Investigating the key features of your new MacBook.
If you’re new to the MacBook Air, don’t worry; its distinctive features will help you learn how to use it quickly. Let’s have a look at them.
The Quay
When learning to use a MacBook, the Dock is a vital feature that you may use frequently, and you should pay attention to it When organising a MacBook.
You can search for files, folders, programmes, and other utilities by scrolling over the dock. Simply tap the icon with your fingers to open, view, remove, or login.
Finder
For novice Mac users, this is the most difficult tool. The Finder is located on the dock when you first boot up your Mac. It aids in the discovery of items such as Mac tools or items stored in the cloud. You can easily locate items using this finder tool.
The Mac App Store is a collection of applications for Mac computers.
The Mac App Store is a fantastic place to get apps and upgrade your system and software. Once you’ve used a MacBook, you’ll find that it’s much easier than you imagine.
Let’s talk about the top 16 questions you should know as a newbie using a MacBook for the first time.
How do you get your MacBook Air up and running for the first time?
- When you first turn on your Mac, the setup assistant will walk you through the steps necessary to complete the setup.
- You can use Voice Over to hear the setup by pressing the Escape key. The command-option F5 key can be used to examine accessibility settings.
- When prompted, select your location and country; the time zone and date will be adjusted automatically. You have the choice of going through all of the prompts in order to complete the process in its entirety, or you can simply choose the set up later option.
- Then enter your connection information, including the essential information and password if you’re using Wi-Fi, or set up your network using ethernet and other network choices if you’re not using Wi-Fi.
- If you have previously owned a Mac, set up transfer information; alternatively, if you are a new Mac user, skip this step by selecting the don’t transfer data option.
6.Then sign in using your Apple ID if you have one, otherwise follow the steps below to create an Apple ID for free.
- Apple ID is the fundamental account login that you may need to log in to use all Apple services. Let’s make a new user’s apple id, shall we?
Step 1: Go to the System Preferences menu.
Step 2: Look for your Apple ID.
Step 3: Fill in the blanks with your name, phone number, email address, password and security information, payment information, and shipping information.
Step 4: The top-right overview pane assists you in determining whether your account setup is correct and operational. After successfully creating an apple id, you can use the same apple id and password to access all of Apple Inc.’s services.
After you’ve set up your account, you may go deeper and set up Siri, iCloud, modify your appearance, touch Id, and other features. These will be addressed in the following basic questions and answers. Let’s get started.
1. Does the MacBook Air have a touch screen?
The first query is, “Does the MacBook Air have a touch screen?” Although older versions of MacOS do not support touch screens, newer models such as the MacBook Air and Pro may use the AirBar as a trackpad by installing the proper software.
This only works on newer devices that have multi-touch gesture capabilities. It can be turned on in the system preferences. To activate Touch ID, simply lift the lid of your MacBook Air. Instead of entering passwords, pins, and other information all the time, you can set up Touch ID and use your fingerprint to unlock your phone.
Set up Touch ID on your MacBook Air with these instructions.
On your MacBook, the Touch ID button is located on the right side of the function keys, notably on MacBook Air models released in 2018 and after. To use Touch ID on your MacBook Air, carefully follow the steps below. Make sure your finger is clean, dry, and free of wounds before continuing.
Step 1: Go to the Apple Menu and select it.
Step 2: Select System Preferences from the drop-down menu.
Step 3: Select Touch ID from the drop-down menu.
Step 4: To add a fingerprint, select the plus sign (make sure your finger is clean). If prompted, enter your account password and follow the on-screen instructions.
Step 5: Now you may place your finger on the Touch ID button and hold it there for a few seconds until it urges you to lift your finger. When scanning a fingerprint, don’t apply too much pressure.
Step 6: You have the option of adding up to three fingerprints. As a best practise, after successfully adding the first fingerprint, try to add two more fingerprints.
If a mistake occurs, you can erase the previously added fingerprint and create a new one. Simply place your mouse on the fingerprint you want to remove, then click the delete button and input your account password to complete the process. Let us now turn our attention to the second question.
2. Is the MacBook Air a good gaming laptop?
Apple’s MacBook Air models aren’t recommended for video games or other forms of gaming. Although the MacBook Air incorporated newer technologies, hardware, and all, gaming will cause severe hardware damage and may crash the MacBook due to its lack of internal fans, GPU, and reduced storage size, and the reasons are listed below.
The Graphical Processing Unit (GPU) plays an important role in gaming. When evaluating this feature in a MacBook Air, it should be able to handle 3D apps, although MacBook Air editions do not have this capacity.
Because of poor handling in higher graphical settings in most games, they are classified as low to medium-tier GPU laptops.
