MacBook Pro Essentials Look around your new Mac Get a quick intro to MacBook Pro ports, connectors, accessories, and other features. Take a tour of MacBook Pro Want to get started? Start your MacBook Pro by lifting the lid or connecting it to power, or by pressing any key. Follow the Setup Assistant prompts, and you’re up and running.
Stay in sync Access your documents, photos, contacts, and more on all your devices with iCloud. And use your MacBook Pro with your iOS and iPadOS devices to make phone calls, copy and paste across devices, or create an Instant Hotspot. Use your MacBook Pro with iCloud and Continuity Unleash your creativity Your MacBook Pro comes with apps for everything you want to do. Edit and share your photos. Enjoy music, books, movies, and more. Create presentations.
Discover new features Find out about new features in macOS, your included apps, and your MacBook Pro. Learn about new features on your MacBook Pro To explore MacBook Pro Essentials, click Table of Contents at the top of the page, or enter a word or phrase in the search field. You can also download the guide from Apple Books (where available). If you need more help, visit the MacBook Pro Support website. Not all features and content are available in all countries or regions.
MacBook Pro at a glance Take a tour of MacBook Pro Note: This guide is for the current MacBook Pro models. If you’re not sure which model you have or want to find information about other models, see the Apple Support article Identify your MacBook Pro model. The MacBook Pro has the following features. Not all features are available on all MacBook Pro models.
Touch Bar: The Touch Bar at the top of the keyboard dynamically adapts to the app you’re using. The Touch Bar is an extension of the keyboard—it presents intuitive shortcuts and application controls, when and where you need them. You can use familiar gestures like swipe and tap in the Touch Bar. See MacBook Pro Magic Keyboard with Touch Bar and Touch ID. FaceTime HD camera: Make FaceTime video calls or take pictures and video. If the light is glowing, the camera is on. See FaceTime.
Accessory Description USB-C Charge Cable: To charge your MacBook Pro, connect one end of the USB-C Charge Cable to any Thunderbolt port on your MacBook Pro, and the other end to the 61W Power Adapter or 96W Power Adapter. 61W Power Adapter or 96W Power Adapter: After the power adapter is connected, fully extend the electrical prongs on the AC plug, and plug the adapter into an AC power outlet. Automatically start up your MacBook Pro.
Use Touch ID (the power button). Press to turn on your MacBook Pro (or just lift the lid or press any key). When you first start up or restart, you need to log in by typing your password. After setup and initial login, whenever you’re asked for your password, you can just place your finger lightly on the Touch ID sensor to authenticate. Press the Touch ID sensor to quickly lock your MacBook Pro screen. You can also use Touch ID to make secure online purchases with Apple Pay.
Mute button: Press to mute the sound from the built-in speakers or 3.5 mm headphone jack. Volume buttons: Press or to decrease or increase the volume of sound from the built-in speakers or 3.5 mm headphone jack. Function (Fn) key (MacBook Pro with Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C)): Each function button on the top row can also perform other functions—for example, the F11 button can hide all open windows and show the desktop.
Learn about keyboard shortcuts. You can press key combinations to do things on your MacBook Pro that you’d normally do with a trackpad, mouse, or other device. For a list of commonly used shortcuts, see Keyboard shortcuts on your Mac. Use the Touch Bar on MacBook Pro The Touch Bar is integrated into many macOS apps to give you handy shortcuts for the tasks you do most, based on your current app and activity. Use familiar gestures—like tap and swipe—in the Touch Bar while you work.
Use the Esc button. The Esc button usually appears on the left side of the Touch Bar, in the same place the Esc key appears on traditional keyboards. Esc appears on the left even when the other tools on the Touch Bar change. Tap instead of type. In apps where you compose text, like Notes, Messages, TextEdit, and Mail, the Touch Bar can display typing suggestions to help you save time by presenting words and emoji you can tap instead of type.
Add buttons to the Touch Bar. Drag controls to the bottom of your screen and into the Touch Bar to add them. When you finish, click Done on the screen. Rearrange buttons in the Touch Bar. While customizing the Touch Bar, drag buttons to a new location. When you finish, click Done on the screen. Remove buttons from the Touch Bar. While customizing the Touch Bar, drag a button from the Touch Bar to the screen to remove it. When you finish, click Done on the screen.
Gesture Action Click: Press anywhere on the trackpad. Or enable “Tap to click” in Trackpad preferences, and simply tap. Force click: Click and then press deeper. You can use force click to look up more information—click a word to see its definition, or an address to see a preview that you can open in Maps. Secondary click (that is, right-click): Click with two fingers to open shortcut menus. If “Tap to click” is enabled, tap with two fingers. On the keyboard, press the Control key and click the trackpad.
Charge the MacBook Pro battery The battery in your MacBook Pro recharges whenever the MacBook Pro is connected to power. Charge the battery. Connect your MacBook Pro to a power outlet using the included USB-C Charge Cable and 61W Power Adapter or 96W Power Adapter. Optimized Battery Charging helps to reduce the wear on your battery and improve its lifespan by learning your daily charging routine.
Conserve battery power. To extend battery life on a given charge, you can reduce the display brightness, close apps, and disconnect peripheral devices you’re not using. Click Energy Saver in System Preferences to change your power settings. If your MacBook Pro is in sleep when a device is connected to it, the device’s battery may drain. Learn more.
Cable or Adapter Description USB-C to USB Adapter: Connect your MacBook Pro to standard USB accessories. USB-C to Lightning Cable: Connect your iPhone or other iOS or iPadOS device to your MacBook Pro for syncing and charging. USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter: Connect your MacBook Pro to an HDMI display, while also connecting a standard USB device and a USB-C charge cable to charge your MacBook Pro.
Turn Bluetooth on or off. Click the Control Center icon in the menu bar, click the Bluetooth icon , then click the control to turn Bluetooth on or off. Your MacBook Pro comes with Bluetooth turned on. Tip: If you don’t see the Bluetooth icon Bluetooth icon in the menu bar, you can add it. Click the in Control Center, click Bluetooth Preferences, then select “Show Bluetooth in menu bar.” Learn more. See the Apple Support article Using a Bluetooth mouse, keyboard, or trackpad with your Mac.
