GeeksModo

How to Delete Messages on Mac: The Easiest Way

Wednesday June 3, 2020 3:09 pm EAT by GeeksModo Staff

In this article, I’ll show you how you can delete individual messages (including SMS, text and
iMessages)
and entire conversations in Messages on your Mac. Moreover, I’ll show you how you can set up your Mac to automatically delete messages.

Your Mac keeps a permanent copy of your messages forever by default. There is a high chance that you will not
save a lot of space on yourMac
by deleting messages. But if you have tons of messages, you may become overwhelmed. To take control of your messages, it is important to delete some of your messages
so that you can keep your messages organized particularly if you chat with lots of people.

Before you jump into it, please keep in mind that you can’t recover a deleted message or conversation.

Delete a message

Follow these steps to delete a single message in a conversation:

On your Mac, launch the Messages app.
Identify the conversation that you wish to delete a message from.
Look for the individual message you wish to delete.
Click once on the message to highlight it.
On your keyboard, press the delete key.
You will see a popup that says “are you sure you want to delete this message? You cannot undo this action.”
Click Delete to confirm your action.
Now, the message will go away.

Delete a conversation

Follow these steps to delete the whole conversation:

Identify the message thread you wish to delete from the Messages list.
Select the conversation. Then:
1. You can right-click (control-click) and select Delete Conversation. Again, you’ll see a popup that says “would you like to delete this conversation? You
  cannot undo this action”. Just hit Delete to confirm.
2. Alternatively, click File from the menu bar and select Delete Conversation. Click Delete again.
3. Finally, if you are using a trackpad or a Magic Mouse, you can swipe left with two fingers and then click the red Delete button. Click Delete one more time
  to confirm your action.

Keep in mind, if you are using Messages in iCloud, therefore, conversations you delete from Mac will automatically be deleted from your other Apple devices like your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch.

Auto-delete

macOS offers you an option to keep your messages for 30 days, a year, or forever. This means that your Mac will automatically delete your messages after
the selected time period elapse. This will include the attachments as well. Here are instructions for how to turn on automatic removal:

On your Mac, launch the Messages app.
Now, click on Messages.
Next, click Preferences.
Next on, Click the General tab.
Lastly, click the “Keep messages” pop-up menu and then choose how long you want to keep messages.

For instance, if you select 30 days, your conversations and attachments will be deleted after 30-day is over. By default, forever is selected. Therefore,
your Mac keeps all messages forever unless you delete them manually.

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How to Delete Your Zoom Account Permanently

Wednesday June 3, 2020 2:38 pm EAT by GeeksModo Staff

Zoom security problems have recently thrown some cold water on one of the hottest apps in the world. As such, you may want to delete Zoom account permanently. Actually, tons of people around the world still rely on Zoom, but now, nobody seems
sure about how much faith they should put into the service.

With that in mind, we’ve decided to look at some of the more notable Zoom security problems out there. If these problems scare you off the virtual meeting
app, then we’ve also explained how to delete your Zoom account and use other popular Zoom alternatives instead.

Zoom Security Problems

You’ve probably heard of some recent Zoom security problems that severely impacted user trust in the service. The following are some of the main Zoom security problems
that have been discovered so far.

Recorded Video Vulnerabilities

Hackers discovered a couple of Zoom security problems with the service’s recorded video options.

The first, and most important, is that it was previously possible to hack the Zoom cloud and download recorded videos. While this is not a simple process,
a relatively experienced hacker could do it without too many problems. In addition, it appears that recorded Zoom meetings can linger in the cloud
even after being deleted by the user.

Zoom has addressed this issue to some extent by enabling increased password protection by default. However, older recordings can still be vulnerable. In addition,
general concerns remain about the security of the Zoom cloud.

Zoombombing

It is possible for your Zoom call to be hijacked through a process called Zoombombing. That basically means that someone can make their way to your
Zoom conversation or account.

There is some debate as to how widespread this issue is, but it’s been suggested that this Zoom security issue hasn’t yet been properly addressed.
Therefore, it remains a major concern about Zoom security.

