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Apple Basics - Coming from Windows?

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Master the Switch: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Files and Getting Productive on Mac

 
 

The Keyboard

  • The Command (⌘) Key
    This is your new best friend. Whenever you used Ctrl on Windows (like Ctrl+C for copy), you will now use Command (⌘+C)

  • Right-Clicking
    You can right-click by clicking with two fingers on the trackpad, similar to Windows, or by holding Control while clicking. If using an external mouse, continue right-clicking the same way you do today.

  • The "Delete" Key
    On a Mac, the Delete key acts like the Windows Backspace key (deleting text to the left). If you want to do a traditional Windows "forward delete" (deleting text to the right), press Fn + Delete

  • Renaming Files
    On Windows, highlighting a file and pressing Enter opens it. On a Mac, pressing Return allows you to rename the file. To open a file with the keyboard, use Command (⌘) + O (or just double-click it with your mouse)


 

 

Finding Your Files & Apps

  • Finder (The Smiling Face)
    This is the Mac equivalent of File Explorer. Click it in your Dock to find your files

  • Where is the C: Drive?
    Macs don't use drive letters. Your main local storage is usually called "Macintosh HD," but you don't really need to look for it. You will do almost all your navigating using the left sidebar inside Finder, which houses your Desktop, Documents, Downloads, and Google drive

  • Spotlight Search (🔍)
    Press Command (⌘) + Spacebar to bring up a search bar. You can use this to instantly find apps, documents, or even do quick math

  • The Dock
    This is similar to the Windows Taskbar at the bottom of the screen

  • Quick Look (The Spacebar Magic)
    This is a true Mac superpower. If you want to see what is inside a document, PDF, or image without waiting for the full application to open, click the file once to highlight it and press the Spacebar. It will instantly pop up a full preview!

     

 

Managing Windows

  • The "Close," "Minimize," and "Maximize" buttons are on the top left of the window, not the right.
    Red = Closes the Window (not the app)
    Yellow = Minimize
    Green = Full Screen

  • Closing Windows vs. Quitting Apps
    This is the #1 trip-up for Windows users! Clicking the Red circle in the top left closes the window, but the app is often still running in the background (you will see a tiny dot under its icon in the Dock). To completely shut down a program, press Command (⌘) + Q (Quit)

  • The Green Button (Full Screen vs. Maximize)
    Clicking the green button on a Mac window enters strict "Full Screen" mode, which hides your Dock and top menu bar. If you just want to stretch the window to fit the screen without losing your menu bars, hold the Option key while clicking the green button

  • Mission Control
    If you have a million windows open and can't find what you need, swipe UP on your trackpad with three (or four) fingers. This opens "Mission Control," showing you every single open window at a glance so you can click the one you want


 

 
 

Are you new to Mac?

For a comprehensive, step-by-step walkthrough of your new device, please refer to Apple’s official documentation: Are you new to Mac?

 
 

Additional Resources from Apple

 

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