The CPU’s Memory Speed is the following feature. With a CPU speed of 3.2GHz, the MacBook Air employs an M1 processor that meets the minimum requirements for popular gaming in 2018.
Still, for a better gaming experience, a clock speed of approximately or more than 4GHz is recommended. This is a question mark as well.
The RAM capacity is the most crucial component for gaming. The MacBook Air has an 8GB RAM capacity, which can handle some older video games such as Call of Duty and The Witcher series.
However, in today’s gaming market, 8GB is just considered a minimum requirement. However, if you want to buy a MacBook for gaming, the MacBook Air is not a suitable choice.
Another important factor to consider while talking about computer games is heat circulation. Due to the high CPU and GPU speeds, extreme heat accumulation is a problem. Internal fans on the MacBook Air are not installed, which will have serious consequences.
As a result, if you’re evaluating these gaming characteristics and planning to buy a MacBook Air solely for gaming, you’re making a poor decision. For other reasons, the MacBook Air is one of the best and most popular versions, but not for gaming.
3. Is it possible to play Minecraft on a MacBook Air?
The basic answer is that Minecraft can be run on a MacBook Air. However, the MacBook Air is not a fantastic gaming laptop.
You can play Minecraft on MacBook Air because of its light weight and enhanced performance, but once the game is launched, your Mac will run really quickly, and the rest of the process may be hampered.
The fan may be overworked as a result of the increased speed; this is not advised for your MacBook’s performance and may cause performance issues.
4. Is Photoshop compatible with the MacBook Air?
The M1 CPU and 8GB RAM in the MacBook Air are sufficient for running Photoshop, and most creative people, including professional photographers, prefer to edit on it. This is due to the MacBook Air’s minimal weight and portability.
Although the screen of the MacBook Air is not perfect for photo editing, the resolution, as well as genuine tone and brightness, are highly recommended. If you think the screen size is insufficient, you can also plug in an external display.
Yes, you can use Photoshop on a MacBook Air without any problems.
5. Is it possible to play The Sims 4 on a MacBook Air?
Although you can run Sims 4 on a MacBook Air, it is not the ideal way to go. As I mentioned in the gaming section, you may download and run any game you want, including Sims 4, but this is not recommended because it will slow down the entire process.
6. How does the MacBook Air keep its cool?
Models of the MacBook Air have shown to be more energy efficient than any other model. However, because the MacBook Air lacks an internal fan base, the real issue is heat accumulation, which is similar to how the MacBook Air cools itself.
What are the best ways to keep a MacBook Air cool? The heat is managed by an aluminium heat sink, which is connected to the heat sink by a copper pipe, and the M1 chip is a cold-plated processor. As a result, the MacBook commonly uses copper pipe and a steam chamber to cool itself. Let’s look at some of the tips and tactics for taking care of your MacBook Air’s cooling system.
The first thing you should do is change your surroundings. Place your laptop on a table or desk that is hard and flat. Avoid exposing your lap, pillow, or soft couch to direct sunlight, since this will generate additional heat and lessen the cooling effect of the MacBook Air.
If your Mac meets the physical requirements above but still isn’t cooling, try this advice. You can check the demanding software to see if it can be dropped or stopped for a while. To figure out what’s causing your MacBook Air to overheat, follow these steps.
Step 1: Navigate to the Utilities folder (use spotlight with cmd + space bar or search for it).
Step 2: Go to the App Store and download the Activity Monitor app.
Step 3: Select CPU from the drop-down menu.
Step 4: Select the percent CPU column ( it will sort the process according to the power consumed in descending order)
Step 5: Using the Stop (X) button, you can now select the apps or software that uses a lot of power and turn it off.
The next suggestion is to use MacOS and Software’s update feature. If recommendations 1 and 2 don’t work and you’re still having problems with your MacBook Air’s heat, you should consider updating the OS and software.
To check and install the most recent versions of the system and software, go to the Apple menu, pick System Preferences, and then Software Updates.
If all of the prerequisites are met yet the troubles on your MacBook Air persist, consider purchasing laptop cooling. If you’re using your Mac in a household environment or something similar, investing in a quality cooler will solve your overheating problems. So, if you want to have a healthy, cool Mac, try following these tips and tactics.
7. What is the battery life of a MacBook?
To begin, you must understand What is the battery cycle count on a Mac? So that’s how many times the MacBook’s battery has been depleted.
When the total amount of battery in your Mac depletes, the cycle count appears to be higher; as a result, the cycle count is an important feature on MacBook. Let’s now concentrate on how to discover the cycle count on a Mac.
Step 1: On a MacBook, open the menu bar.
Step 2: Tap the Apple logo and select About This Mac from the drop-down menu.
Step 3: Select System Report from the drop-down menu.
