Six Things to Know When Switching From Windows to MacOS
Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company just had its “best launch week ever” for first-time Mac buyers, as the MacBook Neo , MacBook Air m5 , and MacBook Pro m5 Pro/Max went on sale. It appears people are switching to Macs in significant numbers, with the $599 MacBook Neo likely having the biggest impact.
If you’re one of the people who helped Apple achieve record first-week sales among new customers, you might be wondering where to start learning macOS —and how it differs (or isn’t) from the Windows operating system you’re used to. Windows is the operating system I grew up with, dating back to the early days of Windows 95, but as a tech journalist, I’ve written countless articles about macOS. I use both operating systems almost every day, so here’s my guide to getting started with Apple’s desktop operating system if you’ve only used Microsoft’s.
Mac computers have a menu bar.
Perhaps the biggest interface change you’ll have to get used to initially is the menu bar. If you’ve only used Windows, you’re accustomed to a taskbar at the bottom and an application menu near the top, linked to the corresponding programs.
macOS has a menu bar that unites these various elements. It takes app shortcuts, the time and date display, and pop-up notifications from the lower-right corner of Windows and places them in the upper-right corner. This same top bar also includes a menu for any currently active app.
So, whether you’re using Google Chrome, Adobe Photoshop, or Spotify, the menus aren’t tied to program windows—they’re right at the top of the screen. It takes a little getting used to, but the name of the currently active program is always displayed in the upper left corner, and to the left of it is the Apple menu—which I’ll discuss later.
Mac computers do not have a Start menu.
macOS doesn’t have a Start button or Start menu—instead, different parts of the Start menu are scattered around. For example, if you need OS settings or options for shutdown and user accounts, they’re found in the Apple menu: the Apple logo that’s always located in the upper-left corner of the screen.
Here you’ll find the About This Mac section (information about the computer you’re using); Sleep , Restart , and Shut Down options; and controls for locking your Mac or logging out. The Force Quit feature, which can close misbehaving apps, is also useful here.
The Apple menu also provides access to the macOS App Store and any pending app updates. The Recent Items submenu, in turn, performs some of the functions of the Windows Start menu, providing convenient access to recently launched apps and recently opened files.
How is working with macOS applications different from working with Windows applications?
Just like on Windows, you can install apps on macOS through the official App Store or by downloading them through a web browser. There are several ways to find and launch apps, which can be a bit confusing at first. I usually launch Spotlight (using Cmd+Space or the magnifying glass icon in the menu bar) and then type in the app’s name.
At the bottom of the screen is the Dock, which is similar to the Windows taskbar. From here, you can switch between apps, launch recently used apps, and permanently pin app shortcuts (right-click an app icon and select Options > Keep in Dock ). Open the Apple menu and select System Preferences > Desktop & Dock to customize the position and behavior of the Dock.
To find all apps installed on macOS, you can launch Spotlight (as described above) and then click the App Store icon to the right of the search field. You can also launch Finder and select Go > Applications from the menu (or select the Applications link in the left navigation bar, if visible).
The Finder on your Mac is your new file explorer.
Finder is the place to manage all locally stored files on your system, and while it may seem different at first compared to File Explorer, it’s easy to get used to. Like any other app, you can launch it from Spotlight or the Dock.
By default, the left-hand navigation bar allows you to navigate to key areas of your system, including the desktop and Downloads folder (as well as the Applications folder). As usual, the main menus are located at the top, but drop-down menus for managing the layout of Finder elements can be found at the top of the current window.
Many Finder operations work the same way as in File Explorer—for example, drag a file from one window to another to move it between folders. One useful Finder feature that Windows lacks is Quick Look, which lets you quickly preview a selected file by pressing the spacebar without opening it.
How to Manage Preferences on Your New Mac
There are many ways to customize macOS, and a good place to start is by opening the Apple menu and selecting System Preferences . From here, you can manage everything from software updates and Siri access to Wi-Fi connections and battery life (if you’re using a MacBook rather than a desktop Mac).
Go to Wallpaper to set your desktop background (dynamic backgrounds that change over time are supported), Notifications to control how often you’re distracted by app notifications, and Menu Bar to change the items and keyboard shortcuts that appear at the top of your screen. If you’re wondering how to change anything in macOS, you’ll usually find it here.
Individual program settings are typically changed by clicking on the program’s name in the menu bar (such as Chrome or Spotify ) and then selecting Settings from the menu that appears.
Keyboard shortcuts on macOS take a little getting used to.
Keyboard shortcuts are essential for working efficiently on both Windows and macOS, but switching to Apple computers will require retraining your muscle memory. If you, like me, use both Windows and macOS simultaneously, it may take you a while to remember which keys to press at what time.
In many cases, the Ctrl key in Windows can be replaced with Cmd (Command) in macOS: for example, use Cmd+C to copy (instead of Ctrl+C ), Cmd+V to paste (instead of Ctrl+V ), and Cmd+W to close browser tabs (instead of Cmd+W ).
Sometimes the keyboard shortcut is slightly different. If you’re used to using Alt+Tab to switch between open applications in Windows, on macOS you’ll need to use Cmd+Tab —though if you miss this shortcut, you can install a utility that replicates it . There are utilities that can help you learn all the necessary keyboard shortcuts.
Integration into the Apple ecosystem is seamless.
If you already have an iPhone or iPad that can be used with your new Mac, you’ll have a wealth of exciting features to enjoy. The key is that your mobile devices and Mac must be signed in to the same Apple account and connected to the same Wi-Fi network—they’ll work together.
The built-in Universal Clipboard lets you copy images in macOS and paste them in iOS. You can also mirror your iPhone’s screen on the macOS desktop, control your iPad with your Mac keyboard and mouse, use your iPhone as a webcam , and even use your iPad as a second screen for your Mac .
If you use Android, your phone won’t play nicely with macOS—although Apple Music and Apple TV are available in the Google Play Store. The best ways I’ve found to share files between Android, macOS, and Windows include cross-platform tools like Dropbox, virtually all Google products , and web apps.