Note: The 16-inch MacBook Pro, as well as some 13-inch and 15-inch models, can support full 6K resolution on the Apple Pro Display XDR. See the “System requirements and compatible Mac models” section of the Apple Support article Set up and use Apple Pro Display XDR. See MacBook Pro accessories for details about adapters to use for connecting external devices. Adapters and other accessories are sold separately. Visit apple.com, your local Apple Store, or other resellers for more information and availability.
Get started Set up your MacBook Pro The first time your MacBook Pro starts up, Setup Assistant walks you through the simple steps needed to start using your new Mac. Tip: Press the Escape key to hear how to set up your Mac using VoiceOver. Press Command-Option-F5 to view accessibility options. To learn more, see Accessibility on your Mac. Choose a country or region to set the language and time zone for your Mac.
Transfer information: If you’re setting up a new computer and you haven’t previously set up a Mac, click “Don’t transfer any information now.” If you want to transfer your data from another computer now or later, see Transfer your data to your new MacBook Pro. Sign in with your Apple ID: Your Apple ID consists of an email address and a password. It’s the account you use for everything you do with Apple—including using the App Store, Apple TV app, Apple Book Store, iCloud, Messages, and more.
See the Apple Support article Use Touch ID on MacBook Pro. Set up Apple Pay: You can set up Apple Pay for one user account on your MacBook Pro during setup. Other users can still pay with Apple Pay, but they must complete the purchase using their iPhone or Apple Watch that’s been set up for Apple Pay (see Use Apple Pay on your Mac). Follow the onscreen prompts to add and verify your card. If you already use a card for media purchases, you might be prompted to verify this card first.
Update account, security, and payment information. In System Preferences, click Apple ID, then select an item in the sidebar to review and update the information associated with your account. Overview: The Overview pane lets you know if your account is set up and working properly—if not, you see tips and notifications here. Name, Phone, Email: Update the name and contact information associated with your Apple ID. You can also manage Apple email newsletter subscriptions.
iCloud: Select the checkbox next to an iCloud feature to turn the feature on. When you turn on an iCloud feature, your content is stored in iCloud and not locally on your Mac, so you can access any content on any device with iCloud turned on and signed in with the same Apple ID. Media & Purchases: Manage the accounts linked to Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, Apple TV, and Apple Books; select purchasing settings; and manage your subscriptions. See all your devices.
Find your way around The desktop, menu bar, and Help on your Mac The first thing you see on your MacBook Pro is the desktop, where you can quickly open apps, search for anything on your MacBook Pro and the web, organize your files, and more. Tip: Can’t find the pointer on the screen? To magnify it temporarily, move your finger rapidly back and forth on the trackpad. Or if you’re using a mouse, slide it back and forth quickly. Menu bar. The menu bar runs along the top of the screen.
Apple menu . The Apple menu contains frequently used items and always appears in the upper-left corner of the screen. To open it, click the Apple icon . App menu. You can have multiple apps and windows open at the same time. The name of the app that’s active appears in bold to the right of the Apple menu , followed by that app’s unique menus.
Sync devices. When you connect a device like an iPhone or iPad, you can see it in the Finder sidebar. From there you can back up, update, and restore your device. Gallery View. With Gallery View, you can see a large preview of a selected file, which gives you a quick way to visually identify images, video clips, and other documents. The Preview pane shows information to help you identify the file you want. Use the scrubber bar at the bottom to quickly locate what you’re looking for.
Quick Actions. At the bottom right of the Preview pane are shortcuts that let you manage and edit files right in the Finder. You can rotate an image, annotate or crop an image in Markup, combine images and PDFs into a single file, trim audio and video files, and create custom actions through Automator workflows (for example, watermarking a file). To show the Preview pane options in the Finder, choose View > Show Preview.
Tap to see buttons for viewing and sorting options: Tap to see sharing options: Tap to see tags you can apply: To learn more, see Use the Touch Bar on MacBook Pro. The Dock on your Mac The Dock, at the bottom of the screen, is a convenient place to keep the apps and documents you use frequently. Open an app or file. Click an app icon in the Dock, or click the Launchpad icon in the Dock to see all the apps on your Mac, then click the app you want.
Add an item to the Dock. Drag the item and drop it where you want it. Place apps in the left section of the Dock, and files or folders in the right section. Remove an item from the Dock. Drag it out of the Dock. The item isn’t removed from your MacBook Pro—just from the Dock. See everything that’s open on your Mac. Press on your keyboard or swipe with three fingers on your trackpad to open Mission Control. View your open windows, desktop spaces, full-screen apps, and more, and switch easily between them.
Open Notification Center. Click the date or time at the top right of the screen, or swipe left from the right edge of the trackpad with two fingers. Scroll down to see more. Interact with your notifications. Reply to an email, listen to the latest podcast, or view details about calendar events. Click and hold a notification to view options, take action, or get more information. Customize your widgets. Click Edit Widgets to add, remove, or rearrange widgets.
Set your notification preferences. Open System Preferences and click Notifications to select which notifications you see. Notifications are sorted by most recent, and redesigned Today widgets deliver information at a glance. Learn more. See the Apple Support article Use Notifications on your Mac.
Learn more. See Use Control Center on Mac in the macOS User Guide. Also see Use AirDrop on your Mac and Use AirPlay on your Mac. System Preferences on your Mac System Preferences is the place where you personalize your MacBook Pro settings. For example, use Battery preferences to change sleep settings. Or use Desktop & Screen Saver preferences to add a desktop picture or choose a screen saver. Customize your MacBook Pro.
Update macOS. In System Preferences, click Software Update to see if your Mac is running the latest version of macOS software. You can specify options for automatic software updates. Spotlight on your Mac Spotlight is an easy way to find anything on your MacBook Pro, such as documents, contacts, calendar events, and email messages. Spotlight Suggestions offer info from Wikipedia articles, web search results, news, sports, weather, stocks, movies, and other sources. Search for anything.
Convert currencies and measurements. Enter a currency—like $, €, or ¥—and an amount, then press Return to get a list of converted values. Or specify a unit of measure for measurement conversions. Open an app. Type the app name in Spotlight, then press Return. Turn off Spotlight Suggestions. If you want Spotlight to search only for items on your MacBook Pro, open System Preferences, click Spotlight, then click to deselect Siri Suggestions.
