The visual learner's guide to getting up and running with your Apple laptop

Teach Yourself VISUALLY MacBook Pro and MacBook Air covers all the vital information you need to start working on your MacBook. With this highly illustrated and easy-to-follow guide, you'll learn to navigate the macOS interface like a pro; customize your desktop with the widgets you need; and get your MacBook working with iCloud, your iPhone, and your iPad. This book's graphical, step-by-step instructions walk you through everything from installation to troubleshooting, helping you to get the most out of the investment you've made in your MacBook.

This fully updated edition helps you become a power user of the latest MacBook models and exploit the features in macOS Sonoma, Apple's state-of-the-art operating system, and the apps that come with it. If you prefer to learn visually, this is the book you need.

• Get up to speed with the latest macOS version, Sonoma, and its new features


• Perform everyday tasks quickly and easily


• Customize settings to make macOS and its apps work the way you prefer


• Communicate via audio and video with FaceTime, via instant messaging with Messages, and via email with Mail


• Organize your life with Calendar, Contacts, Reminders, Notes, and Maps


• Make the most of your iCloud account

Instead of confusing tech-speak and vague instructions, this guide is packed with screenshots, easy-to-follow instructions, and a practical sensibility. Grab Teach Yourself VISUALLY MacBook Pro and MacBook Air and explore all that your MacBook can do.

Chapter 1 Getting Started with Your MacBook

Understanding the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air 4

Set Up Your MacBook 8

Start Your MacBook and Log In 12

Explore the macOS Desktop 14

Point and Click with the Trackpad 18

Connect to a Wireless Network 20

Give Commands 22

Open, Close, and Manage Windows 24

Using Control Center 26

Using Notifications 28

Add Widgets to Your Desktop 30

Put Your MacBook to Sleep and Wake It Up 32

Log Out, Shut Down, and Resume 33

Chapter 2 Configuring Your MacBook

Change the Wallpaper 36

Set Up a Screen Saver 38

Configure Battery and Sleep Settings 40

Customize the Dock 42

Configure Control Center and the Menu Bar 44

Add or Remove Desktop Spaces 46

Create Hot Corners to Control Screen Display 48

Make the Screen Easier to See 50

Configure the Appearance, Accent, and Highlight 54

Configure the Keyboard 56

Configure the Trackpad or Other Pointing Device 58

Configure iCloud Settings 60

Add a Second Display 62

Using an Apple TV and HDTV as an Extra Display 64

Using an iPad as an Extra Display and Input Device 66

Connect External Devices 68

Explore Other Important Settings 70

Chapter 3 Sharing Your MacBook with Others

Create a User Account 74

Configure Your MacBook for Multiple Users 76

Share Your MacBook with Fast User Switching 78

Set Up Family Sharing 80

Turn On Screen Time for a Child 84

Configure Downtime 88

Set Time Limits for Apps and Websites 90

Make Apps Always Available to a User 92

Apply Content and Privacy Restrictions 94

Review a User's Actions 100

Chapter 4 Running Apps

Open an App and Quit It 104

Install an App 106

Run an App Full Screen 108

Set Apps to Run Automatically at Login 110

Using Split View 112

Switch Quickly Among Apps 114

Switch Apps Using Mission Control 116

Enable and Configure Stage Manager 118

Switch Apps Using Stage Manager 120

Set Up Dictation and Spoken Content 122

Using Dictation and Spoken Content 124

Configure and Invoke Siri 126

Perform Tasks with Siri 128

Remove Apps 130

Identify Problem Apps 132

Force a Crashed App to Quit 134

Revert to an Earlier Version of a Document 136

Chapter 5 Managing Your Files and Folders

Explore Your MacBook's File System 140

Using the Finder's Views 142

Work with Finder Tabs 144

View a File with Quick Look 146

Organize Your Desktop Files with Stacks 148

Search for a File or Folder 150

Create a New Folder 152

Rename a File or Folder 153

Copy a File 154

Move a File 156

View the Information About a File or Folder 158

Organize Your Files with Tags 160

Work with Zip Files 162

Using the Trash 164

Configure Finder Settings 166

Customize the Finder Toolbar 168

Customize the Finder Sidebar 169

Chapter 6 Surfing the Web

Open Safari and Customize Your Start Page 172

Open a Web Page 174

Follow a Link to a Web Page 175

Open Several Web Pages at Once 176

Navigate Among Web Pages 178

Return to a Recently Visited Page 180

Play Music and Videos on the Web 182

Set Your Home Page and Search Engine 184

Create Bookmarks for Web Pages 186

Using Reader View and Reading List 188

Organize Safari Tabs into Tab Groups 190

Download a File 192

Create and Use Safari Profiles 194

Configure Safari for Security and Privacy 196

Chapter 7 Sending and Receiving E-Mail

Set Up Your E-Mail Accounts 202

Send an E-Mail Message 204

Receive and Read Your Messages 206

Reply to a Message 208

Forward a Message 210

Send a File via E-Mail 212

Receive a File via E-Mail 214

View E-Mail Messages by Conversations 216

Block and Unblock Contacts 218

Reduce the Amount of Spam You Receive 220

Chapter 8 Chatting and Calling

Configure the Messages App 224

Chat with a Contact 226

Send and Receive Files with Messages 228

Sign In to FaceTime and Choose Settings 230

Make and Receive FaceTime Calls 232

Configure and Use Handoff with Your iPhone 234

Chapter 9 Organizing Your Life

Manage Your Apple ID and iCloud Account 238

Navigate the Calendar App 240

Create a New Calendar 242

Create an Event 244

Share an iCloud Calendar with Other People 246

Subscribe to a Shared Calendar 248

Add Someone to Your Contacts 250

Organize Contacts into Lists 252

Create Notes 254

Track Your Commitments with Reminders 258

Make the Most of the Maps App 262

Chapter 10 Enjoying Music, Video, and Books

Add Your Music to the Music App 266

Set Up Home Sharing 268

Play Songs 270

Create Playlists 272

Create Smart Playlists 274

Listen to Apple Radio and Internet Radio 276

Enjoy Podcasts 278

Play Videos with the TV App 280

Read Books 282

Chapter 11 Making the Most of Your Photos

Import Photos 286

Browse Your Photos 288

Select Photos from Bursts 294

Crop a Photo 296

Rotate or Straighten a Photo 298

Improve a Photo's Colors 300

Add Filters to Photos 302

Create Photo Albums 304

Create and Play Slide Shows 306

E-Mail a Photo 308

Shoot Photos or Movies of Yourself 310

Chapter 12 Networking, Security, and Troubleshooting

Transfer Files Using AirDrop 314

Connect to a Shared Folder 316

Share a Folder 318

Connect to a Shared or Network Printer 320

Turn Off Automatic Login 322

Enable and Configure the Firewall 324

Choose Privacy Settings for Location Services 326

Reclaim Space by Emptying the Trash 328

Keep Your MacBook Current with Updates 330

Control Checking for Software and App Updates 332

Back Up Your Files 334

Recover Files from Backup 336

Recover When macOS Crashes 338

Recover, Restore, or Reinstall macOS 340

Index 342