DFB's Guide to Macintosh Zen

This guide is for the traveler between worlds
A stranger learning the rythms of macOS.
Think of it as a cheat sheet++.
Use it to skim the surface,
or descend into the weeds.

Resistance is natural- but, perhaps,
you will let go,
and find the flow.

Click the ⊙ to reveal more of the mystery.

Table of Contents

• Essential Keyboard Shortcuts
• Fixing Common Frustrations (Settings to Change)
• Trackpad Tips & Gestures
• Managing Windows Like a Pro
• Must-Have Apps & Tools

Essential Keyboard Shortcuts

The master of shortcuts begins with the obvious.
What is prime is shown plainly.
What is deeper, waits quietly inside the dropdowns.

App Management

• Cmd + Q – Quit the current app

  Unlike Windows, closing the window with the red button doesn’t quit the app – it just hides it. Use Cmd+Q to actually free memory and quit fully. The tiny dot underneath the icon on the dock indicates whether the app is still running.

• Cmd + W – Close current window/tab

  The app stays running in the background. Great for closing docs or browser tabs without exiting the entire app.

• Cmd + H – Hide app and all windows

  Useful for clearing clutter without minimizing every window. Hides instantly; reappear with Cmd+Tab or clicking Dock icon.

• Cmd + M – Minimize current window

  Sends the window to the Dock’s right side. Unlike Cmd+H, it’s per-window rather than per-app.

• Cmd + Tab – Switch apps

  Cycles between open applications. Doesn’t show minimized apps unless you click them in the Dock first.

• Cmd + ` – Cycle through windows of same app

  Incredibly helpful when juggling multiple documents in the same program (e.g., Word, Finder, etc).

Screenshots & Clipboard

• Cmd + Shift + 3 – Full-screen screenshot
• Cmd + Shift + 4 – Select area screenshot
• Cmd + Shift + 5 – Screenshot/video tool UI
  By default, screenshots are saved to Desktop. To copy instead of save, hold **Ctrl** while using the shortcut (e.g. Cmd+Ctrl+Shift+4). You can also change the default to clipboard in the Cmd+Shift+5 menu > Options.

Finder & Files

• Cmd + Space – Spotlight search

• Cmd + Delete – Move selected file to Trash

• Option + Cmd + V – Move copied file (cut-paste)

  Unlike Windows, Cmd+X doesn't cut files in Finder. Use Cmd+C then Option+Cmd+V to move.

• Spacebar – Quick Look preview

  Preview images, PDFs, videos, etc., without opening an app. Tap again to close preview.

Misc Essentials

• Cmd + , – Open preferences of current app

• Option + Cmd + Esc – Force Quit dialog

• Ctrl + Cmd + Q – Lock screen instantly

  Think of it as macOS's version of Win+L.

• Fn (Globe) – Can trigger dictation or input switching

  Customizable in System Settings. Defaults to dictation when pressed twice.

Fixing Common Frustrations (Settings to Change)

• Show hard drives on desktop: Finder → Settings → General → Enable “Hard disks.”
• Show file extensions: Finder → Settings → Advanced → Check “Show all filename extensions.”
• Keep folders on top in Finder: Finder → Settings → Advanced → Enable “Keep folders on top.”
• Fix Finder search default: Finder → Settings → Advanced → Set “Search the current folder.”
• Change default browser: System Settings → Desktop & Dock → Set Chrome (or other) as default.
• Disable Siri: System Settings → Siri & Spotlight → Turn off all Siri options.
  Siri is Apple's answer to Clippy. Most users never miss it.
• Enable Path Bar and Status Bar in Finder: View menu → Show Path Bar, Show Status Bar
• Change scroll direction: System Settings → Trackpad → Uncheck “Scroll direction: Natural”
  If scrolling feels backwards, this is why.

Trackpad Tips & Gestures

• Two-finger tap – Right-click
• Two-finger scroll – Scroll
• Pinch with two fingers – Zoom
• Swipe two fingers left/right – Navigate pages
• Four-finger swipe up – Mission Control
• Four-finger swipe down – App Exposé
• Four-finger swipe left/right – Switch desktops
• Thumb + three-finger spread – Show Desktop
• Thumb + three-finger pinch – Open Launchpad
• Three-finger drag – Enable in System Settings > Accessibility > Pointer Control
  Lets you drag windows without clicking. Ergonomic and addictive.

Managing Windows Like a Pro

• Green button = full screen
  Click and hold to access left/right split-screen tiling.
• Red button ≠ Quit
  Use Cmd + Q to truly quit an app.
• Use Magnet for window snapping
  Essential paid app for window management. Drag windows to screen edges for instant tiling. Excellent keyboard shortcuts. This + Raycast are the only two apps you truly need to transform your Mac workflow.
• Mission Control (F3 or swipe up) – View all open windows
• Spaces (Desktops) – Add/manage desktops from Mission Control
• AltTab app – Windows-style Alt+Tab window switching

Must-Have Apps & Tools

• Raycast – App launcher & productivity Swiss army knife
  Set up Quicklinks for Gmail, perform calculations, control music, and more. Along with a window manager (Magnet), this is genuinely the only MUST-HAVE app. Everything else is nice-to-have.
• Magnet – Window snapping (paid)
  Essential for productivity. Drag windows to screen edges for instant tiling. This + Raycast are the only two apps you truly need to transform your Mac workflow.
• ICE – Clean up your menu bar icons
  The menu bar is the strip at the top of your screen (where the time/battery shows). Unlike Windows, every Mac app dumps its little icons to the bar on the top - WiFi, Bluetooth, apps running in background, etc. ICE lets you hide the mess and keep only what you need visible. Essential for a clean, distraction-free workspace.
• Google Drive – Sync files into Finder
• Chrome – Ideal for Google users
• VLC – Universal media player
• Steam – Games on Mac

In the beginning, all paths seem crooked, yet
they lead to the same mountain.

The wise user knows: confusion is the first teacher,
simplicity hides within complexity,
and what feels strange becomes familiar
repetition, repetition, repetition.

Tip: Explore System Settings. Search is your friend. Most annoyances have a checkbox.

The path reveals itself
to those who use the search.
Ask the machine,
then ask the friend who has walked before—

David has made all the mistakes.