Siri on your Mac You can talk to Siri on your MacBook Pro and use your voice for many tasks. For example, you can find files, schedule meetings, change preferences, get answers, send messages, place calls, and add items to your calendar. Siri can give you directions (“How do I get home from here?”), provide information (“How high is Mount Whitney?”), perform basic tasks (“Create a new grocery list”), and much more.
Tip: To learn about more ways you can use Siri, ask “What can you do?” at any time, or click the Help button . Play some music. Just say “Play some music,” and Siri does the rest. You can even tell Siri, “Play the top song from March 1991.” Find and open files. Ask Siri to find files and open them right from the Siri window. You can ask by filename or by description. For example, “Show me files Ursula sent,” or “Open the spreadsheet I created last night.” Drag and drop.
“What time is it in Paris?” Learn more. See the Apple Support article How to use Siri on your Mac. Display settings for your Mac Match the light in your surroundings. Your MacBook Pro has a Retina display with True Tone technology. True Tone automatically adapts the color of the display to match the light in your environment for a more natural viewing experience. Turn True Tone on or off in the Displays pane of System Preferences. Use a dynamic desktop.
Dark Mode is finely tuned for professionals who edit photos and images—colors and fine details pop against the dark app backgrounds. But it’s also great for anyone who just wants to focus on their content. Connect a display. See Use an external display with your MacBook Pro. Learn more. See the Apple Support article Using a Retina display. Transfer your data to your new MacBook Pro It’s easy to move your files and settings from another Mac or PC to your MacBook Pro.
Tip: To transfer the information wirelessly from your old computer to your MacBook Pro, make sure both computers are connected to the same network. Keep both computers near each other throughout the migration process. If you used Time Machine to back up your files from another Mac to a storage device (such as an external disk), you can copy the files from the device to your MacBook Pro. See Back up and restore your Mac. Copy files from a USB storage device.
Back up and restore your Mac To keep your files safe, it’s important to back up your MacBook Pro regularly. The easiest way to back up is to use Time Machine—which is built into your Mac—to back up your apps, accounts, preferences, music, photos, movies, and documents (it doesn’t back up the macOS operating system). Use Time Machine to back up to an external storage device connected to your MacBook Pro, or to a supported network volume.
iCloud Photos: Open Photos, then choose Photos > Preferences. In the iCloud pane, select “Download Originals to this Mac.” Full-resolution versions of your entire photo library will be stored on your Mac and included in your backup. Restore your files. You can use Time Machine to restore all your files at once. Click the Time Machine icon in the menu bar, then choose Enter Time Machine.
Learning For comprehensive details about Accessibility support in Apple products, go to Accessibility. Accessibility preferences. In System Preferences, Accessibility preferences are now organized around topics of vision, hearing, and motor, making it simpler to find what you’re looking for. Do it all with Voice Control. Now you can control your Mac with just your voice. All audio processing for Voice Control happens on-device, so your personal data is kept private. Accurate dictation.
Hover and zoom. Use Hover Text to display high-resolution text for screen items under your cursor. Press Command while hovering over text with the pointer, and a window with zoomed text appears on your screen. Zoom Display lets you keep one monitor zoomed in tightly and another at its standard resolution. View the same screen up close and at a distance simultaneously.
New enhancements for VoiceOver. If you prefer the natural voice of Siri, you can now choose to use Siri for VoiceOver or Speech. Simplified keyboard navigation requires less drilling into unique focus groups—making it even easier to navigate with VoiceOver. You can also store custom punctation marks in iCloud, and choose from International Braille tables. And if you’re a developer, VoiceOver now reads aloud line numbers, break points, and warnings errors in the Xcode text editor. Color Enhancements.
New features on your MacBook Pro Your MacBook Pro provides powerful performance, graphics, and other technology enhancements—including Wi-Fi 6 and Thunderbolt / USB 4—to run your favorite apps faster than ever. Keyboard enhancements include more functionality for Touch ID and the Fn/Globe key . See MacBook Pro Magic Keyboard with Touch Bar and Touch ID. macOS Big Sur introduces a new look for your Mac desktop, designed to be more closely integrated across Apple devices.
Safari: Enjoy a faster personalized browsing experience in the biggest update to Safari since its original launch in 2003. Make your browsing experience your own with a new customizable start page, and find many additional extensions in the App Store. Navigate with ease using all-new Favicons in tabs and tab previews that appear when you hover over them. Click the translation icon to quickly translate webpages between seven supported languages.
Battery: Your MacBook Pro now features Optimized Battery Charging and a chart of battery levels and usage history. See Charge the MacBook Pro battery. Family Sharing: An improved family settings UI gives family members more clarity and control over how their family is set up. It's easier than ever to set up your family, add new members, and manage your family details. If the developer supports it, thirdparty app subscriptions can be shared among family members.
Spotlight: Spotlight is faster than ever and presents your results in an easy-to-use streamlined list. Spotlight now prominently shows your top five search results and suggestions as you type — making it even quicker to access high quality suggestions. It gives more consideration to documents and websites in the results to match the way you work on Mac. And if you need additional results, just click “show more.” Spotlight technology is used in the Find menus for apps like Safari, Pages, Keynote, and more.
Use MacBook Pro with other devices Use your MacBook Pro with iCloud and Continuity There are many ways to use your MacBook Pro with your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Apple Watch. You can transfer files, share and edit documents, unlock your MacBook Pro with your Apple Watch, turn your iPhone or iPad into an internet hotspot, answer calls or send texts from your MacBook Pro, and more. Access your content across devices.
Access your iCloud content on your Mac iCloud is the easiest way to make sure all your important content is everywhere you are. iCloud stores your documents, photos, music, apps, contacts, and calendars, so you can access them anytime you’re connected to the web. You can use your Apple ID to set up a free iCloud account, which comes with 5 GB of free storage space. Purchases you make from the App Store, Apple TV app, Book Store, or iTunes Store don’t count toward your available space.
Here are some of the things you can do with iCloud. Automatically store your desktop and Documents folder in iCloud Drive. You can save files in your Documents folder or on your desktop, and they’re automatically available on iCloud Drive and accessible wherever you are. When working with iCloud Drive, you have access to files on your MacBook Pro, on your iPhone or iPad in the Files app, on the web at iCloud.com, or on a Windows PC in the iCloud app.