User Data Sharing

Zoom has been called out over their previously generous data sharing policies. Basically,Zoom had a somewhat relaxed policy because it involves sharing user
data via Facebook and other social media channels.

While Zoom has stated that they are working to address this issue and better protect user information, some are still concerned about the company’s policies
and history with this issue.

Other Zoom security vulnerabilities exist, but these are the ones that are most of the focus and concerns at the moment. In short, many belief
that Zoom is inherently vulnerable platform with a unstable history of protecting user information.

Is Zoom Still Safe to Use?

This question is somehow tricky

First, it’s a matter of public record that Zoom has recently suffered from significant security vulnerabilities. Everyone is aware that there are inherent problems with
the service, and that’s always something to be concerned about.

Though, Zoom has taken steps to ensure that its existing problems are resolved. That’s cool, and some argue that Zoom’s response to these issues
is indicative of their intention to keep abreast of such issues in the future. They’ve said that Zoom could ultimately become the safest of such platforms
because they have had a lot of early issues.

Whether you believe that it is really a matter of trust in the company, but the logic is solid. At the very least, Zoom doesn’t appear to be noticeably
less secure than some of the major alternatives in the market.

How to Delete Zoom Account on iPhone

If you just want to delete your Zoom account, the process is easy and straightforward. Here’s how to delete Zoom account on iPhone:

Log in to the web portal of your Zoom account
Go to Account Management > Account Profile
Click on “Terminate My Account”
When asked to confirm the deletion of your account, select “Yes”

After completing the last step, you can safely delete the Zoom app from your device. This can be done using the usual methods of deleting an app. If
You don’t know that process, just hold down the Zoom icon on your device until you see the “Delete App” option.

Keep in mind, you cannot delete Zoom account from app. If you delete the app from your device, your account will not be deleted. If you don’t delete your account first, your data will
remain active with Zoom. So, to delete zoom account on iPhone, you will want to log in to the web portal of your Zoom account.

How to Deactivate a Zoom User

Deleting your own account is pretty easy, but you may also want to remove someone else’s Zoom access.

There are a number of reasons why you may need to remove someone from your Zoom account. For example, you may have accounts for your employees and a member
is no longer part of the company. Either way, the steps to remove someone remains the same. Simply follow these steps:

Log in to the Zoom account web portal
Select the User Management option and then navigate to Users
Find the user you want to remove
Click the ellipses icon next to their name and choose the Deactivate option.

Keep in mind, you can easily reactivate a user account by following the same steps as mentioned above, but select Activate rather than Deactivate.

How to Secure Your Zoom Account

There are a few easy steps you can follow to better protect your Zoom account. While none of them guarantees 100% security, they can all help in due course. Simply follow these steps:

Avoid sharing your meeting ID unless you have to. Even then, only share it via the safest channels.
Always generate a random meeting ID instead of manually setting one.
Turn on the waiting room feature to make sure you know who you are inviting to a meeting.
Use Zoom settings to make sure that you’re the only one who can screen share during a meeting. Note, there may be times when this option is not available.
From the Manage Participants menu, you can lock your meeting. This is a great Zoom security option if you’re certain nobody else needs
to join.
Do not record your meetings unless it’s obligatory. This is an easy way to protect yourself against notable security issues.
Remove, report, and block any problematic participant. This is an great way to keep abreast of problems as they appear.

Zoom Alternatives

Here are some of the best Zoom alternatives

GoToMeeting

GoToMeeting is a professional, established, and generally secure virtual meeting available today. While it lacks some of Zoom’s cool features, it certainly isn’t
lacking when it comes to professional meeting options.

FaceTime

FaceTime is not the best “full feature” virtual meeting app available today. What it is, however, is an accessible, easy-to-use, and generally reliable way to
have a virtual conversation. If you don’t need much more, it may offer pretty much everything that you need.

Slack

As we’ve already mentioned, chances are you already use Slack in your office. If that’s the case, it also means you have access to its
virtual meeting options. While these options are not as extensive as those of Zoom and other services, Slack is still one of the easiest ways to
start a meeting with your colleagues.

