60 Essential Mac Tips for New Setups: macOS Sequoia Edition [Video]

If you’ve recently acquired a new M4 Mac or are considering setting up a fresh macOS installation, there are numerous settings you’ll want to modify and tailor to your preferences. In this revamped guide for new Mac users, I present 60 various tips and tricks aimed at helping you refine your configuration.

Even seasoned macOS users might discover several fresh tips. Don’t forget to check out our video walkthrough, and subscribe to DMN on YouTube for more content.

This written piece includes just a selection of the topics discussed in the video, giving you a sense of the kind of material available in the full presentation. Below are a few of my favorite Mac tricks:

Set Up App Store for Installing Large Apps on External Disks

This feature is new to macOS Sequoia and is a significant benefit for users dealing with limited disk space. The base Mac mini offers only 256GB of flash storage, which, while a fantastic deal, may not be sufficient for everyone. Fortunately, you can expand storage using external USB-C and Thunderbolt drives, allowing you to install large applications from the App Store directly onto an external drive.

Step 1: Launch the App Store.

Step 2: Access App Store settings through the menu bar.

Step 3: Check the box next to Download and install large apps to a separate disk.

Step 4: Choose your external drive.

Now, any app you download from the App Store exceeding 1GB will be downloaded and installed on the external storage automatically. Just ensure your external storage is fast—consider using Samsung’s high-performance T9 drive for excellent value to ensure optimal app performance.

Video: 60 Mac Tips for New Setups (2024 Sequoia Edition)

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Integrate Web Apps into the Dock

With macOS Sequoia, you can simply add web apps to the Dock via Safari, making it easy to add links for platforms like Threads or BlueSky directly to your Dock.

Step 1: Open Safari and navigate to the website you wish to convert into a web app.

Step 2: Click File in the menu bar, and choose Add to Dock.

Web apps in the Dock remain permanently and function like standalone applications distinct from Safari, complete with their own cookies. They come with individual app icons, can be found in LaunchPad, receive notifications, and allow for preference customization.

Eliminate Margins in Window Tiling

With the introduction of Sequoia, a crucial native window tiling ability permits users to create tiled layouts swiftly by dragging windows to the screen’s edge or utilizing keyboard shortcuts. By default, tiled windows come with margins, creating small gaps between them. Here’s how you can remove those margins.

Step 1: Navigate to System Settings.

Step 2: Select Desktop & Dock.

Step 3: Scroll down to disable the Tiled windows have margins option found under the Windows section.

Maximize a Window by Double-Clicking the Title Bar

Another new feature in macOS Sequoia: you can now double-click the title bar of a window to maximize it, replacing the old zoom function that didn’t always behave as expected.

Step 1: Open System Settings.

Step 2: Click on Desktop and Dock.

Step 3: Under the Dock section, select the drop-down menu beside double-click a window’s title bar to and choose Fill.

Disable Desktop View When Clicking Wallpaper

One of the more inconvenient recent features in macOS is the way clicking the wallpaper reveals the desktop, which can hide your other windows. While cool in concept, the implementation can be frustrating. Instead, using a Hot Corner shortcut is a better option. Here’s how to disable this feature:

Step 1: Open System Settings.

Step 2: Choose Desktop and Dock.

Step 3: Under the Desktop & Stage Manager section, change the drop-down option next to Click wallpaper to reveal desktop to Only in Stage Manager.

DMN’s Perspective

This gives you a glimpse into just five tips for enhancing macOS functionality. Whether you’re embarking on a journey with a new Mac or reinstalling macOS Sequoia, be sure to check out the video for a detailed walkthrough of an additional 55 useful tips and tricks.

What are your thoughts? Share your opinions in the comments section below.