Store and share photos using iCloud Photos and Shared Albums. Store your photo library in iCloud and see your photos and videos, as well as the edits you make to them, on all your devices. Share photos and videos with only the people you choose, and let them add their own photos, videos, and comments. To get started, open System Preferences, click Apple ID, click iCloud, then select Photos. To learn more, see the Apple Support article Set up and use iCloud Photos. Enjoy your purchases anywhere.
Screen Time on Mac Screen Time shows you how you spend time in apps and on websites. It also lets you monitor what your kids are doing on their Apple devices. Set your limits. Set limits to control how much time you spend with specific apps, categories of apps, and websites. You can also view reports to see how much time you’re spending with apps and websites, and schedule downtime away from your Mac. Family sharing.
Use Handoff on your Mac With Handoff, you can continue on one device where you left off on another. Work on a presentation on your MacBook Pro, then continue on your iPad. Or start an email message on your iPhone, then finish it on your MacBook Pro. View a message on your Apple Watch, and respond to it on your MacBook Pro. You don’t have to worry about transferring files.
Use across apps. You can copy and paste images, text, photos, and video between any apps that support copy and paste on your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Copy and paste files. You can quickly move files from one Mac to another using Universal Clipboard. Copy a file on your MacBook Pro and paste it to a Finder window, Mail message, or any app on a nearby app that supports copy and paste. You must be signed in with the same Apple ID on both Macs. Learn more.
Tip: If you don’t see your iPad in the AirPlay menu, make sure it has Wi-Fi or Bluetooth turned on. You also need to be signed in with the same Apple ID on both devices. Wired or wireless. Connect your iPad with a cable and keep it charged, or use it wirelessly within ten meters of your Mac. Extend your desktop. When you connect your iPad, it automatically becomes an extension of your Mac desktop. To get started, just drag your apps and documents onto your iPad. Mirror your desktop.
Continuity Camera on your Mac Use your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to scan documents or take a picture of something nearby, and it appears instantly on your Mac. Continuity Camera is supported in many apps, including Finder, Mail, Messages, and more. Note: To use Continuity Camera, you need an iPhone or iPod touch with iOS 12 (or later) or an iPad with iPadOS 13 (or later) installed.
Learn more. See Insert photos and scans with Continuity Camera on Mac in the macOS User Guide. Continuity Sketch and Continuity Markup on your Mac With Continuity Sketch, you can use your nearby iPhone or iPad to draw a sketch and instantly insert it into a document on your Mac—for example, in an email, a message, a document, or a note. Or use Continuity Markup to edit a document using your finger on an iOS device or with Apple Pencil on an iPad, and see those markups on your Mac.
Mark up a document. With Continuity Markup, you can use a nearby iPad iPhone/iPod touch or to mark up PDFs, screenshots, and images, and see the results on your Mac. Press and hold the Space bar to view the document in Quick Look, then click the device icon. If both devices are nearby, click Annotate , then choose a device. The tool may appear highlighted to show your device is connected. Start writing, drawing, or adding shapes with your finger or Apple Pencil (on an iPad that supports it).
Send a file from the Finder. Control-click the item you want to send, choose Share > AirDrop, then select the device you want to send the item to. Or click the Finder icon in the Dock, then click AirDrop in the sidebar on the left (or choose Go > AirDrop). When the person you want to send a file to appears in the window, drag the file to them from the desktop or another Finder window. When you send a file to someone, the recipient can choose whether or not to accept the file. Send a file from an app.
Share passwords stored in iCloud Keychain. In Safari, you can use AirDrop to share an account password with one of your contacts, or with another Mac, iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. From the Safari menu, open Preferences > Passwords, select the website whose password you want to share, then Control-click. Choose “Share with AirDrop,” then select the person or device in the AirDrop window to share the password. Learn more.
respond with whichever device is closest. All messages appear on your MacBook Pro, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple Watch. See Messages. Learn more. See Set up iPhone to get SMS texts on Mac in the Messages User Guide. Instant Hotspot on your Mac Lost your Wi-Fi connection? With Instant Hotspot, you can use the Personal Hotspot on your iPhone or iPad to connect your MacBook Pro to the internet instantly—no password required.
Unlock your Mac and approve tasks with Apple Watch When you’re wearing your Apple Watch, you can use it to automatically unlock your MacBook Pro and approve authentication tasks—such as entering passwords, unlocking notes and preferences, and authorizing installations—without having to type a password. These features use strong encryption to provide secure communication between your Apple Watch and MacBook Pro.
apps and your Mac.” If your Apple Watch has watchOS 3 to watchOS 5 installed, select “Allow your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac.” You can’t approve authentication tasks unless you have watchOS 6 or later. Note: These features work only when your Apple Watch is authenticated with a passcode. You authenticate your Apple Watch each time you put it on, so no extra steps are necessary after you enter your passcode. Skip the sign-in.
Set up Apple Pay. Apple Pay uses the Apple Card or other credit or debit cards you’ve already set up on your iPhone or Apple Watch, so no extra setup is required. You must be signed in to an iPhone or Apple Watch that has Apple Pay set up with the same Apple ID you’re using on your MacBook Pro. The default payment card, shipping, and contact information that’s set on your iPhone or Apple Watch will be used for purchases on your Mac. Make a purchase using the Touch Bar.
Learn more. See the Apple Support articles Set up Apple Pay, How to use Apple Pay, and Manage the cards that you use with Apple Pay. Use AirPlay on your Mac Show whatever’s on your MacBook Pro on the big screen using AirPlay Mirroring. To mirror the MacBook Pro screen on your TV screen or to use the HDTV as a second display, connect your HDTV to Apple TV and make sure the Apple TV is on the same WiFi network as your MacBook Pro.
Tip: If the image doesn’t fit your HDTV screen when you mirror the screen, adjust the desktop size for the best picture. Click the AirPlay icon in the video, then choose an option under “Match Desktop Size To.” Apple TV is sold separately at apple.com or your local Apple Store. Learn more. To learn more about AirPlay, see Use AirPlay to stream what’s on your Mac to an HDTV in the macOS User Guide.