Cisco WebEx

It would be a lie if we told you that Cisco is as “fantastic’ as Zoom. However, As far as security and professionalism is concerned, this is one of the most reliable options
available today. There’s certainly not much to complain about as far as hosting virtual meetings with this app is concern.
See alsoBest video conferencing apps for iPhone and iPad

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20+ Amazing Mac tips and tricks for 2023

Tuesday January 3, 2023 7:03 pm EAT by GeeksModo Staff

Who doesn’t like tricks? We are not talking about the tricks in life, rather not a witty thing to do. But what you can do on your Mac to improve productivity. Below are the best hands-on Mac tips and tricks you can use to make your life easier. These Mac tips and tricks will help you to use your Mac in a most efficient way possible in 2023.
YourMac can do a lot. for instance, you can use your Mac for video editing, signing documents and much more. However, some of its best features are hidden away and most people don’t know them. After you have mastered them, however, you can get the most out of your Mac.

These tips, tricks, and time-savers greatly expand what you can do with your Mac and will do wonders for your workflow.

Need more Mac tips? Try our guide toMac keyboard shortcuts In addition, check iPhoneGeeks article on the best macOS Monterey tips and tricks to improve your overall Mac experience.

Best Mac tips and tricks 2023

The following are the best Mac tips and tricks for 2023.

1. How to digitally sign your documents

With so many of us working from home, signing documents on your Mac has become essential than ever. But there is a much simpler way to do it than printing the document, signing it, then scanning it back to your Mac.

Open Preview, then in the menu bar click Tools > Annotate > Signature > Manage Signatures. In the pop-up box, click Create Signature. You can now use your trackpad or iPhone to write your signature, or your Mac’s camera to capture your signature written on a piece of paper. Any time you want to sign a document, just open it in Preview, then click Tools > Annotate > Signature and click your signature to drop it in place.

2. How to customize the Finder sidebar

Finder is the default file browser on MacOS. It is pretty customizable and can be shaped to your needs with a few quick clicks. For instance, if you have a folder you access frequently, you can add it to the Finder sidebar for fast access. Simply go to the folder, then click and drag it over to the sidebar. For apps, hold the Cmd key then drag their icon over. You can remove items using the Sidebar tab in Finder > Preferences.

in addition, you can change what buttons appear at the top of the Finder window. Click View > Customize Toolbar, then add, remove, or rearrange the buttons as you like.

3. How to rename groups of files in Finder

Apple makes it easy to batch rename groups of files on MacOS however, you get a lot of advanced options if you need more control. To get started, select all the files you wish to rename, then Cmd+click them and click Rename x items (where x is the number of files you have highlighted).

A pop-up window with various options will appear. You can opt to rename the files by replacing their current names, appending text to the end of their names, or renaming them based on various factors, like their name and date. You can use a name base, too. At the bottom of the pop-up window is a preview so you can see how the renamed files will look.

4. How to use Stationery Pad

looking to use a file as a template for subsequent documents? There is a nifty method known as Stationery Pad that does the difficult task for you.

locate the file you need to use as a template, then Ctrl+click it and click Get Info. From here, tick the Stationery Pad checkbox. Now, every time you double-click this file, MacOS will launch a duplicate of the original for you, letting you make changes without altering the template document.

5. How to use Spaces for multiple desktops

Enjoy keeping work and play separate? Use Spaces. This nifty MacOS feature lets you have multiple desktops, each with different windows and files open. It comes in handy when you need to separate out your projects and focus on one at a time.

To open the Spaces menu, swipe up with four fingers on your trackpad, press the Mission Control button, or press Ctrl+Up arrow. Click the “+” icon to add a new desktop. Move between desktops by swiping with four fingers or pressing Ctrl+Left arrow or Ctrl+Right arrow. To move files or windows onto a different desktop, click and drag it to the top of your screen until the Spaces menu appears, then drop it on your desktop of choice.