Step 4: Go to the Hardware section and look for the Power option.
Step 5: Go to Health Information; you should now be able to see your Mac’s cycle count there.
So that’s how the cycle counter on a MacBook works. You can check the count and, if it exceeds the maximum count indicated for your Mac model, try replacing the battery to get better performance.
It’s also a good idea to replace the battery once it’s reached its maximum cycle count.
8. How can I take a screenshot on my MacBook?
As a newbie, you must know how to take screenshots on a MacBook because it is one of the most popular Mac topics on the internet. So, without further ado, let’s get down to business. To take screenshots on your MacBook, use these methods.
You can capture a full-screen snapshot by pressing Shift + Command + 3 and then editing and saving it according to your preferences.
If you need to capture a portion of a screen, press Shift + Command + 4 keys together, and then determine and select the screen size you require for capture.
On the latest Mac versions, you can also try the manual screenshot programme. To select the tool, screen size, and location to save, press and hold Shift + Command + 5 keys together, then follow the onscreen instructions.
Now that you can take screenshots on your Mac, let’s look at how to find those screenshots using the instructions below.
9. In a Macbook, where do screenshots go/are saved?
By default, your screenshots are stored to the desktop. You may either perform a manual search on your desktop or open the finder window and navigate to the desktop to look for screenshots. If your Mac has a touch bar, use Fn+F11 to check your desktop; otherwise, just click F11. If you wish to change the position of the screenshot, please follow the procedures below.
How do I modify the location of a screenshot?
Step 1: Launch the programme.
Step 2: Go to the utilities section.
Step 3: To open the screenshot folder, double-click it.
Step 4: Go to the bottom of your screen and click the toolbar.
Step 5: Make a decision
Step 6: Now you can store screenshots by changing the location routes to your preferred spot.
That’s all there is to it; now you can move any folder to your favourite place.
10. Which MacBook models have a touch bar?
Currently, only the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro models feature Touch Bar, but there’s a good likelihood that Touch Bar will be available on other Macs in the future. Let’s have a look at how the touch bar functions.
The screen strip will assist you in locating recommendations for the operations you are performing on your Mac.
For example, if you’re sending emails, it’ll advise things like replying to them or flagging them as important. The multi-touch touch bar has a clever and smart feature that allows it to handle many inputs at once.
So, with Apple’s newly incorporated Touch bar, you can access system components as well as third-party apps, and it serves as a controller.
11. How can I know which MacBook Air model I have (and where can I discover the serial number)?
Using About This Mac and System Information, you may determine the model and serial number of your Mac. We’ll start by checking the About This Mac option. Follow along with me as I walk you through these steps.
How to use About This Mac to get the model and serial number
Step 1: Go to the Apple Menu and select it.
Step 2: Select the option “About This Mac” from the drop-down menu.
Step 3: You’ll see a summary of your Mac’s information, including the serial number and model name.
Using System Information, look for the model and serial number.
Step 1: Launch the programme.
Step 2: Locate the “Hardware” option on the left side of the System Information window.
Step 3: On the right side of the screen, you should now see the model name and serial number.
You can also examine outside of your Mac for the model and serial number, or check your invoices.
12. Is there a microphone on the MacBook?
The microphone is a built-in component that is normally found on the surface of the Mac book; for newer models and versions of Mac books, there are three built-in microphones situated near the keyboard and speaker portions.
How can you manage who has access to your Mac’s microphone?
Step 1: Go to the Apple menu.
Step 2: Customize your system’s settings
Step 3: Select Security and Privacy from the drop-down menu.
Step 4: Select “Privacy.”
Step 5: Select Microphone from the drop-down menu.
By checking the appropriate checkboxes for each app, you can determine whether to enable or restrict microphone permission.
If you deny your Mac’s microphone permission to an app, such as voice recorder, it will not operate and require you to adjust the microphone’s settings. As a result, make sure that individuals who need to utilise the microphone have adequate access.
13. Where is the Applications folder on my MacBook?
What is the location of the Applications folder on a Macbook? To be honest, the solution is simple.
Step 1: Select the Finder option from the drop-down menu.
Step 2: Go to the Applications tab.
That’s it; you can now look through the files in your Application folder. You might also use Launchpad.
How can you add apps to the Dock on your Mac?
Step 1: Open the application you want to add to your Dork.
Step 2: Right-click the application in your Dork.
Step 3: Make a decision
Step 4: Select the option to “Keep in Dork” from the drop-down menu.
Finally, you should be able to add the Dork’s Application Folder.
14. What is the best way to manage updates on a Mac?
As a newbie, you should understand how to keep your system up to date in order to avoid attacks and viruses and to maximise the efficiency of your Mac.
