Apple Mac OS X tips and tweaks for faster, better working

Apple Mac hints and tips and tweaks

Welcome to the tips and tweaks section for the Apple Mac and OS X. The tips are in two sections and first there are OS X tips and tweaks, and right down at the bottom of the page are tips for various Mac applications like Safari, iTunes, iPhoto and so on.

More tips are added to this collection at regular intervals, so come back soon and you'll probably find more! The most recent tips are at the top of the list and the oldest are at the bottom. The first tips written were for OS X 10.4 Tiger, then more recently for OS X 10.5 Leopard, then the newest tips at the top are for OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. Although the tips at the bottom of the list are old, some of them still apply even in Snow Leopard, so check them out as well as the new ones at the top.

OS X tips and tweaks...

Securely delete private files
Use Dashboard widgets on the desktop
Securely delete files in secure disk vaults
Amazing Spotlight search secrets
Documents, web articles on your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
Speak contacts' birthdays using Automator
Create services using Automator
Delete Automator actions and services
Use Automator announce birthdays
Customise the dictionary
Flexible multi-file rename utility
Automatically clear Mail's Junk folder
Try these hidden features in Finder
Hide files in a secure disk vault
Reduce startup times, boot faster
Access hidden features in TextEdit
Use the console to solve problems
Use PDF security features to lock access
Make use of Finder's title bar icon
Scan for wireless networks
Sort Safari bookmarks into order
Customise the Mail toolbar
A hidden feature in About This Mac
Use iTunes parental controls
Move apps from one space to another
Get the latest RSS feeds in Mail
Avoid spam - junk emails - in Mail
Fix faults with Mail
Use modifier keys for corner hotspots
Use spotlight for quick calculations
Find Address Book contacts with Google Maps
Disable Flash content in web pages
Start with Command+Option to fix apps
14 ways to eject a stuck CD/DVD disc
Turn the sudden motion sensor on/off
Solve memory fragmentation problems
Upgrade the RAM in your Mac
Use keyboard shortcuts
Add folders to Finder's toolbar
Quick Look files in the Trash
Restore Trash to the original location
Check for invalid login items
Turn screen corners into hotspots
Stop the Help window being on top
Quick and easy access to your apps
Resize the Dock directly
Create PDF files from your documents
Build up your font favourites
Burn ISO images using Disk Utility
Turn files into stationery with stationery
Lock files to prevent changes or deletion
Removing menulets or menu extras
Rearrange menu extras/menulets
Editing menulets/menu extras
Add menulets or menu extras to the menu bar
Don't get caught by phishing
Change file associations
4 ways to grab the screen
Access special characters from the keyboard
Choose your preferred Wi-Fi network
Improve your wi-fi network
Mac memory explained
Get more memory - close widgets
Some files are actually folders
Use email read receipts in Mail
View hidden files in Finder
Securely erase disks with Disk Utility
Speed up Time Machine backups
Stop Spotlight indexing everything
Start up in Safe Mode
Eject discs on startup
View status messages on startup
Find where downloads came from
Calibrate your Macbook's battery
Novices: Calibrate your monitor
Experts: Calibrate your monitor
Shrink photos for emailing
Open with another application
Switch finder views
Securely delete files
Use the right thesaurus
Your favourite characters
When Help won't work
All about an alias
Customise the Finder window toolbar
Create an instant slide show
View files with Quick Look
View multiple files with Quick Look
View multiple files in Preview
Sort and resize Preview thumbnails
Connect to Windows PCs Part 1
Connect to Windows PCs Part 2
Can't connect to another Mac?
Connect to a Mac from a Windows PC
Disable login items
Copy and paste files
Defragment the disk part 1
Defragment the disk part 2
Boot from a CD/DVD
Boot from an external hard disk
Check for disk faults
Fix disk faults
Insert special characters
Drag and drop email
Remove unnecessary Dock items
Shrink the Dock
Improve battery life part 1
Improve battery life part 2
Improve battery life part 3
Efficiently use Spaces
Start apps in their own Space
Use multiple desktops
Disable menu translucency
Customise the desktop
Secure data with FileVault
Don't corrupt your backup
Partition your USB disk
Add folders to the Dock
Menus in the Dock
Find files and folders
Colour code files and folders
Find colour coded files
Search for multiple colour labels
Hide and see
Finder shortcuts
Drag to email
Stop services to improve security
Prevent network security changes
Clean up your desktop
Don't open Spotlight files
Customise Spotlight categories
Stop Spotlight finding files
Force programs to quit
Apple's special keys
Turn on the firewall
Enable firewall logging
Enable firewall stealth mode
Where's the firewall gone?

Other tips

Pages: Access hidden dictionary features
iTunes: Use advanced sort options
iTunes: Listen to music you've not heard before
iTunes: Add a shopping cart
iTunes: Find and delete duplicates
iTunes: Customise podcast settings
iTunes: A better shuffle
iTunes: A better Party Shuffle
Stickies: Create bulleted lists
Stickies: Select bullet styles
Stickies: Search using Spotlight and Google
Stickies: Click and drag
iWork: Copy text and styles, text or styles
iPhoto: Fix faults with a hidden startup key combo
iPhoto: Use multiple photo libraries
Safari: Use Safari's privacy features
Safari: Save web pages and content
Safari: Select URLs in the address box
Safari: Save time with keyboard shortcuts
Safari: Get a list of URLs
Safari: Reset and clear to solve problems
Safari: Manage your bookmarks