So, you've finally jumped ship and entered the Apple ecosystem as a new Mac owner. Welcome to the family! We Mac users love to share our knowledge, so please join the iMore forums if you have any questions. In the meantime, here are a few tips you should know about using your new Mac.
1. Set up a backup plan for your Mac
No matter how much you store in iCloud, you should always back up your Mac. Time Machine is the easiest method, but other plans might work better for you. The choice is yours.
- How to set up and use Time Machine
- How to choose a backup plan for your Mac
- Best backup services for your Mac
2. Sign in to iCloud
One of the best reasons to switch to Mac is the Apple ecosystem, which is largely fueled by iCloud syncing. You can access photos, documents, movies, music, and more, all with your iCloud account. Just make sure you are signed in to iCloud using the same Apple ID to sync your iOS, tvOS, and watchOS data.
3. Sign in to the Music, Podcasts, and TV apps
The Mac no longer has a singular iTunes program. Instead, all of your music, movies and TV shows, and podcasts have been divvied up across three dedicated apps. I promise the user experience is much, much better. We've got a guide for each of these apps for you for macOS Big Sur.
4. Set up Email and Calendar
Although there are many fantastic email and calendar apps for the Mac, you should still set up the built-in Mail and Calendar apps on your Mac. The reason? Some third-party apps use them as a jumping-off point for syncing data (mostly just iCal, actually), and partly because you never know when your favorite third-party app will stop working. The built-in Mail and Calendar apps will most likely always be supported by Apple for the foreseeable future.
5. Set up Optimized Storage
Apple has developed a great way for you to keep your Mac's hard drive from getting too full. Using several iCloud syncing options, as well as a healthy clutter cleaning regimen, you can keep your hard drive free for more important downloads.
6. Set up automatic downloads
Apple regularly updates macOS with new and awesome features. Some Mac app developers also like to keep things ticking with regular updates. You can ensure you don't miss anything by setting up automatic downloads, which run in the background.
7. Connect your printer
Peripherals like a keyboard, trackpad, and mouse are all important to getting the most out of your Mac, but you should also think about setting up a printer. Even if you don't need it now, you will probably need one at some point, and you don't want to be rushing around at the last minute.
8. Download apps and games
As much as Apple gives you plenty of programs to help get you started on your Mac, there are still a ton of other apps you will need for productivity, entertainment, and more. That's where the Mac App Store comes in. You can find almost every type of app in the Mac App Store. Once you download an app, it is available to download on all other Macs synced with your Apple ID, as long as the app is in the Mac App Store.
9. Get to know Spotlight
Spotlight is your go-to program for finding practically everything you need on your Mac or the Web. You can look up directions using Maps, open a Terminal window, find utilities you didn't know you had, and more. All you have to do is click on the search icon in the upper right corner of your Mac's screen and type in a word or phrase. Spotlight will search through all of your files, folders, emails, and documents to find the right content. If that's not enough, Spotlight will also search through your entire computer system and even look up stuff on the web.
10. Migrate your files
Just because you've moved from Windows to Mac doesn't mean you can't take your important paperwork with you. You can move data from your old PC to your new Mac using Migration Assistant.
How to transfer data from your old PC to your new Mac
Are you a new Mac owner looking for a change?
As Apple adds new Macs to its lineup, iMore adjusts our yearly recommendations. Be sure to check out our latest recommendations before making a decision.
Have any more questions?
As a new Mac owner, do you have any questions about getting started with your Mac? Leave a comment below. You can also visit the iMore forums for help from our staff and readers.
Updated December 2020: Updated for the latest Macs.
