Learn more about your Mac and Big Sur! Whether you’re new to computers in general or have switched to Macs from Windows PCs, this guidebook is for you. Over the next 132 pages, our in-depth tutorials and plain-English guides get to the heart of your new Apple desktop or laptop, its macOS Big Sur operating system and its in-built apps and features. It’s fully illustrated, so our guides are easy to follow, and as well as bringing you the bare-bones basics, we also show you some of the more advanced features of your Mac, macOS and its apps.
The Mac Beginners’ Guide • Learn more about your Mac and Big Sur!
Getting Started with Big Sur
Set Up Your Mac For the First Time • If you have a new Mac but have not yet set it up, follow this guide. It’s nothing to be afraid of; follow the guide and the on-screen instructions, and step by step, you get to set your Mac’s language, take it onto the Internet with your local Wi-Fi network, sign in with your all-important Apple ID and more.
Welcome to the Desktop • The desktop is at the heart of your Mac. Everything you do takes place on the desktop, including opening apps, interacting with files and folders and using the Dock. Here we show you how to use your desktop, app and folder windows, the top bar menu, menulets, Trash and other key desktop features.
Getting Online With Wi-Fi or Ethernet • As is the case with any modern operating system, access to the Internet is a vital component for upgrading and getting hold of new apps that will help you get the most from your Mac. Getting online in Big Sur is remarkably easy and here’s how to do it both wirelessly and with a cabled connection.
Menus A Key Mac Feature • Menus are an essential part of interacting with your Mac. Whether it’s a pull-down menu accessed by clicking on the top bar of your desktop or a contextual menu found by right-clicking or CTRL-clicking on a file or folder, you need to know how to use your menus if you are to get the most out of your Mac and Big Sur.
Using Finder Files, Folders & Apps • Finder is the main app that underpins everything you do in macOS, so it’s worth taking the time to discover its features and functions. On these pages you’ll see how Finder works and how you can use the Finder window; including its navigation controls, viewing tabs and more, to get the most from it.
The Dock For Most-used Apps • The macOS Dock is a fantastic feature that’s been present on Macs since the introduction of Mac OS X 10.0. It’s perfect for gaining quick access to the most relevant and used applications, documents and folders. It’s customisable, which means you’ll come to personalise your Dock to best fit your own unique needs.
Notifications See What’s Going On • Notifications are one element of Big Sur that has probably seen the biggest change. Gone is the traditional Notification Centre, as appeared in Catalina and in its place, with the new iOS-like design, is the more streamlined, Notifications.
Working with Widgets • Although widgets were introduced to macOS with the release of OS X Yosemite, they were limited in terms of the their design, functionality and customisation. However, Big Sur has launched a new style of Widgets that offers better customisation and a more personalised experience.
The Spotlight Feature Search Your Mac • Spotlight Search is Apple’s unique and ultra-powerful search system that can find almost anything on your Mac. There’s a whole raft of great features, making it a really powerful and useful tool that’s integrated into the apps that you use every day. Here’s how to get the most from the Spotlight feature.
Setting Up Email For the Mail App • With email, you can send mails and attachments anywhere in the world, at the push of a button. It’s there instantly too. Here we take a look at what email…