What’s it called on my Mac?

What’s it called on my Mac? compares and contrasts Windows and Mac terms. It also explains how to get system information, eject things (like usb drives), and more!

Get to know the Mac desktop

Get to know the Mac desktop At the top of the screen is the menu bar and at the bottom is the Dock. In between is what’s called the desktop. The desktop is where you do your work.

Apple menu

What’s in the Apple menu on Mac? The Apple menu   is located in the top-left corner of your screen. Click it to access System Settings and recently used apps, documents, and other items.

Back up files

Time Machine keeps a copy of all your files, and it remembers how your system looked on any given day.

Browse for files

Looking for Windows File Explorer? Learn about the Finder.

Change Mac settings

Looking for the Control Panel? Use System Settings (or System Preferences) instead.

Change volume

Use the volume control in the menu bar or Control Center, or use the volume keys on your Apple keyboard.

Close & resize windows

Buttons for closing, minimizing, and maximizing a window are in the upper-left corner of the window.

Find files

Use Spotlight to quickly find and open apps, documents, and other files.

Open apps

To find and open your apps (programs), you can use Spotlight or the Dock. You can also open apps from the Applications folder on Macintosh HD. To quickly access the Applications folder, click Applications in the sidebar of any Finder window, or use the Go menu in the Finder menu bar.

Preview files

Preview most files on your Mac using Quick Look. Click the file once to select it, then press Space bar.

Rename files

Click the file once to select it, then press the Return key and type a new name. Press Return when done.

Right click

Click the right corner of your Apple mouse, or click with two fingers on your Apple trackpad. You can change this in Mouse settings and Trackpad settings.

Scroll, swipe, click

Settings for scroll direction, swipe gestures, and button assignments are also in Mouse and Trackpad settings. To get to those settings, use the Apple menu and select System Settings (on older Macs this was called System Preferences).

Throw files away

Looking for the Recycle Bin? Use the Trash, which is in the Dock.

Use Control Center on Mac

Use Control Center on Mac Control Center on Mac gives you quick access to key macOS settings—such as AirDrop, Wi-Fi, or Focus. You can customize Control Center to add other items, such as accessibility shortcuts, battery status, or fast user switching. You can also drag items to the menu bar.