MacBook Air Tips

• The first six pages of Chapter 1 at Apple's MacBook Air Essentials help site are recommended for a quick tour of the computer. (The chapter is longer than six pages, but the first six pages provide a good orientation for school use.)

• Click here and scroll through the topics in "Find your way around" on the MacBook Air Essentials help site. This topic provides a very nice walkthrough of the features of the MacBook Air, including:

• • • • The desktop, menu bar, and Help (essential for getting started)

      • The Finder (the way to organize and locate files)

      • The Dock (the bar of icons on the desktop)

      • How to open apps quickly (information about resident apps -- apps that are installed by Apple on the MacBook Air)

      • The Notification Center (how to find and use helpful apps for reminders, etc.)

      • System Preferences (very useful for setting brightness and sound levels, customizing the track pad, etc.)

Jump to the

It is easy to open the computer (or never close it) and just start working. However, all computers need a bit of routine care to ensure they work well. The table provided in "Best Practices for Optimal Computer Performance" contains a few recommendations that we ask you or your child to perform.

Please consider downloading the document to the computer, and set reminders to perform the maintenance activities regularly.

Every computer runs software that controls the basic function of the computer. That software is called the operating system or macOS. Apple names their computer operating systems after mountain ranges (e.g., High Sierra, Mojave, etc.).

Some of our MacBook Air laptops are running the newest macOS while other laptops might be running the next-to-the latest version. Occasionally an Apple support document is specific to the macOS. Therefore, it is beneficial to know the macOS that your computer is running.

It is quick and easy to identify the macOS for your computer. Just follow the steps in this downloadable document.

Minimizing browser windows is recommended to de-clutter the desktop. (See Tips for Monitoring Computer Usage (Explained) for more information.)

In addition, in the previous topic "Best Practice for Optimal Computer Performance" on this page, we explained that there is a difference between quitting an application and closing a window on a Mac (as compared with a PC).

There are additional features that you can learn about managing browser windows and app windows on the Mac that will make your experience positive and efficient. Click here to view Apple's macOS User Guide page about managing windows.

NOTE:

Be sure to select your version of the operating system in the pulldown menu when you land on the page. (Refer to "How to Determine Your Computer's Version of the Operating System" above if you do not know your macOS.)

There are several places to save documents on the school-issued MacBook Air. Many computer users save files on the Desktop on in the Downloads folder. However, doing that can lead to a large set of files on the Desktop or in the Downloads folder.

Another option at your disposal is the Documents folder. The Documents folder is a great place to save and organize your files. you can create folders to store related files and/or you can save files individually.

Click here to see screenshots that explain where and how to access the Documents folder so that you can store and retrieve files efficiently.

You and your child will need to download files that are provided as attachments to messages or that are in your child's courses. The Canvas training course explains how to download those files, but quite often it's finding the downloaded files that is an issue.

When downloading a file on a Mac (or on any computer for that matter), selecting the destination is the key. Click here to see a set of instructions (with screenshots) that walk you through the steps to download and then locate a downloaded file.

NOTE:

Managing storage throughout the year can prevent storage issues. Read below to learn more about the types of files that use lots of storage.

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If you are getting low on storage on the MacBook Air, you will want to delete or move some of the files off of the computer. There are several storage management options that you can use including:

• • Moving files to a USB (i.e., jump) drive

  • Moving the files to a Google Drive if you have one (they are easy to set up)

  • Deleting the files (usually the easiest method if you don't need the files)

This topic focuses on a method to identify the files to manage.

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The Mac provides information about file storage in a number of places. However, when you want to identify the category of files that are taking up lots of space on the computer, one option is to use the "Storage" menu from the About This Mac menu.

Click here to access a document that shows you where to access this information on the MacBook Air.

Your computer has a UVA-installed icon called Self Service that contains information and apps that are important for school. A screenshot of the icon is shown below. You will receive occasional messages from UVA regarding information that has been installed for you in the Self Service area.

Access Self Service by clicking once on the Launchpad in the Dock. The Launchpad icon is circled in yellow below.