Mac Tip

How to determine whether your Mac is using an Intel processor or Apple silicon M1 chip

A still from Apple ad showing the Apple M1 chip

Starting with certain models introduced in late 2020, Apple began the transition from Intel processors to its own desktop chips in Mac computers.

Legacy Macs (thankfully) don't have an Intel inside sticker (like most Windows PC with Intel processors), and there's no apparent way to distinguish these from Apple silicon Mac systems from the outside.

In this tutorial, we're going to show you how to identify Apple silicon Macs.

Where is that on Mac?

Question Mark on MacBook

Maybe you just purchased your first Mac or maybe you only perform certain tasks on it each day. In these situations, it can be difficult to find items you’re unfamiliar with when you need them. From big things like applications to small ones like the trash, we’ll help you find the most commonly looked for items on your Mac.

How to force universal Mac apps to run under Rosetta emulation instead of natively

Apple provides the enhanced Universal 2 binary feature to its developers who wish to ship macOS apps that pack in code for both Intel and Apple Silicon systems. In other words, a universal binary runs natively on both Apple M1 and Intel-based Mac computers because it contains executable code for both architectures. However, certain edge cases may justify running a native Apple Silicon app under Rosetta emulation, and we show you how it's done.

How to customize the Dock and menu bar of your Mac

Customize Dock and menu bar on your Mac

macOS lets you customize the Dock and menu bar effortlessly. Starting with macOS Big Sur and carried forward by its successor macOS Monterey, the System Preferences saw some revamp. You can figure out most of these changes on your own. But there are a few things you should know to get started.

So here, we’ll show you how to customize the Dock and menu bar on Mac.

How to work with app windows using VoiceOver on Mac

Application Chooser on Mac

There are a lot of key elements to get used to when using VoiceOver on Mac. An obvious one is turning it on and off, another is how to access the help menus, and the one we’ll walk through here is managing app windows.

For the most part, your desktop is all about the windows you have open to perform tasks. Whether it’s an app or a folder, if there isn’t a window open, you’re just staring at a desktop full of icons. So knowing how to work with your windows is essential with VoiceOver on Mac. We’ll show you how to enter and exit full-screen, switch between apps and windows, and resize or move open windows.

How to use the VoiceOver Help and Commands menus on Mac

VoiceOver and Help Menu on Mac

When you first start using VoiceOver on Mac, it can take some time to get used to it. Remembering the commands available and how to initiate them definitely takes some time. Apple knows this and provides helpful menus to make it a bit easier.

While using VoiceOver, you can access the Help and Commands menus for some assistance. And if there’s any keyboard shortcuts to remember when using VoiceOver, it’s the ones to display these menus. So, here’s how to access and use the VoiceOver Help and Command menus on your Mac.