💻 Optimize Your Mac: Top Settings to Change Right Now! 🚀

[@AnitabyDesign]

OMGosh! You have helped me tremendously. Thank you so much!

[@TheMacWhisperer]

I'm so glad! Thanks for watching! What specific tip resonated with you?

[@davidrogis1110]

Thank you for this video. It sure helping me out with organizing my Mac.

[@TheMacWhisperer]

Great to hear! Thanks for watching!

[@nathalievilleneuve8999]

Amazing tips! I love the double click on Command and right click on the left Option key. Life changers!!! About the Downloads Folder in Safari, I prefer to keep it that way and put an alias of the Downloads Folder on the Desktop. That way, I’ll avoid to have a messy desktop (my windows desktop was messy for 30 years, i want to take good habits now…) Because I’ve been using my iPhone almost as a computer in the last years, I prefer to get notify if I remove something from the iCloud. Thank you so much. Love your videos. 😉

[@TheMacWhisperer]

Awesome, I’m glad you have systems that work for you. One of the principles I operate with is that each person should define and refine a system that works for them… These are my systems, and I offer them only as suggestions to help people discover their own. It sounds like you’ve got a good handle on yours! Great job!

[@xander2drax]

Thanks!

[@TheMacWhisperer]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@4Mulator]

You can use a modifier key, so you only trigger a hot corner if you're also hitting the ⌘ command key (for example).

[@TheMacWhisperer]

True, but I can already use shortcuts for the same functions... so what help is the hot corner if I need to use a modifier to get to it?

[@jasona.2044]

The desktop and docs option is the greatest thing to link your phone and Mac. I am constantly using my phone to put things on my Mac. ❤

[@TheMacWhisperer]

So helpful! Right? And the funniest thing is how few people know about it and continue to email and text themselves files, not realizing that those files are already on their phones and computers without cluttering their inboxes.

[@jasona.2044]

@@TheMacWhisperer game changer for productivity

[@DanielleThoma]

Been an Apple fan for many years. Just got a new MacBook (last one is 10 years old!) Learning all the new things from your channel-thanks! My question: Is there a hidden setting that will not allow me to drag a folder (in my case “Documents”) to my dock? The folder will drag. But when I attempt to put it on the dock, nothing happens, and it just bounces back to the finder.

[@TheMacWhisperer]

Just make sure you are dragging it to the far right side (to the right of the farthest dividing line). When you drag it there, the other items on that side of the dock (like the trash and usually the downloads folder) will move out of the way to make space. For more info on the dock check out this video (which will be getting a new revised version in the next few weeks): kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJ3FgZt3aruEgtk

[@DanielleThoma]

@@TheMacWhisperer thank you so much!

[@tardis33]

You said on KZbin that you prefer Safari because it is consistent across all devices. Do you use an ad blocker? Do you recommend an ad blocker for Safari? What Safari extensions do you use & recommend?

[@TheMacWhisperer]

I do have an ad blocker (literally called AdBlock), but I generally leave it inactive. If a particular website is abusive with ads I will turn it on, but otherwise I use reader mode or avoid the ads whenever possible. The problem with using ad blockers is that most websites require ads to keep the lights on… Ad blockers punish the websites, and in the long run could make your favorite website go away because they can't afford to continue being a free site. The other extensions that I use regularly are Grammarly, for spellchecking… And RoboForm for password management. Unlike chrome, which requires extensions for everything and slows your entire computer down for minimal functionality… Safari is pretty damn right out of the box. So I only use extensions when necessary, and only a handful at that. I try to keep Safari light and clean so that my computer doesn't get slowed to a crawl because I have 1,000 extensions (which i only use occasionally) and 10,000 tabs open at all times. Browsers are one of the biggest resource hogs on the computer, so the better you manage them (and safari is easier to manage than chrome) the better your computer will run.

[@user-ep9kk4mf1g]

A video similar to this for an iPad and an iPhone would be appreciated. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@TheMacWhisperer]

For sure it is in the planning stages.

[@RonnieGreher]

The part where you can turn off authentication for passwords in Safari really helped me out. I've been annoyed by this for quite some time. Now I have to get used to clicking on the password, rather than placing my finger on the touch id sensor on my mac. Thanks Dylan

[@TheMacWhisperer]

Yup. Super annoying setting! I use a password manager (Roboform), so passwords automatically fill in for me, which really made the fingerprint thing infuriating.

[@GaryFerrao]

i leave the option to always ask where to download files, because the Internet is a nasty place and some websites may just download stuff that you didn't even ask for.

[@TheMacWhisperer]

It happens occasionally, but since most downloaded installers require a password to install on your Mac (and the Mac is much safer from viruses, etc, than PCs), I take that chance. To date, I have never had an unexpected download come in and cause havoc... but you are not wrong. It is definitely a more secure setting to leave it on, but security and convenience are usually at odds with each other. In my case, since I pay attention to what I download and what I install, I will lean on convenience instead. How often have you "accidentally" downloaded a malicious app on your Mac?

[@tardis33]

Thank you, I made all the changes suggested on my Mac, some were already changed but some were new. I dragged the applications folder to the dock as recommended to have a list, but then I was wondering whether that is a duplication of launchpad? Also, I use the Brave browser as my main browser with Safari on my second screen. Do you recommend Safari in preference? Would love to know which apps you use.

[@TheMacWhisperer]

I like the Applications folder much better than Launchpad. They serve the same function, but it is really hard to organize Launchpad... however the Application folder is already organized... so i generally recommend removing launchpad and using the Applications folder instead. And I ALWAYS recommend Safari as a default browser since it automatically synchronizes with all your Apple products. It is possible to Sync Brave and other browsers, but it is not simple, and doesn't always work... but Safari does.