6. How to assign shortcuts to your window corners

Windows 10 has Peek, which temporarily shows the desktop when your mouse moves to the bottom-right corner of the Display. MacOS goes one better with Hot Corners, which allows users to assign controls to each corner of their screen.

launch System Preferences > Mission Control > Hot Corners. Here, you can choose an action for each corner, including showing Notification Center, locking the screen, starting the screen saver, and more. You can add keypresses into the mix and assign the same action to multiple corners Simultaneously, as well

7. How to use Mac’s hidden window-resizing tricks

Resizing windows may appear straightforward — you just click and drag the window corners, easy? But in MacOS, you get some nifty additional options.

Hold Shift as you resize the window and it will maintain its current aspect ratio. Hold Alt, meanwhile, and the opposite side or corner will resize in an equal amount to the side you are resizing. Hold both Shift and Alt at the same time and you can combine both features.

8. How to share contact information in Contacts

The Contacts app allows users to share their details with other people, however, sometimes you may only need specific information to be sent out — say your work email address but not your home street address,.

To do this, you first need to define your own card by selecting it in Contacts, then clicking Card > Make This My Card. Now, open Contacts’ preferences and click the Card tab, then tick the “Enable private me card” checkbox. Click Edit on your card and untick the boxes next to any item you do not want to share, then click Done.

9. How to add spacers to the Dock

You can add some handy spacers to your Mac’s Dock with just a couple of Terminal commands, giving you a new way to organize your app icons. Open Terminal from Go>Utilities, then type the following: “defaults write com.apple.dock persistent-apps -array-add ‘{“tile-type”=”spacer-tile”;}’; killall Dock” and press Return (the command is case-sensitive).

The Dock will disappear, then reappear with a spacer tile on the right-hand side. Type “exit” into Terminal and press Return, then quit Terminal. You can now drag the spacer tile to wherever you want in the Dock. Repeat for as many spacers as you like.

10. How to unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch

A great example of how the Apple ecosystem works is setting your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac. When both devices are signed to the same Apple ID, you simply need to wake your Mac by pressing any button and your Watch will automatically unlock it.

To set up this feature, launch System Preferences, then click Security & Privacy. Tick the checkbox next to Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac (you might be prompted to type in your Mac’s password). If you are using MacOS Catalina and watchOS 6, this also works anywhere else you would normally type in your Mac password.

11. How to transfer Files Fast

If you hold down “T” when your Mac is turning on, you can enter Target Disk Mode. In this mode, use a Thunderbolt 3 cable to transfer large files at fast speeds between two Macs.

12. How to paste With Style Matching

When pasting something, if you use Option-Shift-Command-V instead of just Command-V, you can transform the pasted content into the style of the content that already exists in a document. If you have a block of text that’s italicized, for example, and then want to paste in text from the web and make it italicized too, you can use this keyboard shortcut.

13. How to turn a Website Into a Dock App

You can add any website to your dock by dragging the URL bar over to the bottom section of the dock that houses open and recently used apps. Adding a website to the dock makes it faster to launch because you can click from that spot alongside all your apps.

14. How to print quickly

If you head over to the Printers and Scanners section of System Preferences and drag the icon for your favorite printer to your desktop, you can then drag and drop files onto the printer icon to print them automatically.

15. How to share screen in Messages

In a Messages chat with someone, click on the “Details” link and then click on the icon that looks like two screens together to start screen sharing with the person whom you’re chatting with. This is super handy for troubleshooting problems for less tech savvy family members from afar, provided you can get them to click the screen sharing option.

16. How to preview Files From the Dock

In the Downloads or Documents folder on the Dock, hover your mouse over a file and then press the space bar to see a preview. This also works for selected files in Finder.

17. How to see Where Files are Stored

If you have a Downloads or Documents folder on your dock, you can hold Command and click on a folder or file to show its location in Finder.

18. How to move Files Quickly

To move files from one location to another using keyboard shortcuts, simply use Command-C to copy the files you want to move and then Option-Command-V to move those files to a different location.

19. How to activate Spotlight for Searching

To launch a handy search interface that will let you find files on your Mac, simply use Command + Space. Spotlight can do all sorts of things, from locating files to answering basic questions to solving math problems.

20. How to swap Between Apps

To switch between your running apps, press Command + Tab. Keep holding down the Command key and then press Tab to cycle through the open apps. release when the app you want is highlighted.

