Windows user trying Mac for first time need some help

[justme007]

some things that I am trying to get used to.

1. when you open an app it does not display full screen
2. the command key is too close wish I could swap that with the control button
3. not able to sort my bookmarks in safari

anyone know how to adjust settings for these items? any other setting adjustments to make this an easier transition for a windows user?

 

[MacsBug]

Hi there and welcome to the forum,

1. Macs actually use windows to diplay apps. YOu can make an app full screen if you want by clicking on the green dot on the top left of the window.

2. To switch the command and Contril keys is quite simple. On newer versions of macOS ou need to go to System Settings -> Keyboard. Look for the button called Keyboard Shortcuts... and then on the left select Modifier Keys... You can change the behavior of the keys to your liking. On older version os macOS you need to go to the System Preferences -> Keyboards and then click on the Modifier Keys button.

3. To sort your bookmarks in Safari you can follow the instructions in this article. https://support.apple.com/en-qa/guide/safari/ibrw462936b2/mac

 

[justme007]

really hard to explain while using the macbook does not seem as snappy responsive as it is on my windows laptop. not sure if its the mouse and keyboard. when I use the windows machine its just solid whereas the mac has some nice features but I feel more strain on my wrist forearm from the way I have to navigate around.

 

[Rodananne]

Which MacBook are you comparing? See Apple Menu > About this Mac.

 

[justme007]

I'm using the new macbook air 13" M3 chip.

I know it sounds counterintuitive but I know there are some settings to make the mac navigation, hotkeys, etc more windows like which will help me transition faster. I just find navigating and using different applications on the mac takes more effort (i know it will take time) and just trying to figure out how to make this easier for me.

some things I noticed:
1. cmd key too close to space bar (going to try swapping cmd and ctrl per previous posting)
2. when I click an app it does not open full screen so I am having to use mouse to double click the window to expand
3. the key applications down at the bottom are too far to right need to figure out how to move to left
4. imported bookmarks with folders into safari but unable to sort
5. using the mouse is not snappy or as responsive going to try different mouse

don't get me wrong there are some features I like on the mac for sure.

 

[MacsBug]

One thing that I would suggest is that instead of trying to make your MacBook Air work like windows, spend some time learning how to use the Mac as its designed.

You will find that once you learn the ins and outs of macOS that you will be more productive.

When I have clients that are switchers I usually tell them the hardest part of switching from Windows to Mac is not learning how a Mac works, but it is to forget how things were done on Windows.

 

[justme007]

i tried sorting the bookmarks in safari per the instructions however that only sorts the books within a folder. how do you sort all your bookmark folders? also is there any way in settings to have my apps open full screen instead of partial?

 

[MacsBug]

I havent done this in awhile, but this is what I did...

1. Under the Bookmarks folder select Edit Bookmarks

2. Click on New Folder on top right. (You can just leave the folder as titled Untitled Folder)

3. Highlight all of your Bookmarks and folders and move them into the Untitled Folder that you created. (Easiest way to select all is to select the top bookmark, hold the shift key and click on the bottom bookmark)

4. Expand all subfolders that are inside of Untitled Folder by clicking on the > to the left of each of the folders.

5. Right Click on the Untitled Folder and select Sort By -> Name

6. Now that all of your bookmarks are in alphabetical order highlight all of them again, and drag them just above of Untitled Folder to put them back in their normal level under Bookmarks

7. Delete the empty Unttled Folder

Should take all of 2 to 3 minutes and all of your bookmarks including folders and folder contents will be sorted alphabetically.

 

[Rodananne]

3. the key applications down at the bottom are too far to right need to figure out how to move to left

Can you explain that sentence a little. What do you call "key" applications? Are you referring to the Dock perhaps?

 

[justme007]

getting used to mac however still trying to figure out the following:

1. tiling windows - I select tile window to the right on 1 app and then left on the other but sometimes the 1st window disappears and I have to start over. is there a cmd key combo where I can just cascade or tile windows?

2. when opening apps I notice its not full screen. is there a setting to make it automatically full screen or a cmd key?

3. is there a way to make the red yellow green button appear on the right side?

4. snappy feeling - hard to explain but I feel windows is just more snappier when navigating between and within apps. saw some other reviewers mention the same. they said something about turning off animations and increase mouse speeds.
any tips here?

 

[Rodananne]

1. Tiling windows is a fairly new feature so I can't really help you with that. After 20+ years of Mac use without tiling I really have no use for it now.

