We have grouped our Mac tips by topic

Select + to see the list of tips for each topic
Handy Hints are for iTandCoffee Club members; Blog articles are available to all readers

GENERAL

Handy Hints  (members only) 

• The Downloads stack has gone missing from the Dock on my Mac
• ​Enabling the right-click on your Mac's mouse or trackpad
• Where is Ctrl-Alt-Del on my Mac for Force Quitting mis-behaving apps
• Solving issue with using a TV or projector with your Mac
• Matching colours on your Mac
• How to manage the Apps appearing in your Mac's Dock
• Discovering 'split view' feature of El Capitan
• Stopping all those apps from automatically starting when your Mac starts up
• Using Continuity to copy something on iPhone and paste on Mac
  

​Blog Articles (all readers)

• 33 articles with great tips, hints and 'how-tos' for Mac
• Eleven ways to show your iPad or iPhone on a big screen
• A recap of some great Mac tips from 2015
• How to get back those Typing Shortcuts when they disappear from your Mac
• This feature of MacOS Sierra makes it so much easier to manage your Mac's storage
• Do you have Mackeeper on your Mac?  Here's how to remove it.
• Scrolling up and down using the trackpad on your MacBook - do you know how?

APPS

Handy Hints​  (members only)

• ​How to download and install Adobe Flash on the Mac
• How do I get Dropbox on my computer?
• How to access two Dropbox accounts at once​
• Selective sync'ing of Dropbox folders on your Mac (or Windows) computer
• How to stop Dropbox from automatically uploading photos and using up all your free storage
• How to unhide purchased apps that you have hidden
  

Blog Articles (all readers)

• Can you be selective about what Dropbox folders sync to your computer?
• As an Evernote user, I am also a big fan of OneNote

BACKUPS

Handy Hints (members only)​

• How to back up your Mac - and make sure you do this before you upgrade to High Sierra

Blog Articles (all readers)

• Making a backup of your Contacts and Calendar - and how to 'restore' if something goes wrong
  
• ​What is it with kids and their resistance to backing up their data?! 
• A timely warning for students (and the rest of us!)
• A very scary incident - is all your data backed up?
• A handy website for questions about Mac's Time Machine

BASICS  

Handy Hints (members only)

• How to show the date in the Mac menu bar
• Telling your Mac to startup with a 'clean slate' each time - preventing apps from automatically starting up each time you start up or log in
• Enabling the right-click on your Mac's mouse or trackpad
• Where is Ctrl-Alt-Del on my Mac for Force Quitting mis-behaving apps
• Some keyboard shortcuts I use frequently on my Mac
• It's so much easier to manage your storage in MacOS Sierra
• How to manage the Apps appearing in your Mac's Dock
• Mac 'Sleep' settings - how to set the inactive period before your Mac sleeps, and how to require a password after it wakes
• Getting Downloads back into the Dock on your Mac

Blog Articles (all readers)

• How often should you Shut Down your Mac
• Scrolling up and down using the trackpad on your MacBook - do you know how?
• How to select multiple files on a Mac
• An easy way to quickly clean up a messy Desktop
• A handy Mac tip - how to quickly view your Desktop

  

CALENDAR & Reminders

Handy Hints (members only)

• Merging two iCloud Calendars in MacOS Sierra

Blog Articles  (all readers)

• A handy feature in Calendar on MacOS Sierra
• Did you receive a heap of 'spam' Calendar invitations recently?​​
• Why your Contacts or Calendars may not be sync'ing across all devices
• Sharing a Reminder list can be really useful
• How to create a Reminder from a Mac Mail message
• Creating tasks from emails in Outlook for Mac

CONTACTS

Handy Hints (members only)

• Saving Contacts from emails on the Mac 
• Quickly saving all the email addresses received in emails on my Mac to Contacts
• Stop Safari from auto-filling fields with Contacts
• ​Creating and then emailing a Contact Group on the Mac
• How to sort out all those duplicated Contacts on your Mac
• Stop Safari from auto-filling fields with Contacts
• Printing addresses on envelopes is so easy on a Mac​

Blog Articles

• Safari keeps trying to fill in fields using my Contacts - and it's driving me crazy 
• Why your Contacts or Calendars may not be sync'ing across all devices
• When my daughter 'Facetimes' me, both my work and home mobile phones ring!
  