Step 1: Go to the Apple menu.
Step 2: Select System Preferences from the drop-down menu.
Step 3: Select Software Update from the drop-down menu.
Step 4: Select “update now” or “upgrade now” from the drop-down menu.
You can see the entire amount of updates available through the Apple menu, and if any are available, you can see them in system settings while doing this.
Make sure to select the option for both macOS and software updates when selecting the choice. Let’s also look at how to set up automatic updates.
On a Mac, how do you schedule automatic updates?
Have you considered converting this manual update to an automatic schedule? It saves time and provides a simple solution to all update concerns. The steps are as follows:
Step 1: Select Apple from the menu bar.
Step 2: Select System Preferences from the drop-down menu.
Step 3: Select Advanced Update Options from the drop-down menu.
Step 4: Choose “Automatically keep Mac up-to-date” or “Download updates when available” from the drop-down menu.
You can also use the “Install system data files and security updates” option to try to install updates for system data files and security.
That’s it; by following the instructions above, you should be able to schedule automatic updates.
15. How can I keep my MacBook’s battery in good shape?
Better performance is determined by how you use your Mac or other device; the first factor to consider is the battery life of your device.
Let’s walk through the steps to improve your Mac’s battery life. Let’s get started,
How can we extend the life of our Macbook’s battery?
To do so, look at your battery preferences.
Step 1: Select Apple from the menu bar.
Step 2: Customize your system’s settings
Step 3: Select Battery or Energy Saver from the drop-down menu.
Step 4: Select “Battery” from the drop-down menu.
To have an optimal batter, you must adjust the brightness, so let’s see how we may do it.
How can you change the brightness of your Mac’s display?
Step 1:To begin, go to the Apple menu.
Step 2: Select System Preferences from the drop-down menu.
Step 3: Select “Turn on Automatically adjust brightness” from the drop-down menu.
The second alternative is to check the health of your battery, which may be done by following these instructions.
How can I check the health of my Mac’s battery?
Step 1:To begin, go to the Apple menu.
Step 2: Select System Preferences from the drop-down menu.
Step 3: Select a Battery
Step 4: Finally, select Battery health from the drop-down menu.
This “Battery Health” option now allows you to check the status of your battery. Continue reading this article if you’re having problems with your Mac’s battery.
How do you figure out what’s wrong with your battery?
The first alternative is to use Apple’s built-in diagnostics to diagnose your Mac’s battery. You may just check the battery status menu if you have no problems with this diagnosis. The battery status menu is located on the right side of the menu bar. Basically, this will indicate your battery’s charge percentage and charging status, as well as which programmes are spending the most energy. If any software is sucking up a lot of your Mac’s battery life, try closing it to save your Mac’s battery life.
How can you fix your Mac’s charging problems?
If your Mac book is not charging properly, check that the AC power adapter is connected correctly to your Mac and switched along with the required wattage before moving on to the next item. Only use the charger that is compatible with your Mac model.
After correcting your Mac’s battery troubles, you may be curious as to whether or not your Mac will work without a battery. The answer is simple: yes.
Is it possible to use a MacBook without a battery?
Yes, you can use a Macbook without a battery, and the Macbook will function without one. However, without the battery, the device’s performance will suffer, and it is not suggested to operate your Mac without it.
Now that we’ve resolved the battery difficulties with the Macbook, we’ll move on to the topic of “how to get apps from the App Store on your Mac.”
How can I get apps on my Mac?
Step 1: Go to the App Store.
Step 2: Search for the application you need to download.
Step 3: To download, hit the Get button or choose the Price option.
If the price button seems to be the Get button, the programme is open-source, and you can download and use it for free; otherwise, you must make the necessary payments for the apps using the price button.
That’s all there is to it; if you want to see if the downloaded programme is available on your Mac, follow the steps below.
How can I see what apps I’ve downloaded?
You can use Launchpad to see if the downloaded programme is there; if it isn’t, you’ll have to reinstall it. If you previously paid and the app is still unavailable, don’t panic; the payment you made is sufficient to re-download the software. If a family member purchased the app, you can also use it through the Family sharing option. You may have encountered a situation where the installed application does not work properly after resolving all possible difficulties with application downloads. If this is the case, please follow the steps outlined below to resolve the issue.
What should you do if an app isn’t working?
When you download an app, there are times when it does not perform well or as planned. If the problem persists, restart your Mac and check for updates; otherwise, remove and reinstall the software. If those don’t work, contact the developer through Apple’s support service or submit a ticket to Apple to have the problem resolved.
Finally, we’ve arrived to the conclusion! As much as possible, practise with For Mac troubleshooting, these are the top 16 Answers You Should Know as a Beginner. Continue to learn!