2. You can quickly make a window Full Screen using the green button (top left) the keyboard command requires 3 keys Command + Control + F. Being very mouse oriented I find the green button much faster. Again I don't use it much because I use the Menu Bar a lot.

3. Not that I'm aware of.

4. "Snappier"? Well, I guess that would depend on what you are comparing. My M1 14" MBP is snappier than my old Intel 2015 13" MBP but then the CPU is several generations later and I have more RAM. I think you would need a slightly more level playing field to compare on.

 

[25ThirtySix]

when you open an app it does not display full screen

Welcome,

I made the same switch as you but 10-12 years ago. So lets talk about your first problem.

If you have macOS Sequoia 15.2 then the solution is easy. Every Mac app window has three coloured dots at the top left-hand corner. Gently pass/move your mouse over the GREEN dot and you will see many different window sizes, just select the one you want.

If you want to use something better there are several really good window managers available. I use one called Magnet and it's available from the Apple Mac App Store. I have it set so that [Option] + [Left-Arrow] moves the top open window to use half the screen width from the left side. Many apps (eg Finder) remember the last location in which they opened.

Enjoy your Mac experience and get back to me if there is anything else I can help with.

Regards,
Peter

 

[25ThirtySix]

how do you sort all your bookmark folders? also is there any way in settings to have my apps open full screen instead of partial?

I think Safari Bookmarks can only be sorted at the folder level. Best thing to do is try for yourself.

Opening apps in a full screen window, see my previous post. Hover your mouse over the GREEN dot and select "Maximise" or with Magnet using [Option] + [Shift] + [Up-Arrow] opens the top window in full screen.

 

[justme007]

how do you make the windows that you resized or tiled stay in place while you grab another app? as soon as I click off the resized or tiled window it minimizes.

is there a way to lock the window so it stays in place while you grab another window?

 

[25ThirtySix]

is there a way to lock the window so it stays in place while you grab another window?

I have just tried opening three different apps and using BOTH the GREEN dot and the Magnet methods and each window stays where it was after I adjusted its location.

Try opening the Mail app. Hover over the GREEN dot and select "Right-Third". Then open say the Messages app and hover over the GREEN dot and select "Left-Third". The Mail app should still be on the right third of your screen.

Regards,
Peter

 

[justme007]

i turned off stage manager which seemed to help. now I can overlap windows resize them place side by side etc without having windows minimize everytime I clicked off the window

 

[25ThirtySix]

Aaahhhh! Stage Manager is very much a work in progress. I hardly ever use it.
Magnet is really worth looking into. I often have two instances of Finder open, one on the left half of the screen and the other on the right half, both looking at different folders. This makes moving and copying of files much easier.
Have you discovered Time Machine (TM) yet. It’s used for Mac backups.

Regards,
Peter

 

[25ThirtySix]

A brand new feature introduced in macOS 15 (Sequoia) is window tiling. This enables you to arrange your open windows into a layout that suits your workflow, a feature previously only available to Mac users through third-party add-ons. With window tiling active, you can drag a window - any window - to the edge of the screen, and have Sequoia give you a suggestion of where to fit it. You then simply drop it into place. You can arrange windows side by side this way, quickly and easily, and without them overlapping. You can customise the feature in System Settings > Desktop & Dock. Look for the Windows section.

Another way to tile your windows is to click and hold on the green button in the top-left corner of every window.

A menu appears, enabling you to choose a placement for that window or more than one open window. It's another great way to tile your apps, Finder windows and documents, keeping them organised and saving you time.

If you don't need a window for a while but don't want to close it, click the yellow button in the top-left corner to collapse it into the Dock. You can open it again by clicking its Dock thumbnail. The toolbar, found at the top of a window, gives quick and easy access to your regularly used tools. You can customise this toolbar by Ctrl-clicking on it and choosing Customise Toolbar. You can then place your own choice of tools in it.

From MacFormat magazine

 

[justme007]

turning off stage manager made all the difference. now I can layer, tile, stack, cascade, resize windows no issue

stage manager was minimizing windows whenever you clicked off the window you were working even when trying to file windows by the green button or dragging windows to the corner.

 

[justme007]

some additional questions:
1. is there a way to set the default zoom when I open excel or web browsers? the default is too small so I am constantly have to adjust
2. when I do a cmd+tab it shows a bunch of apps to tab through but not all apps are open?