• ​Why your Contacts or Calendars may not be sync'ing across all devices

creating - files, drawings, etc

Handy Hints (members only)

• Matching colours is so easy on a Mac

DOCUMENTS/PRODUCTIVITY

Handy Hints (members only)

• Merging several PDF or image files into one on your Mac
• A really powerful app built into your Mac - Preview
• Matching colours on your Mac
• Easy creation of PDF's on the Mac
• How to add your signature to a PDF document on a Mac

Blog Articles (all readers)

• Read this if you use Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) on a Mac
• Mac Tip: How to have quick access to frequently used files and folders
• Creating tasks from emails in Outlook for Mac
• Discovering Text Replacements on Mac - and how to fix issues if they arise
• Combining several scanned pages (or images) into a single PDF, then adding and deleting pages
• Does your Mac show the date in the Menu Bar?

dropbox

Handy Hints (members only)

• How do I get Dropbox on my computer?
• How to access two Dropbox accounts at once​
• Selective sync'ing of Dropbox folders on your Mac (or Windows) computer
• How to stop Dropbox from automatically uploading photos and using up all your free storage​

Desktop, dock and Menu Bar

Handy Hints (members only)

• Getting Downloads back into the Dock on your Mac​
• How can I make two documents appear side-by-side on my Mac?
• Quickly tidy up your messy Desktop with Mojave
• How to include the date in the menu bar on the Mac
  

Blog Articles

• Getting Downloads back into the Dock on your Mac
• How to change the apps in the Dock on your Mac
• A handy Mac tip - how to quickly view your Desktop
• Another Mac tip - a great shortcut that allows you to easily hide and show the dock

FACETIME

Handy Hints (members only)

• An easy way to quickly call, message or Facetime people using your iPad and iPhone

Blog Articles (all readers)

• How do I stop my iPad and Mac from ringing when my iPhone rings?
• So many ways to keep in touch from the other side of the world using your iPad and iPhone
• How much data is used when using Skype or any other 'free' communications via the internet?                      

Files, Folders, Finder

Handy Hints (members only)

• Customising the toolbar in Finder and other apps
• ​Finding your way around in Finder - The Path Bar
• How to access two Dropbox accounts at once
• An easy way of moving files and folders to a new location to a new location on your Mac
• Selective sync'ing of Dropbox folders on your Mac (or Windows) computer
• How to remove Desktop and Documents from iCloud Drive ​​
• Quickly tidy up your Desktop with this Mojave shortcut
• Selecting multiple files - to organise, delete, move, etc
• Quick access to Files and Folders using Aliases
• How to add your frequently used files and folders as Favourites in Finder
  

Blog Articles (all readers)

• An easy way to move or save files to a different location on your Mac​
• A trick with Finder on your Mac
• What to do if iCloud takes over your Documents and Desktop folders on your Mac
• One of my favourite tips for Mac - have you discovered Quick Look?
• A handy Mac navigation tip: Working out where the file you are working on 'lives'
• Mojave provides an easy way to quickly clean up a messy Desktop​
• Do you understand files and folders - and how to file - on your Mac?
• How to select multiple files on a Mac
• How to have quick access to frequently used files and folders​
• The Downloads stack has gone missing from the Dock on my Mac

​

housekeeping & Setup

Handy Hint (members only)

• Clearing up old  iTunes backups on your Mac to free up storage
• Quickly tidy up your Desktop
• Updating your Mac

Blog Articles (all readers)

• How to upgrade your Mac to the latest macOS
• For those looking to clean up and speed up their Mac over the Christmas break
• A warning to parents who will be sending their child to school with a new laptop​
• An easy way to quickly clean up a messy Desktop
• When did you last back up your Mac? It's time!
• ​How do I back up my iPhone or iPad to my Mac, now that iTunes is gone?

icloud

Handy Hint (members only)

• Merging two iCloud Calendars in MacOS Sierra
• How to set up an 'out of office' reply for iCloud Mail
• Sending emails with large attachments - use iCloud Mail Drop
• How to remove Desktop and Documents from iCloud Drive ​

Blog Articles (all readers)

• Why does Apple's two factor authentication show I am a different location?  (In Melbourne, it shows I am in St Kilda)
• Please check your iCloud setup - not just for your own sake, but for the sake of your friends!
• Problem signing in to iTunes or iCloud on Apple TV or other i-Device after setting up two-factor authentication
• What to do if iCloud takes over your Documents and Desktop folders on your Mac
• How your kids can by-pass the 'Ask to Buy' requirement of iCloud Family Sharing
• What to do about a case of iCloud Confusion in your family
• Just one of the reasons I use OneDrive instead of iCloud Drive
• How to resolve photo syncing and importing problems
• Keep an eye on your OneDrive - it can sometimes stop syncing. Here's how to fix this.

iTunes

Handy Hints (members only)

• Clearing up old  iTunes backups on your Mac to free up storage
• How to unhide purchased apps that you have hidden

Blog Articles (all readers)

• Problem signing in to iTunes or iCloud on Apple TV or other i-Device after setting up two-factor authentication
• How do I back up my iPhone or iPad to my Mac, now that iTunes is gone?
  