21. How to close Apps From App Switcher

When you’re in the Command + Tab view, press the Q key with command held down to close an open app.

Best Mac tips and tricks? Now you know

And that covers everything about Mac tips and tricks 2023. Have we missed some Mac tips and tricks here? let us know in the comments section below.

Tags: Mac Tips, MacBook Pro

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9 Enhanced Features We Want in iPhone 12

Monday June 1, 2020 7:24 pm EAT by GeeksModo Staff

Apple released the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro in September 2019 for the usual fanfare. These devices are solid upgrades from the previous models and introduce many desirable features, such as a newthree-camera setup, amazing battery life and better displays.

However, these changes feel step by step and leave us longing for more. Many important features are missing from the 2019 iPhone models that we would like to see in iPhone 12. Below are the main new features we want to see in Apple’s iPhone 12 lineup.

1. A smaller notch

In 2017, Apple introduced the iPhone X, an almost full screen phone with minimal bezels and no home button. To make up for the absence of the home button, the iPhone needed a new form of biometric security. That’s how Face ID was born.

The components required for Face ID are located at the top of the phone, resulting in a black bar interrupting the design on the entire screen. That bar is called the ‘notch’ and caused annoyance to many users.
Wouldn’t it be great if Apple found a way to reduce this notch? Maybe the company could use a perforated design similar to Samsung’s? A camera under the screen would also be welcome.

2. 5G support

5G is the next step in mobile network technology after 4G LTE and offers blazing fast speeds. Some Android flagships, such as the Samsung Galaxy S10, offer a 5G compatible model. None of Apple’s offerings have 5G capabilities yet.

This makes sense, because 5G is not quite ready yet. Still, it would be great to see iPhone 12 models come with breathtaking next-generation speeds.

3. A new (or old) design

Every iPhone model since the iPhone 6 has a very similar design, with rounded edges and paper-thin builds. Wouldn’t it be nice to see a change? A return to the iPhone 5’s classic, thicker, square design, but with a full screen would be smart.

Better yet, that design would allow for larger batteries and cameras in the back of the device. This wish is not too far-fetched, as Apple’s latest iPad Pro design somewhat subscribes to this philosophy.

4. ProMotion screens

Another iPad Pro feature that Apple should bring to its iPhone lineup is ProMotion. This is not a ‘promotion’ like at cheaper prices, although it would be appreciated.

ProMotion is Apple’s name for a display technology that allows variable refresh rates up to 120 Hz. If you’re not familiar, the refresh rate is how many frames appear on the screen per second. The higher the refresh rate of a screen, the smoother the images.

The standard on most mobile phones is 60 Hz or 60 frames per second. With ProMotion, compatible devices can display at 120 Hz if needed, but they drop down to save power when not much is on the screen.

A smoother iPhone screen would make everything you do on the device look better.

5. A USB-C port

This is a good idea. Most newer Apple devices use a USB-C port, so why not the iPhone?

USB-C is more compatible with other devices, carries more power, and can deliver superfast data rates. When you’re traveling, you don’t need more than one charger for your devices, either. The future is clearly USB-C and the iPhone 12 has to adapt to this by removing the aging Lightning port.

6. Reverse wireless charging

Samsung’s flagship smartphones can serve as a charging mat for other devices through built-in wireless charging. So when your friend’sAirPods are running low, you can give a little power with the back of your Samsung phone, albeit a little slow. Sounds great right?

This form of wireless charging reportedly went as an inclusion in the iPhone 11, but was reportedly dropped at the last minute because it was too inefficient for Apple’s standards. We would like to see a sophisticated, power-efficient version of wireless reverse charging in iPhone 12.

7. Bigger and smaller sizes

Every iPhone since the iPhone X has adopted the same size standards, so we think it’s time for more variety.

Apple fans need a small compact phone that is easy to maneuver with one hand. On the other end of the spectrum, a larger screen would be much welcome for users who want something similar to the cinematic screen of the 6.8-inch Galaxy Note 10 Plus.

Of course there would still be a middle ground with the medium standard model. Choice is really a win-win situation for everyone.

