Apple released macOS Ventura to the public in the fall, and the update brings notable improvement for Mac users. Here are the best macOS Ventura tips and tricks you should try first.
With macOS Ventura, Apple has brought major additions to the stock apps and bridged the gap between iPhone and Mac. Beyond the headline features, Apple has also made numerous tweaks and changes to macOS that aim to make the time you spend using your Mac more efficient, more functional, and more enjoyable. To that end, we’ve pulled out the best macOS Ventura tips and tricks, some of which may have gone under your radar, and we’ve highlighted five of them below. Keep reading to learn some of the best macOS Ventura tips and tricks in 2022.
Best macOS Ventura tips and tricks
1. Stage Manager
Unlike iPad, Apple doesn’t limit Stage Manager to a few Mac models only. All MacBook models are compatible with the Stage Manager function. The option is disabled by default. You can turn it on from the Mac Control Center.
Once you enable Control Center, the system automatically organizes your apps and windows in a single view on Mac. The function helps you focus while moving between tasks. You can even create a group of apps for specific tasks or projects. For example, you can group Lightroom, Photoshop, and Canva and pin them in Stage Manager to summon with a single click.
Similarly, you can group social media or writing apps and focus on a single project, removing other obstructions. While Stage Manager is off to a rocky start, it will be interesting to see how Apple continues to evolve it in future updates.
2. utilize Continuity Camera
You no longer need to settle with a below-average webcam during important video meetings on your MacBook. With this MacOS Ventura trick, you can set your iPhone to wirelessly connect to the Mac as a web camera, allowing you take advantage of the phone’s better cameras instead of relying on the lower-resolution cameras that are often built into MacBook laptops. The new feature, named Continuity Camera, works with most iPhone models that are running iOS 16. Just remember to enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both devices and sign in using the same Apple account.
Once you enable Continuity Camera from Settings > General > AirPlay & Handoff menu on iPhone, you will find an option to use your phone camera as the default
You do require separate hardware from a third-party manufacturer like Belkin to hold your iPhone on top of your Mac and need to change the default camera from your preferred video calling app like Zoom, FaceTime, Teams, or Google Meet.
Your iPhone camera on Mac does support Center Stage to stay centered in the camera frame during video calls, Studio Light, Portrait Mode to blur the background, and Desk View to show your desk and face at the same time.
3. Give Apple Mail a Try
Thanks to macOS Ventura trick, Apple Mail now lets users unsend an email they have just sent, schedule emails to hit the perfect timing in the recipient’s time zone, and get reminders to follow up or come back to a message later. The Mail app also has an improved search function to deliver more accurate and astute results and provides suggestions before you start typing.
In short, Apple Mail receives a major feature boost with the macOS Ventura update. If you have ditched Mail in favor of Outlook or Spark on Mac due to a lack of features, it’s time to give Mail another shot after the latest update.
4. Use Spotlight Like a Pro
Spotlight is a major part of the macOS experience, and Apple has enhanced its capabilities with the Ventura update. Simply hit the Command Space keys on your Mac and find images in Photos, Messages, Notes, the Finder, and the web right from the Spotlight Search. You don’t need to open any respective app and navigate dozens of menus to find a photo.
Spotlight even lets you use Live Text to search for an image based on the text inside it. Spotlight also supports quick actions to set the alarm, start Focus, find the name of a song using Shazam integration, run a shortcut, and more.
The default search function on Mac does miss out on a few features, as we usually find in third-party alternatives, but it’s still a promising start with the macOS Ventura update. The update also brings richer search results when finding info about an actor, TV show, movie, sports event, and business. Go ahead, give Spotlight Search a try, and be amazed by the search results.
5. Share Your Photo Library
The default Photos app on Mac allows you to create and share a separate photo library among up to six family members. While creating an iCloud Shared Photo Library, you can select specific photos, people, and scenes like Forest, Sky, Beach, etc., and invite others to collaborate. Everyone can add, delete, edit, or favorite shared photos and videos. The same will appear under every user’s Memories tab in the Photos app.
Unfortunately, you can only create one iCloud Shared Photo Library. You can’t create multiple photo libraries with friends and family.
See also: Apps crashing on macOS Ventura? Here’s the Fix
These New MacOS Ventura Tips and Tricks Make Your Mac Much Better
So these were some of the best macOS Ventura tips and tricks you would love to try on your Mac today. My favorite macOS Ventura tips and tricks include using the stage manager, and using an iPhone as a wireless webcam with Camera Continuity. There’s surely plenty more hidden macOS Ventura tips and tricks to discover, so I’ll keep tapping, swiping and noting anything I find. Did we miss out on something important that needs to be added to the list? Which are your favorite macOS Ventura tips and tricks? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.