Apps Apps included with your Mac Your MacBook Pro comes with a collection of great apps for things you do every day, like surfing the web, sending mail and messages, and arranging your calendar. It also comes with apps like Photos, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, the Apple TV app, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote—so you can be creative and productive right from the start. The apps that come with your MacBook Pro are described in the following sections.
Find even more apps. Click the App Store icon in the Dock to find apps for everything you want to do. To learn more, see App Store. Use the Touch Bar. Perform shortcuts for common tasks. Learn more in the sections that follow. Get help for any app. Click the Help menu (in the menu bar at the top of the screen) when you’re using an app. See macOS User Guide. App Store Search the App Store to find and download apps, and get the latest updates for your apps. Find the perfect app.
All you need is an Apple ID. To download free apps, sign in with your Apple ID—choose Store > Sign In, or click Sign In at the bottom of the sidebar. If you don’t have an Apple ID yet, click Sign In, then click Create Apple ID. If you have an Apple ID but don’t remember your password, click “Forgot Apple ID or password?” to recover it. You must also set up an account with purchasing information to buy fee-based apps. Use iOS and iPadOS apps on your Mac. Many iPhone or iPad apps now work on your MacBook Pro.
Never lose your place or your markups. Your purchased books, collections, highlights, notes, bookmarks, and the current page you’re reading are available automatically on your Mac, iOS devices, and iPadOS devices, as long as you’re signed in on them with the same Apple ID. Find your way back. You can quickly go to pages you’ve bookmarked. Click the arrow next to to view your list of bookmarks. Use the Touch Bar.
Learn more. See the Apple Books User Guide. Calendar Never miss an appointment with Calendar. Keep track of your busy schedule by creating multiple calendars, and manage them all in one place. Create events. Click to add a new event, or double-click anywhere in a day. To invite someone, double-click the event, click the Add Invitees section, then type an email address. Calendar lets you know when your invitees reply. Ask Siri. Say something like: “Set up a meeting with Mark at nine in the morning.
Tip: If you add a location to an event, Calendar shows you a map, estimated travel time and time to leave, and even the weather forecast. Force click any event in Calendar to see more details. See all your calendars—or just a few. Click the Calendars button to see a list of all your calendars; click the ones you want to see in the window. A calendar for every part of your life. Create separate calendars—for example, for home, work, and school—each with its own color.
Share across your devices and with others. When you’re signed in to iCloud, your calendars are kept up to date on all your Macs, iOS devices, iPadOS devices, and Apple Watch that are signed in with the same Apple ID. You can also share calendars with other iCloud users. Use the Touch Bar. Tap the Today button to view or edit today’s events, or use the slider to select the month—past or future.
Use FaceTime with a group.You can connect with up to 32 people in a group call. To create the group, enter a name, phone number, or email address for the first contact in the search field, press Return, then do the same for each contact. Click Audio or Video at the bottom of the screen to start the call. Sign language recognition. FaceTime detects when a participant is using sign language and makes the person prominent in a Group FaceTime call.
Make a phone call. If you have an iPhone with iOS 8 or later, make phone calls from your Mac using FaceTime. Just make sure your Mac and iPhone are signed in with the same Apple ID account and that both have the feature turned on. (On your Mac, open FaceTime, choose FaceTime > Preferences, then select “Calls from iPhone.”) Note: Your MacBook Pro and iPhone must be connected to the internet and the same WiFi network to make or receive calls on your Mac. Use the Touch Bar.
Share locations with friends. In the People list, click Share My Location to tell friends and family where you are. You can share your location for an hour, a day, or indefinitely, and stop sharing whenever you like. You can also ask to follow a friend so you can see where they are on a map and get step-by-step directions to their location. Set location alerts. Automatically send notifications to friends when you arrive at or leave a specific location.
Bring in the beat. You can quickly add drums to your project using Drummer Loops. Click the Loop Browser , then drag a Drummer Loop into an empty part of the Tracks area. You can customize Drummer Loops to fit your song, using a simple set of controls. Record your voice. Choose Track > New Track, then select the microphone under Audio. Click the triangle next to Details to set options for input, output, and monitoring, then click Create. Click the Record button recording.
Use the Touch Bar. Easily adjust the Smart Controls for a selected track. Tap buttons to quickly fine-tune the sound of your instrument, turn effects on or off, or adjust the volume of your track. Learn more. See GarageBand Support. Home With the Home app, you can easily and securely control all of your HomeKit accessories from your Mac. Accessory control. Accessories appear in the Home app as tiles with icons.
Shared Access. You can share your home with family members or guests, so they can control accessories using the Home app on their own Apple devices. Create a scene. Create a scene that lets your accessories work together with a single command. For example, make a Good Night scene that turns off all the lights, closes the shades, and locks the door when you turn in for the night. To create a scene, click , then click Add Scene. HomeKit Secure Video.
iMovie iMovie lets you turn your home videos into beautiful movies and Hollywood-style trailers that you can share with a few quick clicks. Import a video. Import video from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, from a camera, or from media files already on your Mac. iMovie creates a new library and event for you. Record video with the built-in camera. Use the FaceTime HD camera on your Mac to record video and add it to your project.
Tip: Shooting video with a handheld device can produce shaky results, but you can stabilize the video so the playback is smoother. Select the clip in the timeline, click the Stabilization button , then click Stabilize Shaky Video. Use the Touch Bar. Tap to Favorite or Reject any clip in the browser, making it easy to find the clip later or hide it from view.
Practice makes perfect. To rehearse your presentation, choose Play > Rehearse Slideshow. You’ll see each slide along with your notes—and a clock to keep you on track. Share your presentation. If your manager wants to review your presentation or you want to share it with others on a conference call, choose Share > Send a Copy to send a copy by Mail, Messages, AirDrop, or even social media.
Draw them in. Get their attention by animating an object on a slide. Select the object, click Animate in the toolbar, click Action in the sidebar, then click Add an Effect. Tip: You can include a video in your presentation. Click where you want it to be, then click the Media button in the toolbar. Click Movies, then find the movie you want and drag it to your slide. Use the Touch Bar. Tap the arrow buttons to move up or down through your slides.