Keyboard & Typing/Shortcuts

Handy Hints (members only)

• Some keyboard shortcuts I use frequently on my Mac
• Some more great Mac Keyboard Shortcuts
• Finding those hidden symbols on your Mac keyboard
• Finding the Emoji keyboard on your Mac
• How to copy formatting from one area to another on a Mac
• Adding Text Replacements (Typing Shortcuts) on Mac
  

Blog Articles (all readers)

• How to type the cent symbol on your Mac
• How to type the 'Apple' symbol on your iPad or iPhone  
• A new lot of Keyboard Shortcuts for your Mac
• How to copy text formatting from one area of text to another on a Mac
• Ever wonder where the Home and End buttons are on a Mac? Wonder no more…
• Finding those missing symbols on your Mac keyboard
• Have you discovered the wonderful 'Undo' function on your Mac?
• Do you have 'right-click' enabled on your Mac?​
• I have just discovered my new favourite Mac keyboard shortcuts!
• How to get back those Typing Shortcuts when they disappear from your Mac​
• A handy text formatting tip for Mac users ...
• Safari fonts are wrong after upgrade to macOS Mojave
• ​Discovering Text Replacements on Mac - and how to fix issues if they arise

Kids & Technology / CyberSafety

Handy Hints (members only)​

• ​How to set up Parental Controls on a Mac
• Setting up a separate 'child' user account on the Mac
  

Blog Articles (all readers)

• Before you send your child to school with their new technology ...
• ​Setting up Parental Controls on a Mac

MAIL

Handy Hints (members only)

• Quickly saving email addresses received in emails on my Mac to Contacts
• Setting up an email signature on your Mac
• A handy Mac Mail feature - Send Again
• How to send large files in emails using a new feature on Mac
• How to set up an 'out of office' reply for iCloud Mail
• Creating and then emailing a Contact Group on the Mac
• How I ensure that I am not 'locked out' of my mail account when I travel?
• Auto-Forwarding your Bigpond POP emails to your new email account
• How to set up your new Gmail or Outlook email account so that it retrieves your POP email from Bigpond, Optusnet, Primus, iiNet, Netspace, etc
• Moving from an old-fashioned POP email account to something better!
• Some great tips about Mac Mail
• Adding some great extra features to your Mail app on Mac
• Creating an email signature in Mac Mail
• Discovering beautiful stationary in your Mac Mail app

Blog Articles (all readers)

• Can you spot which of these emails is real, and which is a scam?
• Creating tasks from emails in Outlook for Mac
• Have you received any of these emails recently?
• Hotmail emails are not being received from a particular sender
• How a client lost all her Contacts information when her Mail disappeared
• How can I read windows mail files attached to my Mac Mail message?
• How can I set a delay on sending mail in Mac's Mail app?
• How do you change the 'reply to' address in Mac Mail?
• How do you set an 'out of office' reply for an iCloud mail account?​​
• How good are you at spotting a scam email?  Test yourself here
• How to add a link to some text in an email in Mac Mail
• How to create a Reminder from a Mac Mail message
• How to stop Mail from showing old or incorrect email addresses in the suggestions
• How to work out where an email link is really going to take you
• If you have been having trouble lately with your internet or with sending mail ...
• Setting up Telstra Bigpond email to sync between devices
• Stop Outlook mail going to junk (for outlook.com, hotmail.com and live.com email addresses)
• Why you should think twice before unsubscribing from Junk emails​

MAPS

Handy Hints (members only)

• Maps on your Mac - Send a map to an iOS device

MESSAGEs

Handy Hint (members only)

• Receiving and sending SMS messages on your Mac

Blog Articles

• Does your Messages provide 'read receipts' to those who message you?
  
• The Message arrival sound on my Mac suddenly changed to bongo drums!

NOTES

Handy Hints (members only)

• How to Pin a Note to the top of the list in Mac Notes​
• Organising Notes into Folders and Sub-Folders on the Mac
  

Blog Articles (all readers)

• Have you upgraded to the new Notes app on your iPhone and iPad (and your Mac)? ​
• The Notes app on my Mac allows me to organise Notes into a Folder/Sub-Folder structure

PREVIEW/PDFs

Handy Hints (members only)

• There are such amazing features built in to your Mac - including this one ...
• ​A really powerful app built into your Mac - Preview
• Merging several PDF or image files into one on your Mac
• How to get back those Typing Shortcuts when they disappear from your Mac
• Combining several scanned pages (or images) into a single PDF

Blog Articles (all readers)

• Combining several scanned pages (or images) into a single PDF, then adding and deleting pages

PHOTOS & Videos

Handy Hints (members only)

• How to get photos out of iCloud 
• How to export photos from the Photos app 
• A great tip for Mac Photos users - Show in Moment
• ​How to highlight one colour in a Photo in Mac Photos on High Sierra
• ​Correcting the date or location of a photo in Mac Photos
• Using the People feature in Photos on the Mac
• Getting edited iPhone (or iPad) photos across to your computer using iCloud Shared Streams
• Exporting photos from Mac's Photos app to USB, external drive or folder
• Clean up Bursts of Photos on your Mac​
• How to enable the 'Sidebar' in the Photos app
• How to delete your iPhoto library after migration to the new Photos app on Mac
• Deleting iPhone and iPad photos in bulk using a Mac
• A great way of sharing your photos with others - no emailing or texting required!
• Tools for quickly cleaning up those duplicate photos
  
• Some really useful keyboard shortcuts for Photos on your Mac
  

​Blog Articles (all readers)

• How to resolve photo syncing and importing problems
• Do you wish you still had a sidebar in the Mac Photos app?  Well, you do!
• ​Storage issues on my Macbook Air after migrating from iPhoto to Photos
• ​Client Question: Where do I find my iPhoto photos when I want to add a photo to an email or upload to eBay or Facebook?
• I edit images in Photos on my iPhone, but they don't import to my computer!
• iCloud Photo Library - should you turn it on yet?
• Why  can I no longer import my iPhone photos to my computer?​     
• Mac crashing after Sierra upgrade - here's what was causing this problem
• Are your 'bursts' of photos causing your iPad, iPhone or Mac to 'burst its storage banks'?​
• Trying out some interesting new Photo Book options​
• How to add music to a Photos slideshow when you have Apple Music
• How Apple's Photos app 'saved the day'!
• Answering your questions about iCloud Photo Library
• Discovering 'People' in Photos, messaging groups, and making sure your messages are private
• Can I still Print a Photo Book using Apple's Photos app?
• ​Farewell to Apple's Photo Books. Here's our favourite service for making these books - for any computer/tablet
• ​Photos on the Mac makes photo editing so easy. Here's an example
• How do you export photos from Mac's Photos app to a folder, USB stick or external hard drive?
• How to change the date of a scanned photo on your iPhone or iPad, Mac and in Google Photos
• How to clean up those duplicate photos in Photos on the Mac
• How do I delete all of the photos or files that I have accidentally uploaded to Google
• You can record whatever is happening on your Mac's screen

SAFARI / Web browsing

Handy Hints (members only)

• ​Stop Safari from auto-filling fields with Contacts
• ​How to download and install Adobe Flash on the Mac
• How to force Safari to use Google as the Search Engine (if something else has taken over!)
• Fixing a Mac web browser that has been hijacked by ads
• Stop Safari from auto-filling fields with Contacts
• What to do when Safari is locked up by a nasty screen
• Make sure Safari on your Mac warns you if you are accessing a suspect website.
• Downloading upgrades, apps and files from Safari - where do they go, how to install or view them
• Do 'autoplay' videos drive you crazy in Safari? Here's how to stop them
• Downloads from Safari - how to configure the download location and auto-open preferences
• Safari Tip: Tell Safari to use Reader Mode for certain websites
• Safari Tip: How to set a default Zoom level for a website
• Safari tip: How to enable or block Popups for individual websites​

Blog Articles​ (all readers)

• Make sure you take notice if you see this warning in Safari
• ​​How to quickly translate a web page in another language to English - on your computer
• Safari keeps trying to fill in fields using my Contacts - and it's driving me crazy 
• Are you having trouble working out downloading on your Mac?
• How to tell Google to only search for 'recent' content, or only Australian content
• Understanding NBN and VPN - two TLA's (three-letter acronyms) we are hearing a lot lately!
• Here's how to check if and when NBN is available to you
• Safari keeps trying to fill in fields using my Contacts - and it's driving me crazy
• Getting so much more from Safari with extensions
• Allowing or blocking popups, zooming pages and using Reader mode​

Screen / display

Handy Hints (members only)

• How to record what is happening on your Mac's screen​

Blog Articles​ (all readers)

• Solving issue with using a TV or projector with your Mac
• Help! My Mac's screen colours have gone all strange!

Sounds / notifications

Handy Hints (members only)

Blog Articles​ (all readers)

• How to stop your iPad (or Mac) ringing when your iPhone rings
  ​The Message arrival sound on my Mac suddenly changed to bongo drums!
  

SECURITY & PASSWORDS

Handy Hints (members only)

• How to properly protect your Mac
• ​Finding your 'lost' passwords in your Mac's Keychain
• Is your Mac at risk?  It's time to talk about protection
• Controlling who can Airdrop to your Mac
• Make sure Safari on your Mac warns you if you are accessing a suspect website.
• How to by-pass a Mac's password - and how to prevent this
  

Blog Articles (all readers)

• Your Mac's content may not be secure if it is stolen - even if it is locked by a password
• Why does my Apple device say that I am signing in from a strange location?
• Can't remember a password?  It may be saved away in your Mac's Keychain!
• Have you turned on your Firewall on your Mac
• Is my Mac giving away my PayPal password?  Do I need anti-virus software?
• An excellent article on how to ensure your security on Mac and iPhone/iPad
• Is it antivirus software, or snake oil?
• How to avoid Mac malware by using Gatekeeper and common sense - Macworld Australia
• New Tor-powered backdoor malware, Backdoor.MAC.Eleanor, targets Macs - Macworld Australia
• How to stay safer online - adding an extra layer of protection
• Please do not call the number on your screen!
• Make sure 'Airdrop' is secured on your iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and Mac
• Can you spot which of these emails is real, and which is a scam?
• Yes, Macs can catch viruses and malware
• New Wi-Fi flaw leaves nearly every internet-connected device vulnerable​
• Something you MUST do before transferring money to someone's bank account
• ​Did you know that it is possible for someone to by-pass your Mac's password?

Printing & scanning

​Blog Articles (all readers)

• Problems scanning after upgrade to High Sierra

TROUBLESHOOTING

Handy Hints: (members only)

• Making sure your Mac connects to the right Wi-Fi network
• Problems scanning after upgrade to High Sierra
• ​Enabling the right-click on your Mac's mouse or trackpad
• ​Where is Ctrl-Alt-Del on my Mac for Force Quitting mis-behaving apps
• How to check if your Mac is running out of storage space
• Clearing up old iTunes backups on your Mac to free up storage
• How to work out what is slowing down your Mac (and perhaps giving you a 'spinning beachball of death')
• How to check what is using up your Mac's storage - and free some space!
• Fixing a Mac web browser that has been hijacked by ads
• What to do when Safari is locked up by a nasty screen
• It's so much easier to manage your storage in MacOS Sierra
• How to check if your Mac is running out of storage space
• Conquer your Mac's spinning beachball
• How to check to 'health' of your Mac hard drive
• Repairing your Mac's hard drive in Recovery mode

Blog Articles (all readers)​

• Why your Contacts or Calendars may not be sync'ing across all devices
• Could your Mac have a problem with its RAM?
• Practical tips on how to get your Mac performing better
• Have you discovered the wonderful 'Undo' function on your Mac?
• Storage issues on my Macbook Air after migrating from iPhoto to Photos
• For anyone who has regretted downloading MacKeeper to their Mac
• Macs can catch viruses too!
• How to deal with a Mac web browser that has been hijacked by ads!
• Mac crashing after Sierra upgrade - here's what was causing this problem
• How to get back those Typing Shortcuts when they disappear from your Mac
• Please do not call the number on your screen!
• This feature of MacOS Sierra makes it so much easier to manage your Mac's storage
• Problem signing in to iTunes or iCloud on Apple TV or other i-Device after setting up two-factor authentication
• Have you done a 'health check' on your Mac lately? Thank goodness I did one today!
• For those looking to clean up and speed up their Mac over the Christmas break
• ​Mojave provides an easy way to quickly clean up a messy Desktop
• Safari fonts are wrong after upgrade to macOS Mojave
  
• When your device misbehaves after the 12 month warranty is up ...
  
• I am getting a 'storage full' message - how do I fix this?
  
• ​Turning off automatic uploading of mobile device photos to Google Photos

wi-fi/internet

Handy Hints: (members only)

• ​How to stop your Mac from joining the wrong Wi-Fi network

Blog Articles (all readers)​

• How to stop your Mac from joining the wrong Wi-Fi network
  How to ensure the arrival of NBN has minimal impact on the devices in your home