements in newer software program embody mirroring your iPhone, serving to with workflow, or easing distractions whereas at your desk. Apple’s new Passwords app can also be nice, piecing collectively the administration of vital login data in a extra built-in vogue. 

Apple Intelligence is a key space for energy customers to maintain a eager eye on, nevertheless. When carried out absolutely sooner or later, it has the potential to alter your workflow tremendously. A reliable Siri assistant will be capable of do far more than it could possibly presently, for instance. Apple is pushing in direction of this objective, however at current stays stifled with no important options but.  A lot of Apple Intelligence options revolve round communication and language, as do most present AI fashions. Bettering textual content and looking for new data are additionally major targets for the expertise. 

With the mixture of what’s already inside macOS, along with some {hardware} and equipment, your workflow can attain a wholly new stage. An influence person is not only centered on the velocity, however having fun with the method of utilizing their Mac, too.