Mac
Set Your Mac to Automatically Empty Trash
Matt Cone January 25, 2021
When you’re done with files and folders on your Mac, you drag them to the trash. You can manually empty your Mac’s trash to permanently remove unwanted files or folders. But there’s an easy way to automate the process. By enabling a setting on your Mac, the trash will automatically delete files and folders that are over 30 days old. Here’s how to set your Mac to automatically empty the trash:
How to Empty Your Mac's Trash
Matt Cone January 24, 2021
When you’re ready to delete files on your Mac, you drag and drop them on your Mac’s trash can. It’s the equivalent of the Recycling Bin on Windows operating systems. But what happens after you move files to the trash? The trash is essentially a folder on your Mac — a holding spot for files you want to delete eventually, but not quite yet. If you change your mind, you can just drag a file out of the trash and into another folder.
How to Tell What Shell Your Mac is Using
Matt Cone January 22, 2021
Every Mac comes with a Unix shell that provides a command line interface. Macs running macOS 10.15 and later use Zsh by default. Before that, Macs used the Bash shell by default. Of course, no matter what version of macOS you’re using, you can change the shell your Mac is using. What shell is your Mac using? There’s an easy way to tell — here’s how. Open the Terminal application on your Mac.
How to Enable Git Tab Autocomplete on Your Mac
Matt Cone January 21, 2021
The git version control system is a popular choice among developers when working with source code. Git is automatically installed on every Mac by default, but you might want to enable the git tab autocomplete feature to help you automatically complete commands and branch names. This feature is a must-have if you work with long branch names. For example, if you typed git checkout ma and then pressed the Tab key, git tab autocomplete would automatically fill in the rest of the branch name, like this: git checkout main.
Connect Your MacBook to the Internet Using an Ethernet Adapter
Matt Cone January 20, 2021
Using an ethernet cable has always been a popular way to connect to the internet, but newer MacBooks don’t have ethernet ports. Fortunately, with the help of a low-cost ethernet adapter, you can connect an ethernet cable to your MacBook. The ethernet adapter is a dongle that plugs into your MacBook’s USB-C port. We recommend the Belkin USB-C ethernet adapter. This adapter works natively with your MacBook and macOS, and it supports gigabit internet speeds.
How to Repeat One Song in the Mac's Music Application
Matt Cone January 18, 2021
Sometimes you just want to play one song over and over again on repeat. It’s easy to do this in the Music application on your Mac. Once this feature is enabled, the song you start playing will play over and over again until you pause the music. Here’s how to repeat one song in your Mac’s Music application: In your Mac’s Music application, click the repeat icon repeatedly until a “1” appears on the icon, as shown below.
How to Forward Text Messages to Your Mac
Matt Cone January 17, 2021
Not everyone owns an iPhone, and that means that many text messages are still sent as SMS/MMS text messages. You can forward these text messages from your iPhone to your Mac so they appear in the Messages application on your Mac (you can also respond to the text messages from your Mac). This is a great feature for people who want to do all of their texting from their Mac.
How to Set Bash as the Default Shell on Mac
Matt Cone January 15, 2021
Every new Mac uses the Z shell (Zsh) by default, but you can quickly and easily switch the default shell back to Bash. There are several reasons you might want to do this. For example, you may need to be using the bash shell to execute bash scripts on a Mac. Tip: Not sure what shell your Mac is using? You can check using the instructions in How to Tell What Shell Your Mac is Using.
How to Disable the Big Mouse Pointer on Mac
Matt Cone January 15, 2021
By default, all Macs come with the Shake mouse pointer to locate feature enabled. This feature is designed to help you locate the mouse pointer on your screen quickly by making it big when you shake the mouse or move the pointer quickly with the trackpad. Some people find this feature distracting during presentations and day-to-day use. Fortunately, there’s a quick and easy way to disable the big mouse pointer on your Mac.
Synchronize your Mac's Clock with a Time Server
Matt Cone January 14, 2021
By default, your Mac synchronizes its clock with a network time server to keep accurate time. Network time servers are the authoritative timekeepers of the internet, ensuring that everyone has the right time. Apple’s time server (time.apple.com) is the default time server for your Mac, but you can switch to another time server, such as one maintained by your employer or university. Here’s how to synchronize your Mac’s clock with a time server and optionally change the time server: