Today, Apple’s MacBooks are packed with unique features that can take users years to uncover. Truth be told, most people barely begin to scratch the surface of their device’s capabilities when it comes to gadget use. Some of these features include shortcuts, quick previews, virtual spaces, and a whole lot more, which work to simplify user experience and enhance productivity so users can get the most out of their devices. 

1. Quick look
This feature allows users to swiftly preview files , without having to open them up entirely. To use this, head to the Finder window and then locate the file one wants to see. Click on it once to select it, and then press the space bar on the keyboard to see a pop-up preview.

2. Virtual Desktops (Spaces)
Make working more efficient with Spaces, the dedicated tool on MacBooks for creating virtual desktops. Here, one can organize their open tabs into different desktop workspaces, making it easy to segment work into categories. 

To set this up, start by clicking on F3 on the keyboard to open Mission Control. Then, move the cursor to the “+” button on the top of the screen to add a new desktop, and drag and drop app windows as necessary. 

3. Screenshots
There are multiple ways of taking screenshots with a MacBook. The Shift+Command+3 combination takes a screenshot of the whole screen and saves it to the gallery, while the Shift+Command+5 combination can be used to access other screenshot and screen recording options. 

4. Shortcuts
MacBooks also have a lot of operating shortcuts that can be accessed easily from the keyboard. While copy (Command+C) and paste (Command+V) are quite common, there are many others one could use .  

• Hide a window: Command+H
• Switch between open apps: Command+Tab
• Find items (or open the Find window): Command+F
• Minimize the front window: Command+M
• Close the front window: Command+W

What’s more , there is also room to customize shortcuts on a MacBook, and turn the screen’s corners into shortcuts. This can be done to perform specific actions like starting the screen saver, locking the screen, opening a Quick Note, accessing all the apps, and more. This is called Hot Corners and can be accessed and changed via System Preferences > Mission Control > Hot Corners.  

5. Automator
The Automator is an extremely useful tool on the MacBook that allows users to automate repetitive tasks. To access it, open the Automator app , and then choose the desired action. This could include renaming files or copying files and folders. Choose the desired actions to create a workflow, and let the app handle the rest.

6. Pin a universal media player to the menu bar
On many devices, controlling media playback often requires constant back and forth between tabs, if someone is otherwise occupied. This problem can be resolved easily by pinning the universal media player widget to the screen. This widget allows users to pause, play, and adjust playback on any audio platform, ensuring a smoother working experience.

To pin this, head to System Preferences , and then to Dock & Menu Bar. Click on Now Playing, and then check the “Show in Menu Bar “ option on the screen. The widget should appear automatically. 

7. Emoji keyboard
Just like the iPhone, the MacBook also has a dedicated emoji keyboard that can make typing or texting on it a lot more fun. To open this keyboard, press Command+Control+Space bar, and wait for the keyboard to appear with the search bar. 

8. Custom gestures
The mouse tracking pad on the keyboard can be equipped with custom gestures to perform specific functions such as swiping between pages, swiping between full-screen applications, accessing Mission Control, and more. To access these, head to System Preferences > Trackpad or Mouse > More Gestures.  

9. Dictation
If typing feels too dreary, turn on the built-in Dictation mode on the MacBook. This can be found under System Preferences > Keyboard > Dictation. 

10. Dark-mode
The iPhone’s dark mode can also be used on the MacBook. This feature was actually first introduced on the MacBook, before being released for iPhones and iPads. To turn the Dark Mode on, head to System Preferences , and then click on General. At the top of this window, one will see three options – Light, Dark, and Auto. Click on the preferred mode, and it’s all set. 

11. Fill and sign documents
Stop using third-party applications to digitally fill and sign documents on the MacBook . While this feature had been added to Preview way back in 2011, it is not the most easily noticeable. That being said, once it is set up, all it takes is a couple of clicks to add a signature to any document of choice . 

To set it up, open any document one wants to sign in Preview mode. Click on the pen icon next to the search bar, and then click on the signature box. Select “Create Signature,” and then, one can either sign on a piece of paper and hold it up to their MacBook’s camera, sign using the trackpad, or sign their name on their iPhone screen. Remember to save the signature on the MacBook so it can be used in the future. Click and drag it to the desired location.