Focus on what’s important. See only the messages you want to see in your inbox. You can block messages from specific senders by moving their messages directly to the Trash, mute overly active email threads, and unsubscribe from mailing lists directly in Mail. Add events and contacts right from Mail. When you receive a message that includes a new email address or event, just click Add to add it to Contacts or Calendar. Force click an address to see a preview of the location, which you can open in Maps.
View in full screen. When you’re using Mail in full screen, windows for new messages automatically open in Split View on the right, so it’s easy to reference another message in your inbox as you write. See Use two Mac apps side by side in Split View. Never miss an email. Check the Mail icon in the Dock to see the number of unread messages. When you get a new email, a notification also appears at the top-right of the screen so you can quickly preview incoming messages.
Maps Get directions and view locations using a map or a satellite image. Get recommendations for the best places to visit in a city, with guides curated by Apple. Force click a location to drop a pin there. Discover new places with guides. To help you discover great places around the world to eat, shop, and explore, Maps offers curated guides from trusted brands and partners. You can save these guides and get updates whenever new places are added. Create your own guides.
Get there on public transit. Maps provides public transit information for select cities. Click a destination in the sidebar, then click to get suggested travel routes and estimated travel time. EV trip planning made easy. Add your electric vehicle to your iPhone, and Maps shows you where the charging stations are along your route, and accounts for charging times when calculating your ETA. Plan your cycling route.
Messages With Messages, it’s easy to stay in touch, no matter what device you’re using. With iMessage you can send unlimited messages to anyone with a Mac, iOS device, iPadOS device, or Apple Watch. Connect with one or more people and manage group conversations with features like reply in line and mentions. See the Apple Support article About iMessage and SMS/MMS. Sign in and send.
Keep favorite conversations at the top. Pin your favorite conversations to the top of the messages list by dragging them to the top. New messages, Tapbacks, and typing indicators appear above a pinned conversation. When there are unread messages in a group conversation, the most recent participants appear around the pinned conversation. Manage group conversations. Make it easier to identify a group by setting a photo, Memoji, or emoji as the group image.
effect, click the Apps button , choose #images or Message Effects, then click the one you want to use. And look out for Digital Touch, invisible ink, and handwritten messages that your friends send you from their iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch. Send Memoji stickers. Messages automatically generates sticker packs based on your Memoji characters. To add a Memoji sticker to a conversation, click the Apps button , click Memoji Stickers, then click the one that best expresses your mood. Create your own Memoji.
each feature to design your look. When you finish, click Done to add the Memoji to your sticker collection. To add more Memoji to your collection, open a conversation, click the Apps button , click Memoji Stickers, click the New Memoji button , then have fun designing. Send a file, photo, or video. Easily share files by dragging them to Messages. Or quickly find and send photos and videos from your Photos library. In a conversation, click the Apps button , click Photos, then click a photo to add it.
It’s in your library. You can easily view and play your iTunes Store purchases, items you added from the Apple Music catalog, and music in your personal library. Filter your content by Recently Added, Artists, Albums, or Songs. Browse the best of Apple Music. Click Browse in the sidebar to see new music and exclusive releases from Apple Music, a music streaming service available for a monthly fee.
Tip: When screen real estate is at a premium, switch to MiniPlayer to open a small floating window that you can drag where you want, so you can listen and control your music while doing other things on your Mac. To open MiniPlayer, choose Window > MiniPlayer. Use the Touch Bar. When you’re playing a song, you see the rewind, play/pause, and fast-forward buttons in the Touch Bar. Learn more. See the Apple Music User Guide.
Tip: If you’re reading an article and want to save it for later, choose File > Save Story. To view the article later, click Saved Stories near the top of the sidebar. You can access articles from any of your devices when you sign in with the same Apple ID. Learn more. See the Apple News User Guide. Notes Notes are more than just text. Jot down quick thoughts, or add checklists, images, web links, and more. Shared folders let you share an entire folder of notes with a group, and everyone can participate.
Check off your list. Click the Checklist button to add an interactive checklist to a note, which automatically sends checked items to the bottom of the list. Choose Format > More > Uncheck All to uncheck all the items in your list and start over—perfect for reusing your weekly shopping lists. Add photos, videos, and more. Drag a photo, video, PDF, or other document from the desktop. Choose Window > Photo Browser to add items from your Photos library to a note. Add a table.
Numbers Use Numbers to create attractive and powerful spreadsheets on your Mac. More than 30 Apple-designed templates give you a head start creating budgets, invoices, team rosters, and more. Numbers can also open and export Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. Start with a template—then add what you want. Select the sample text in the template, then type new text. To add images, drag a graphic file from your Mac to the placeholder image. Get organized with sheets.
Tip: To get instant calculations for a series of values, select the range of cells containing the values. At the bottom of the window you’ll see the sum, average, minimum, maximum, and count of the selected values. Click the Menu button at the bottom right to see even more options. Use the Touch Bar. Tap Format, Autofill, or Formula to display the options shown below. Tap text style and format buttons to display more options for choosing color, justification, wrapping, and top/bottom alignment for text.
All your formatting tools, in one place. Click the Format button in the toolbar to open the Format inspector. Select something in your document, and the formatting options for it appear. Flow text around graphics. When you add an image to a text document, the text flows automatically around the image. You can fine-tune how the text wraps in the Format sidebar. Start on your Mac, finish on iPad. You can keep documents up to date across all your devices when you sign in with the same Apple ID.
Tip: Turn on change tracking to see the changes you and others make to a document. Each person’s edits and comments are color-coded, so you can see who made each change. Choose Edit > Track Changes to show the change tracking toolbar. Use the Touch Bar. Tap to change the paragraph style, and to add typing suggestions. Tap to see more formatting options. Tap to choose text color, style options (bold, italic, and so on), line spacing, and bullet and list formats. Tap to return to typing suggestions.
All your photos on all your devices. With iCloud Photos, you can browse, search, and share all the photos and videos from all your devices that are signed in with the same Apple ID. When you take a photo on your iPhone, it’s automatically synced with your other devices. And if you edit photos, those edits appear on all of your devices. To get started, open System Preferences, click Apple ID, click iCloud, then select Photos. To learn more, see the Apple Support article Set up and use iCloud Photos.