8. Better basic storage

TheiPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro start at 64 GB storage. For a smartphone in 2020, this is simply unforgivable given the competition. This meager storage size is simply no longer enough.

With all those 4K ultra-enhanced photos and videos to store, 64 GB will only last for a short time. 128 GB of space should be the norm, and we really hope Apple realizes this in time for the coming releases.

9. The return of Touch ID

Face ID is great, don’t get us wrong. But it just hasn’t reached the breakneck speeds of Touch ID in its heyday.

Touch ID is much better for practical people who want a sense of satisfaction when unlocking their phone. It’s also safer now than it was when removed, thanks to ultrasonic sensors that detect blood flow (like the Galaxy S10 has).

Knowing this, we feel that Touch ID should come back through in-display technology. That said, Face ID should stick around too; the new iPhone can have both. With Touch ID and Face ID on the same device, users would again have more choice. With both implemented, your iPhone would become a secure virtual passport.

High expectations for the iPhone 12 models

It’s safe to say that expectations for iPhone 12 models are sky high. After the somewhat tame year of the iPhone 11, many are curious about what Apple has planned next. There is a lot of potential for this year iteration of the iPhone to change the game.

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“An Error Occurred While Preparing the Installation”, How to Fix

Sunday January 17, 2021 10:49 am EAT by GeeksModo Staff

Updating your Mac
to the latest version of the macOS software is pretty easy and straightforward. However, you may experience
Mac update issues.
The most common macOS installation error message that a lot of users are getting is as follows:

“An error occurred while preparing the installation. Try running this application again.”

You may see Mac installation error message when you want to install or reinstall an update or upgrade. In this article, I’ll tell you exactly how you can fix macOS installation error.

An Error Occurred while preparing the installation. Try running this application again, fix

Here is how you can fix macOS installation error:

Please try the following troubleshooting tips in order. After trying each step, check to see if your problem is fixed.

1. Restart your Mac.

Try restarting your Mac to see if this fixes your problem.

2. Check the date and time.

Ensure that the date and time on your Mac are correct. Simply follow these steps:

On your Mac, go to System Preferences and then select Date & Time. If your date and time are incorrect, update them. Also, consider checking the “set date
and time automatically” box to enable the option to set date and time automatically.

However, it might not be possible to access the above options as you may not access System Preferences if your Mac stuck in the middle of a macOS update. Thankfully, you can

use Terminal
(Applications /
Utilities)
to update your date and time settings. Simply follow these steps:

Start by shutting down your Mac, to do this, press and hold down the power button.
Power your Mac back on and immediately press and hold down the Command (⌘)-R keys together. Hold these keys until the Apple logo or a spinning globe appears on the screen.
Your Mac will start up from macOS Recovery. The process may take time so be patient.
If asked, type in your password.
A “macOS Utilities” window will appear.
From the top menu, click Utilities and Terminal. This will launch the Terminal window.
In Terminal, type in the command below and press enter:
date
This will reveal your Mac date and time setting. Are they set correctly? If not, update:
If your Mac is connected to the internet, type in the command below and press enter:
ntpdate -u time.apple.com
Now, the settings will be updated automatically. If you have no Internet connection, then consider updating this setting manually:
Type in the current date using this format: date mmddHHMMyy”. (mm = two-digit month, dd = two-digit day, HH = 24 hour, MM = minute, yy = 2 digit year)
So if it is currently 11:46am, June 03, 2020, the command would look like: “date 0603114620”. So enter something like this:
date 0603114620
Again let’s confirm, type in the date command again to check if your Mac has the correct setting.
Finally, exit Terminal and check to see if macOS installation error has been fixed.

3. Try installing in Safe Mode.

Please follow these steps to install in safe mode:

Start by shutting down your Mac.
Turn your Mac back on and immediately press and hold down the Shift key.
Hold down the Shift key until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
Log in, you may have to log in a couple of times.
Your mac is now in Safe Mode.
Now, try updating your Mac. Is it working?
To
exit Safe Mode,
simply restart your Mac normally.

