Spotlight

Spotlight is a search feature that can be found in the right-hand corner of the Menu Bar or in the upper right-hand corner of Finder. In both instances, it is represented as a magnifying glass.

From the Menu Bar:

From Finder:

The search results will start to appear as Spotlight scans the system for the file(s) or application you are looking for; these results are displayed by category (such as documents, folders, web searches, etc.). You can also access Spotlight at any time by pressing Command + Spacebar.

The Dock

The Dock is a customizable bar found on the bottom or side of the screen; think of it as the Mac equivalent of the Taskbar on a Windows computer. This bar provides easy access to the most used applications on your Mac, as well as minimized windows and applications currently running. Depending on your version of macOS, currently running applications will have a black dot or a blue light below the icon in the dock.

On the Dock, you will find common applications like Finder and Trash. Finder (the blue face on the left) is a way you can locate files and/or open applications, similar to File Explorer on a PC. Trash (the waste bin on the right) serves the same purpose as the Recycle Bin on a PC.

The Dock is completely customizable and allows you to easily add or remove your favorite applications.

Right-Click

Mac laptops do not have a conventional right-click option on the trackpad. You have two options to right-click:

• Hold down the Control key while clicking or
• Place two fingers on the trackpad while clicking.

Installing/Uninstalling Applications

To install an application on a Mac, you will first have to download the install file from the Internet. The downloaded file can be located in the Downloads folder (bottom-right section of the Dock) or in Finder on the left-hand side under Downloads.

On the Dock:

In Finder:

Double-click on the file to open the application installer. In some instances, you may need to drag the application into your Applications folder; in others, the application installer will do it for you. Please note when installing an application on a Mac, the Application installer will treat the file as a removable drive and will appear on the desktop.

Example: Google Chrome requires you to drag-and-drop the application into the Applications folder.

Don’t forget to remove the file image from your computer when the application has been installed. To do this, click-and-drag the Application installer drive from your desktop to the Trash.

For assistance removing applications from your Mac, refer to the Uninstalling Programs and Applications section below.

Setting Default Programs

Some files require a specific application to be seen or utilized properly (i.e. eBooks). eBooks by default will open with Preview (Macs native PDF viewer); however, GCU eBooks are only compatible with Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. To make sure the PDF opens with Adobe Acrobat Reader DC instead of Preview, follow the steps to Change the Default Programs Your Files Open With.

On a Mac, the Command key functions just like the Control key on a PC; however, Macs also have a Ctrl key which has a different functionality and is not as frequently used. Some common keyboard shortcuts found on a PC can easily be done on a Mac. Here are a couple examples:

The Select All shortcut is done by holding the Command key and pressing the letter A.

If an application is not responding or you would like to completely close an application, hold Command and press the letter Q to Quit the application. You can also open Force Quit Applications (the Mac counterpart to Windows Task Manager) by pressing Command + Option + Escape. When the Force Quit window opens, select the application you would like to quit, and then click Force Quit.

Be sure to refer to our other articles if you need assistance with Using Copy and Paste or Taking a Screenshot on your Mac!

1. Click Go from the Menu Bar at the top of the screen and select Applications.
2. In the Applications folder, locate the application you wish to remove and drag it to the Trash.
3. Once placed in the Trash, empty the trash by right-clicking the Trash and selecting Empty Trash.
4. If the uninstalled application was added to the Dock, it will need to be removed manually. To do so, click and drag the icon away from the Dock, when a small cloud on the application icon appears, release the mouse button. Another option is to right-click the icon and select Remove from Dock.

Restarting the computer is recommended after uninstalling an application.

1. Locate the Finder app on your Dock.
2. Locate Applications from the list of categories on the left-hand side.
3. Allow the list to load, then locate the application.
4. You can also use the search feature, Spotlight, located in the top right-hand corner to search for the application.

1. Click the Start Menu, and then select the Settings icon. If you don’t see the settings icon, you can also search for “Settings” from the Start Menu search bar. 
2. Within settings, select System, then locate About on the left-hand side.
3. Under Windows Specifications you can find the edition and version of Windows your device is running.

1. Click the Start Menu.
2. Select Settings.
3. Click on Update and Security.
4. Verify that you’re in the Windows Update section.
5. Click Check for Updates.

If you need to access the Control panel at any time, this is how you can do so on the different versions of Windows:

Windows S is a mode offered for Windows 10 and 11. S mode is streamlined for security and performance. S mode restricts you to only using apps available in the Microsoft store, and requires you to use Microsoft Edge as your internet browser when searching the internet.

For more information about the Windows S operating system, see Microsoft’s FAQ page about Windows S mode.

If you no longer want a program or application on your computer, you can easily remove it. Check out each section for step by step instructions!

Sometimes your programs may stop working like they should. Thankfully, Windows provides a handy feature in the control panel that can repair your programs and applications

1. Click on the Search bar in the bottom left-hand corner of your screen and type in Control Panel.
   
   
2. From the Control Panel menu, choose Programs and Features.
3. A list of programs installed on your computer will begin to populate (in alphabetical order). Once this list has finished updating, locate and select the program you wish to repair.
4. Right-Click on the program you wish to repair. If it is possible to repair it will show an option to repair.

Some apps do not have a repair option and will instead show an option to change.

If this is the case, click the change option and follow the instructions that display on screen.

For further assistance, see this Microsoft Support article on the application repair process