Creating files and saving them on Mac can be easy. But, cutting, copying, or transferring them can consume lots of effort and time. Effective file management makes it simple by organizing all of your MacBook files.
This article highlights the best tips you can follow to keep the files on your system neat and well-organized.
Image Slideshows
If you want a quick look at any image or a group of pictures, you can hit Space. However, if you want a full-screen slideshow of chosen images that progresses automatically, hit Option+Space.
The feature helps when you present your project to your colleagues in the office or batchmates in the classroom.
Show Running Apps
Knowing which applications are running on your Mac help keep your system performing smoothly. macOS has multiple ways to show apps and programs running in the background and consuming resources.
Please navigate to the Activity Monitor to see the running program or tweak Dock settings to display apps that are activated on the computer.
Rename Multiple Files
Renaming a load of files can make file management quite simple. To do so, select the files you want to rename in Finder. Click the Action button and then choose Rename. Once you are done with renaming, a dialog box will appear.
You can replace previous content with a new one or add new text. It will also help you create a new naming format that can be applied to each file.
Delete Files from the Desktop
The Mac desktop takes up most of the screen because it is the area where you will do most of the work. So, it is necessary to organize the files, folders, and documents to easily find them whenever required.
After downloading a file from the internet, make sure not to save it on the desktop but inside a dedicated folder on the computer.
Organize Files on the Desktop
Select all the essential items and group them into folders if you need to save them on the desktop. Stacks in macOS keep files organized in tidy groups. You can arrange files by date, kind, or tag.
When you create a group based on kind, all presentations go in one stack, pictures in another, and so on. The feature will automatically organize the file as the newly added file will immediately reach the suitable stack.
Learn the Shortcuts
Naturally, a human mind cannot learn many things, especially if there is too much workload. Finder consists of support for so many shortcuts that ease the work. But, keeping all of them in mind is not possible.
Not all of them prove to be helpful. So, it’s good to know the most used shortcuts. For example, Shift+Cmd+I to go straight to iCloud Drive, Cmd+D to duplicate a file, and more.
Manage Files in Finder
The place where you can find all the files is named Finder. This is the home foundation for your Mac. The Finder icon appears like a blue smiling face. A Finder window will appear quickly once you click this icon in the Dock.
In the Finder sidebar, you can view all the files, folders, apps, and much more and customize that.
Move Files to iCloud.
Store files and folders in iCloud Drive and access them on any device you are signed in with the same Apple ID. Organize your files in folders or tags by creating new folders in iCloud Drive, on the desktop, and document folder.
By saving data in iCloud, you can access it from your device so long as you have an internet connection—no need to keep it on a physical drive as it will consume storage space. By saving storage on the Hard Drive, you can make space for online games and other files you want to keep on the MacBook.
Show Hidden Files
Like Windows, Mac operating systems also have some essential files hidden from the users. To explore the hidden files, open Terminal and use the command “defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles true” followed by “killall Finder.” If you want to hide the explored file again, use the same command excluding “True.”
Instead of this, use false. If you cannot access the Terminal, hit Cmd+Space and mention Terminal in the window.
Sync Between Apple Devices
Another way to manage your files on MacBook is to connect your laptop to iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. By transferring and updating the items between your devices, you can better organize and manage them.
You can sync any item you want, such as podcasts, films, music, books, TV shows, and more. For example, by adding any movie to your MacBook, you can watch the film on both synced devices.
The Conclusion
And that’s all about the ways to manage files on a MacBook effectively. All these are simple tips to keep the digital clutter cleaned up by organizing all of your Mac files. So, start making these minor adjustments in your workflow to help yourself out by being more productive.
Also, note that file management is not a one-time task; you must create a routine and stick to it.