Find the perfect shot. Photos identifies objects, scenes, and people in your photos and videos. Search your photos based on what’s in them, the date they were taken, people you’ve named in them, captions you added, and their location—if provided. Ask Siri. Say something like: “Show me photos of Sally.” People and Places. Photos understands your photos—who’s in them and what’s happening—and highlights important moments like birthdays, anniversaries, and trips.
Save episodes to your library. To save a single episode to your library, click . To keep up with new episodes for an entire podcast, click Subscribe. To download a podcast for offline listening, click . Discover new podcasts. Find a curated feed of new podcasts in Browse, or see which shows are trending in Top Charts. If you see a show you like, subscribe to the podcast or add an episode to your library for later. Search by host or guest.
Reminders Reminders makes it easier than ever to keep track of all of your to-dos. Create and organize reminders for grocery lists, projects at work, or anything else you want to track. You can also choose when and where to receive reminders. Make groups to assign shared tasks for a project. Keep track with smart lists. Smart lists automatically sort your upcoming reminders into four categories. Select Today to see all your reminders scheduled for today, as well as any overdue reminders.
Organize with subtasks and groups. To turn a reminder into a subtask, press Command-], or drag it on top of another reminder. The parent reminder becomes bold, and the subtask is indented underneath it. You can collapse or expand your subtasks to keep your view uncluttered. To group reminders together, choose File > New Group. Name the group whatever you’d like. Add more lists by dragging them into the group, or remove them by dragging them out. Get reminder suggestions in Mail.
Customize your Safari start page. Your start page can show Favorites, Reading List items, a privacy report, and more. You can import a special photo to use as a background image, or choose one of the provided backgrounds. Click in the bottom right of your start page to set options for your start page. Discover extensions. Extensions add functionality to Safari to personalize your browsing experience.
in the App Store features Safari extensions with editorial spotlights and top charts to help you discover and download useful items. See App Store. After you get extensions, turn them on in Safari Preferences. Select the Extensions tab, then click checkboxes to turn on extensions. View multiple webpages in one window. Click at the far right of the tab bar or press Command-T to open a new tab, then enter an address. To keep a webpage handy, drag its tab left to pin it, and it stays in the tab bar.
Translate webpages. You can instantly translate entire webpages in Safari. When you encounter a page that Safari can translate, you see a translate button in the website address field. Click to translate between any of the following languages: English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, French, German, Russian, and Brazilian Portuguese. The button changes color to show when a webpage has been translated. Tip: In a webpage, force click a word to see its definition, or a Wikipedia article if one is available.
Tap the Search field tap in the Touch Bar, then tap a favorite to open it. When you finish, to return to the Touch Bar you started with. Customize the Touch Bar to add your favorite controls (choose View > Customize Touch Bar). See Customize the Touch Bar on MacBook Pro. Learn more. See the Safari User Guide. Stocks The Stocks app is the best way to track the market on your Mac.
Note: Apple News stories and Top Stories are available in the U.S., Canada, the UK, and Australia. News stories in other countries and regions are provided by Yahoo. Customize your watchlist. To add a stock to your watchlist, enter a company name or stock symbol in the Search field, Control-click the stock in the search results, then click Add to Watchlist. To remove a stock, Control-click the stock symbol and click Remove from Watchlist. You can also Control-click a stock to open it in a new tab or window.
Get a deeper view. Want to see what the market was doing last week, last month, or last year? Click the buttons above the chart to switch timeframes and see prices in the view you like best. Your watchlist on all your devices. Keep your watchlist consistent across all your devices when you sign in with the same Apple ID. Tip: Click Business News at the top of the watchlist to see a collection of timely business articles, curated by Apple News. Learn more. See the Stocks User Guide.
Get started with Watch Now. In Watch Now, browse a curated feed of recommendations, based on channels you’re subscribed to and movies or TV shows you’ve watched. Watch Defending Jacob on the Apple TV app Keep watching in Up Next. In Up Next, you’ll find movies or TV shows you’re watching, as well as movies and TV shows you’ve added to your queue. To add a new movie or TV show to Up Next, click the Add to Up Next button. Discover more in Movies, TV Shows, and Kids.
Voice Memos Voice Memos makes it easier than ever to capture personal reminders, class lectures, and even interviews or song ideas. With iCloud, you can access the voice memos you record with your iPhone, right on your MacBook Pro. Record from your MacBook Pro. Click the Record button to start recording, then click Done to stop. You can rename a recording to make it easier to identify. Click the default name, then enter a new name. To play back your recording, click the Play button .
Mark a recording as a favorite. Select a recording, then click the Favorite button the toolbar so you can quickly find the recording later. Click the Sidebar button in to see all your favorites. Enhance a recording. Improve the sound quality of your Voice Memos by reducing background noise and room reverberation. Click Edit at the top of the Voice Memos window, click the Play button, then click the Enhance button . Use the Touch Bar. Use the Touch Bar to record, pause, or play your voice memo.
Find answers macOS User Guide The macOS User Guide has a lot more information about how to use your MacBook Pro. Get help. Click the Finder icon in the Dock, then click the Help menu in the menu bar and choose macOS Help to open the macOS User Guide. Or type a question or term in the search field, then choose a topic from the results list. Explore topics. To find a topic in the macOS User Guide, you can browse or search.
Find out what’s new. Click the Help menu, then choose “See What’s New in macOS” to find out more about the latest features of macOS. Tip: If you can’t remember the location of a menu item in an app, search for it in Help. Place the pointer over the result, and an arrow shows you the command. Learn more. See the macOS User Guide for Big Sur. Common questions about your Mac How do I get support for my MacBook Pro? Go to MacBook Pro Support. I’m new to Mac.
How do I take a screenshot on my Mac? Press Command-Shift-3 to take a screenshot of the entire screen. Press Command-Shift-4 to take a screenshot of a selected area of the screen. To learn more, see Take a screenshot on your Mac. Where is my serial number? Choose Apple menu > About This Mac. The serial number is the last item in the list. You can also find the serial number on the bottom of your MacBook Pro. Ask Siri.
Keyboard shortcuts on your Mac You can press key combinations to do things on your MacBook Pro that you’d normally do with a trackpad, mouse, or other device. Here’s a list of commonly used keyboard shortcuts.