[@forrestfitzpatrick9709]

How do I set up my “Mail” app?

[@TheMacWhisperer]

Go to settings, internet accounts, click add a new account, choose your provider (or other if you don't see your provider), and put in your username and password. Then turn on the mail, and voila! 🪄

[@christopherlyons7613]

Why do you prefer Safari over Chrome? How many folders can you have in your dock? I like your Applications Folder in the dock idea. But is there a way to tell the system what order you want Apps shown in the Applications folder list view? Is it alphabetical by default? Why don't they provide a better interface to Launch Pad? Crazy you can't set order of the Apps, that free form method they show the app icons is frustrating!

[@TheMacWhisperer]

I prefer Safari over chrome because it automatically synchronizes with all of my Apple devices without changing any settings or jumping through any hoops. I can open any webpage from any device, regardless of where it was first opened and all of my history syncs seamlessly, without having to rely on Google, a company I don't rewally trust, and who is super happy to sell your data to whoever wants it. And I find Chrome to be clunky. It needs all of these extensions to do super basic tasks, things that are built into Safari but are third-party for Chrome. On top of all of those pieces, I really love the tab groups function of Safari and find it to be one of the best ways to minimize the amount of resources the browser uses. Browsers are one of the heaviest resource hogs on a computer, and with Safari you can control it to a certain extent… But with Chrome, good luck managing those resources.... I don't know of a limit for Folders on the dock, but I don't need many of them because I have things organized and can add a couple folders to access everything I need... the rest I can find through the sidebar. You can sort folders on the dock (including the Applications folder) by name, date, kind, etc... You can also view them in several ways. Personally, I like sorting by name... And yes, launch pad is clunky. You can reorganize it, but you have to do it manually, and I don't have time for that. I have never liked launchpad, so I remove it from the Dock right away and ignore it while using the more straightforward Applications folder. Hope that helps! Thanks for watching!

[@lindalyn2490]

Hi Dylan Thanks so much for your generous gifts and your time and knowledges But pity me I have short memory could retain much. I’m thinking if I have one on one section with you You could guide me throughout to help me sort of all my problems put me in right prospective. I used to go for one on one tuition with Apple shop technicians on a monthly fees but Apple no longer do that they move to focus on children programs My age have catch up with me and The technologies moving so fast I’m really out of touch My computer had become stronger to me! 😂

[@TheMacWhisperer]

Happy to schedule a one-on-one. Please email me at [e-mail] and we will get you on my calendar.

[@lindalyn2490]

My computer is so messy I don’t even know where to start I’m know I have lots problems my files are so messy and My computer seems to be stranger to me in my situation now what is the first advice you can give me on how to prepare myself before book with you?

[@TheMacWhisperer]

Create a list (I recommend doing it in Notes) with all your questions, issues, problems and challenges. This will help you get a grasp on where we need to work, and then we can go through the list together and I can guide you. Separately, I teach a live monthly class (two 2 hour classes each month) that you may want to consider joining. It's more cost effective than 1-on-1 sessions, and will give you the foundations to quickly get your computer in shape. You can learn more about it here: www.themacwhisperer.com/tmw

[@logit563]

Great video thanks for your tips and tricks, would like to know your views on iCloud privacy relay in Safari

[@TheMacWhisperer]

It's good, but like most VPN-like services, it can slow down your internet and cause some issues with connectivity (especially with Apple Mail). I think it's good, but I hope they improve it. What are your thoughts on it?

[@logit563]

@@TheMacWhisperer I haven’t got iCloud privacy relay turned on. I just use a VPN.

[@iambracey5875]

Just upgraded to Mac Mini M2 (Sonoma), however can't locate the menu bar anymore. And yes, I've reviewed Settings and checked to always show menu bar. Can you assist?

[@TheMacWhisperer]

If you are in full screen mode the menubar will be hidden. To exit full screen mode go to the top of your screen and the menu bar will appear, then click the green button and you shoul dexit fullscreen mode. To prevent that in the future do not click the green button on windows to enlarge them, instead, resize the window manually (by dragging the bottom corners to the right size), or hold your option button down onyour keyboard and click the green button to "zoom" rather than enter full screen mode. I really dislike fullscreen mode, mostly becasue it causes problems like this and with the exception of watching a movie in full screen, serves no real purpose. I hope that helps... let me know. Also, make sure to run all your updates in case that is the issue. Current OS is 14.6.1

[@isupplyaudio]

@@TheMacWhisperer Thanks a bunch. Just realized after additional research, I had to dive into my TV/Monitor's internal menu and turn off "Overscan". Now the menu bar is visible. Whew! Thanks for your videos! Very helpful.

[@spectre3492]

what notch is the default for trackpad speed?

[@TheMacWhisperer]

Usually right in the middle.

[@prabitprime]

10000 of photos stored in document in iCloud is mixed in photos library with all other photos . How to correct that?

[@TheMacWhisperer]

If you sort them, put the documents away, and add the photos to your library (deleting them from the documents section afterward), you should be in good shape. There is no issue with having all your photos stored in the Photos app (where you can organize, sort, and delete the ones you don't want). The problem happens when you leave everything floating loose in folders rather than organizing them within the proper location (Photos for pictures, Music for songs, etc...) I hope that helps. If you need more clarity, please be specific about the issue.

[@prabitprime]

@@TheMacWhisperer no this isn’t helping

[@TheMacWhisperer]

Can you be more specific? What is the exact challenge?

[@jasona.2044]

I hate the downloads folder

[@TheMacWhisperer]

Totally agree!