Module Objectives • By the end of this module, you should be able to: • Use the macOS desktop • Maintain and support macOS • Update macOS and drivers • Troubleshoot macOS startup 3 Getting to Know the macOS Desktop (1 of 15) • macOS (previously called Mac OS X) is a proprietary OS only available for Macintosh computers by Apple Inc. − macOS is built on a Unix foundation • At the time of this writing, macOS Monterey was just released • The Mac keyboard has some special keys (see Figure 20-1) • The touch pad on a Mac laptop is called the trackpad − You can use multiple fingers and actions called gestures 4 Getting to Know the macOS Desktop (2 of 15) Figure 20-1 Special keys on a Mac keyboard Andrews/Shelton/Pierce, CompTIA A+ Guide To IT Technical Support, 11 Edition ©2023 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May 5 Getting to Know the macOS Desktop (3 of 15) • The Finder application can help you find applications and data files • By default, the dock appears at the bottom of the desktop − It contains shortcut icons to access frequently used applications • When a window is open, three circles in the upper-left corner let you manipulate the window − The red circle closes the window − The yellow circle minimizes the window to the dock in the lower-right corner of the screen − The green circle maximizes the window to full-screen size 6 Getting to Know the macOS Desktop (4 of 15) Figure 20-2 The macOS desktop with a Finder window showing the Applications pane 7 Getting to Know the macOS Desktop (5 of 15) • The Finder window functions something like File Explorer in Windows • Useful things you can do with Finder: − Files and folders − Applications − macOS utilities  Click Applications, click Utilities folder − Locations − Finder menu bar − Tags 8 Getting to Know the macOS Desktop (6 of 15) Figure 20-6 Utilities to support a Mac are in the Utilities folder under Applications in the Finder window 9 Getting to Know the macOS Desktop (7 of 15) • Launchpad is similar to a combination of the Windows Start menu and Programs and Features window and shows all apps installed on the computer • To open Launchpad, use one of the following methods:  Use the dock  Use a gesture  Use a key • You can uninstall an app by pressing and holding the Option (~c) key, click an X on an icon to uninstall the app 10 Getting to Know the macOS Desktop (8 of 15) • The Apple menu opens when you click the Apple icon − Use this menu to put the computer to sleep, log out, restart, or shut down the system • The Apple menu also provides access to system information, system preferences, the App Store, recent items, and the Force Quit options − Force Quit is similar to ending a task from Task Manager in Windows • System Preferences − The System Preferences window is used to change and customize macOS settings and is similar to the Settings app in Windows 11 Getting to Know the macOS Desktop (9 of 15) Figure 20-11 The System Preferences window is used to customize the macOS interface 12 Getting to Know the macOS Desktop(10 of 15) Figure 20-13 The Control Center gathers frequently accessed settings into one location 13 Getting to Know the macOS Desktop (11 of 15) • Spotlight − Spotlight is a search app − To open, click the search icon on the right side of the menu bar • Mission Control and Multiple Desktops − Mission Control gives you a quick view of all open windows and desktops and lets you switch among them − Multiple desktops allows for several desktop screens each with its own collection of open windows  Each desktop screen is called a Space 14 Getting to Know the macOS Desktop (12 of 15) Figure 20-16 Mission Control allows you to create multiple desktops to contain windows 15 Getting to Know the macOS Desktop (13 of 15) • iCloud and iCloud Drive − When a user signs in to macOS for the first time they are given the opportunity to set up iCloud with an Apple ID − To open iCloud Drive, click it in the Finder window − Drag and drop files in and out of the iCloud Drive window  Contents are synced with any iPhone, iPad, or Windows desktop that has the iCloud Drive app installed, or with another device that is set up with your Apple ID 16 Getting to Know the macOS Desktop (14 of 15) • Keychain − Keychain is the macOS built-in password manager − To open, go to the Finder window, drill down into the Applications list, click Utilities, double-click Keychain Access app • Screen Sharing − In System Preferences, click Sharing to open the Sharing window  You can set up file and folder sharing on the network, printer sharing, remote access, and screen sharing − Screen Sharing works like Remote Desktop in Windows 17 Getting to Know the macOS Desktop (15 of 15) • Remote Disc − Remote Disc gives other Mac computers on the network access to a computer’s optical drive − Apple has retired this feature and no longer supports Remote Disc on macOS Catalina 10.15 and newer • Terminal − Terminal in macOS is similar to a command prompt window in Windows  Exception: Terminal uses UNIX commands because macOS is based on UNIX 18 macOS Directory Structure • File systems supported by macOS include the following: − APFS (Apple File System) − FAT32 and exFAT file systems are supported for compatibility with Windows and Linux • To see the directory structure, click Go on the Finder menu bar and click Computer − In the Finder window, click the hard drive • The following are three common file types you might encounter: − DMG − PKG − APP 19 Installing Apps • The App Store is a central location where you can find, install, support, and update apps • macOS allows for apps to be installed from trusted sources, but the most reliable method to install a new app is through the App Store • If you must download an app from a trusted website, always make sure you’re choosing the file that is made for macOS and not Windows or Linux 20 Managed Apple IDs (1 of 2) • You can sign into a Mac using a local account, an Apple ID, a Managed Apple ID, or an AD network ID • A Managed Apple ID and an AD network ID are used to join a domain − For personal accounts, use a local account or an Apple ID • A Managed Apple ID must be an email address • The administrator of the Managed Apple IDs through Apple Business Manager is able to put restrictions on the Apple devices by assigning role privileges − Apple Business Manager is access through an Apple website (business.apple.com) 21 Managed Apple IDs (2 of 2) Figure 20-26 Sign in with Apple ID to access your data stored in iCloud 22 Knowledge Check Activity 20-1 • Why is the scrollbar typically hidden from view in macOS? 23 Knowledge Check Activity 20-1: Answer • Why is the scrollbar typically hidden from view in macOS? • Answer: The scrollbar is not needed in macOS because pages can be scrolled by swiping two fingers up or down the trackpad. 24 Update macOS and Drivers (1 of 3) • Mac experts advise against setting macOS updates to install automatically − Instead, wait a few days after a macOS update before manually installing the update • You can access macOS updates in System Preferences • Updates for apps are found in the App Store • To manually update apps, click the App Store icon in the dock and click Updates in the left pane 25 Update macOS and Drivers (2 of 3) Figure 20-27 The Updates window shows recently installed updates and needed updates when available 26 Update macOS and Drivers (3 of 3) Figure 20-28 Manage how automatic updates are handled 27 Back Up and Restore with Time Machine (1 of 2) • Time Machine is a built-in backup utility that automatically backs up user-created data, applications, and the entire macOS system • You can back up to the following devices: − A USB or Thunderbolt external hard drive or a USB flash drive − Another MAC on the local network − Network-attached storage (NAS) devices that support Time Machine • To set up Time Machine, open System Preferences and click Time Machine • To recover a file or folder from Time Machine, open Finder, in the Applications group, double-click Time Machine 28 Back Up and Restore with Time Machine (2 of 2) Figure 20-29 Configure Time Machine backups 29 Drive Maintenance Tools • Performing the following tasks on a regular basis can keep things running smoothly: − Empty the trash − Free up space − Install updates − Verify no startup items − Remove login items − Restart the computer − Uninstall unneeded apps 30 Repairs Using the Disk Utility App (1 of 2) • The Disk Utility app can be used to repair file system errors and hard drive corruptions • To open Disk Utility, open Finder, navigate to the Utilities folder, and double-click Disk Utility − In the sidebar, select Macintosh HD and click Info in the menu bar • You can use First Aid in Disk Utility to scan the hard drive for file system errors 31 Repairs Using the Disk Utility App (2 of 2) Figure 20-35 Manage drives from the Disk Utility app 32 Troubleshooting macOS Startup (1 of 2) • Safe Mode − Starting the computer is Safe Mode can solve boot problems − To boot the computer in Safe Mode, press and hold the power button, the and hold the Shift key while clicking Continue in Safe Mode − To verify the computer booted into Safe Mode, open System Report under About This Mac  In the Software group, look for Boot Mode, which should report Safe − Safe Mode will automatically attempt to fix many problems − Restart the computer normally and see whether the problem is solved − Delete startup and login items that you suspect are causing a problem 33 Troubleshooting macOS Startup (2 of 2) Figure 20-36 Boot Mode indicates the computer is booted into Safe Mode 34 MacOS Recovery (1 of 2) • Using the macOS Recovery tools, you can reinstall macOS from a Time Machine backup or from the Internet − You can also erase the hard drive before you perform the image recovery • Press and hold the power button, then select Options, and click Continue or turn on the Mac and press and hold Command+R until you see the Apple logo • macOS Recovery launches and the following options are available: − Restore From Time Machine Backup − Reinstall macOS − Disk Utility 35 MacOS Recovery (2 of 2) Figure 20-37 Boot into macOS Recovery to reinstall macOS 36 Knowledge Check Activity 20-2 • A scanner connected to your Mac is giving you problems, and you suspect corrupted device drivers. What should you do first? Second? a. Download and install drivers from the scanner manufacturer. b. Back up the macOS startup disk using Time Machine. c. Update macOS. d. Uninstall the scanner and install it again. 37 Knowledge Check Activity 20-2: Answer • A scanner connected to your Mac is giving you problems, and you suspect corrupted device drivers. What should you do first? Second? • Answer: First c. Update macOS. Second a. Download and install drivers from the scanner manufacturer. • macOS includes many drivers, so checking for an update to macOS might quickly resolve the problem. If that does not work, the next step is to download and install drivers from the scanner manufacturer. 38 Summary • Now that the lesson has ended, you should be able to: • Use the macOS desktop • Maintain and support macOS • Update macOS and drivers • Troubleshoot macOS startup 39