Shortcut Description Command-X Cut the selected item and copy it to the Clipboard. Command-C Copy the selected item to the Clipboard. Command-V Paste the contents of the Clipboard into the current document or app. Command-Z Undo the previous command. Press Command-Shift-Z to redo. Command-A Select all items. Command-F Open a Find window, or find items in a document. Command-G Find the next occurrence of the item you’re searching for. Press Command-Shift-G to find the previous occurrence.
If you switched to the Mac from a PC, check out the Apple Support articles Mac tips for Windows switchers for a list of Mac keyboard shortcuts and the differences between Mac and Windows keyboards and What’s it called on my Mac?. For more keyboard shortcuts, see the Apple Support article Mac keyboard shortcuts.
Save space on your MacBook Pro With Optimize Storage, you can automatically free up space on your MacBook Pro by making files available on demand. Your oldest files will be stored in iCloud and on your email IMAP or Exchange server, so you can download them at any time. There are also tools to identify and delete big files. Optimize storage. To see storage recommendations, go to Apple menu > About This Mac, click Storage, then click Manage.
Messages: Store all messages and attachments in iCloud. When storage space is needed, iCloud keeps recent attachments on your Mac and makes your oldest files available on demand. Even though your files are stored in the cloud, you can access them right where you left them on your MacBook Pro. See Access your iCloud content on your Mac. Optimize Storage: Save space on your Mac by optimizing the storage of movies and TV shows in the Apple TV app.
Note: You can also open the Screenshot utility from the Other folder in Launchpad, or go to the Apps > Utilities folder in the Finder. Mark up your screenshot. Click the thumbnail of your screenshot to use Markup tools and make annotations. You can also click Share to send your marked up screen to colleagues or friends—right from the screenshot itself. See Mark up files on Mac in the macOS User Guide. Learn more. See Take screenshots or screen recordings on Mac in the macOS User Guide.
Before using Apple Diagnostics, disconnect any external devices, such as a hard disk or external display. Be sure the MacBook Pro is connected to the internet. To start Apple Diagnostics on MacBook Pro, restart the computer,press and hold the power button for 10 seconds to open Startup Options, then hold Command-D to enter Diagnostics mode. To start Apple Diagnostics on other MacBook Pro models, restart the computer and hold down the D key as it starts up. If prompted, select the language for your location.
Safety, handling, and regulatory information Important safety information for your Mac WARNING: Failure to follow these safety instructions could result in fire, electric shock, or other injuries, or damage to your MacBook Pro or other property. Read all safety information below before using your MacBook Pro. Built-in battery. Don’t attempt to replace or remove the battery yourself—you may damage the battery, which could cause overheating and injury.
Prolonged heat exposure. Your MacBook Pro and its 61W Power Adapter or 96W Power Adapter may become very warm during normal use. The MacBook Pro and its 61W Power Adapter or 96W Power Adapter comply with required surface temperature limits defined by applicable country regulations and international and regional safety standards. However, even within these limits, sustained contact with warm surfaces for long periods of time may cause discomfort or injury.
You want to clean the MacBook Pro or 61W Power Adapter or 96W Power Adapter (use only the recommended procedure, described in Important handling information for your Mac). If debris gets onto the power port, remove it gently with a dry cotton swab. 61W USB-C Power Adapter specifications: Frequency: 50 to 60 Hz, single phase Line Voltage: 100 to 240 V (USB-PD) Output Voltage: 20.3VDC/3A or 15VDC/3A or 9VDC/3A or 5.
performing activities that require your full attention. Always comply with posted signs and the applicable laws and regulations in the areas where you are using navigation, and always use common sense. Radio frequency exposure. MacBook Pro uses radio signals to connect to wireless networks. For information about radio frequency (RF) energy resulting from radio signals and steps you can take to minimize exposure, go to RF Exposure. Medical device interference.
Important handling information for your Mac Operating environment. Operating your MacBook Pro outside these ranges may affect performance: Operating temperature: 50° to 95° F (10° to 35° C) Storage temperature: -13° to 113° F (-25° to 45° C) Relative humidity: 0% to 90% (noncondensing) Operating altitude: Tested up to 10,000 feet (0 to 3048 meters) Carrying your MacBook Pro.
Mac ergonomics When you use the keyboard and mouse, your shoulders should be relaxed. Your upper arm and forearm should form an angle that is slightly greater than a right angle, with your wrist and hand in roughly a straight line. Use a light touch when typing or using the trackpad and keep your hands and fingers relaxed. Avoid rolling your thumbs under your palms. Change hand positions often to avoid fatigue.
Regulatory information Regulatory information, certification, and compliance marks specific to MacBook Pro are available on-device. Choose Apple menu > About This Mac > Support > Regulatory Certification. FCC compliance statement This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Apple Inc. One Apple Park Way, MS 911-AHW Cupertino, CA 95014 USA apple.com/contact ISED Canada compliance statement This device complies with ISED Canada licence-exempt RSS standard(s). Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.
Japan VCCI Class B statement ENERGY STAR® compliance statement As an ENERGY STAR partner, Apple has determined that standard configurations of this product meet the ENERGY STAR guidelines for energy efficiency. The ENERGY STAR program is a partnership with electronic equipment manufacturers to promote energyefficient products. Reducing energy consumption of products saves money and helps conserve valuable resources.
Disposal and recycling information This symbol indicates that this product and/or battery should not be disposed of with household waste. When you decide to dispose of this product and/or its battery, do so in accordance with local environmental laws and guidelines. For information about Apple’s recycling program, recycling collection points, restricted substances, and other environmental initiatives, go to Apple’s Environment website.
Software License Agreement Use of MacBook Pro constitutes acceptance of the Apple and third-party software license terms found at Software License Agreements. Apple Inc. © 2020 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Use of the “keyboard” Apple logo (Option-Shift-K) for commercial purposes without the prior written consent of Apple may constitute trademark infringement and unfair competition in violation of federal and state laws.
One Apple Park Way Cupertino, CA 95014 USA apple.com IOS is a trademark or registered trademark of Cisco in the U.S. and other countries and is used under license. The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Apple Inc. is under license. ENERGY STAR and the ENERGY STAR mark are registered trademarks owned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