4. Use macOS Recovery.

Please follow these steps

Start by shutting down your Mac.
Turn your Mac back on and immediately press one of the following keyboard combinations:
- Command (⌘)-R: This reinstalls the most recent macOS version that was installed on your Mac.
- Option-⌘-R: This will update your Mac to the latest compatible macOS version.
- Shift-Option-⌘-R: This will install the macOS version that came with your Mac.
Click Reinstall macOS and then Continue.

5. Use a combo update.

It’s worth noting that you can use this method to update your Mac from a previous version of macOS within the same major release. For instance, the macOS 10.15.4
combo update requires that macOS 10.15.0 or later is installed.
Download the essential macOS combo update on
the Apple website.
They are dmg files. Please note that they are pretty huge files.
Now, double click the install the file. And then follow the onscreen prompts.

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How To Zip and Unzip Files In macOS: Check the Steps

Wednesday August 12, 2020 4:11 pm EAT by GeeksModo Staff

In this article, I’ll show you exactly how you can zip and unzip files and folders on your Mac.

macOS features a built-in compression system, called Archive Utility, which
can help you do the job.

Zip files are also known as compressed. These files do not take up
large storage space.
Also, a zip file is pretty easy to send or receive over the Internet. For instance, you can send a whole heap of documents in a zip file through email, instead of attaching
each file individually. It’s easy to create zip file on MacBook. In the same token, it’s easy to open Zip file on Mac.

How to zip files on MacBook)

Here’s how to compress files on Mac:

Select file(s) and /or folder(s). You can command-click (press and hold down the Command key and then select files or folders) to select multiple files or
folders.
Next, control-click or right-click.
Compress items
You will see a shortcut menu. From the menu, simply click Compress.

It’s worth noting:

If you zip multiple files or folders, the name of the zip file will be Archive.zip. You can change this if you want. To do this, Select the Archive.zip file,
and click Return and type in a new name.
If you zip a single file or folder, the name will be its name with .zip extension like GeeksModo.zip.

How to zip files on Mac using Terminal

TheTerminal app on Mac also allows users to create zip files. Here is how:

On your Mac, launch Terminal (Applications >
Utilities).
You can type in the following command:
- zip archive.zip file.txt
Alternatively, you can type zip and then drag and drop the files you want to compress into the Terminal window.

How to unzip (uncompress)

Here’s how to open compressed zip file on Mac:

Locate the zip file.
Double-click it. Alternatively, you can right-click it, then choose Open With > Archive Utility.

It’s worth noting:

Your unzip file will remain in the same folder/location that zip file stored in. For instance, if you’re extracting an archive named “GeeksModo.zip” on
your desktop, the extracted folder, named GeeksModo, will be created on the desktop.

How to open Zip files on Mac with Terminal

You can also use Terminal to unzip your files. Here is how to use terminal to unzip files on Mac:

On your Mac, launch Terminal.
And type in the following command:
unzip archive.zip

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Activity Monitor Not Working? Check the Fix

Saturday May 30, 2020 7:29 pm EAT by GeeksModo Staff

Activity monitor not working on Mac? Well, in this article, i’ll show you exactly how you can fix if
Activity Monitor
is not working properly on your Mac. The troubleshooting tips below will help you fix the following problems:

Mac activity monitor crashes.
Mac activity monitor won’t open.
Mac activity monitor not responding.
Mac activity monitor shows nothing.
Not working as expected.

Activity Monitor is a utility app included with macOS. It monitors Mac activity, what your Mac is doing. This app is important as it can help you identify
Apps and processes that are not working properly, and shut them down if necessary.
You can open Activity Monitor from your
Utilities
folder of the Applications folder.

If you are facing problems using Activity Monitor, please try the troubleshooting steps below. After every step, check your Mac to see if your issue was fixed.

1. Force quit and restart

Try force quitting the app and then launch again. This may resolve activity monitor issues on your Mac. Please follow these steps:

Hold down the Option, Command, and Esc (Escape) keys together (or click the Apple menu and Force Quit).
Now, you’ll see the force quit window.
Next, choose Activity Monitor.
Next on, click Force Quit.
Finally, launch the Activity Monitor.

2. Restart your Mac

Restarting your Mac may resolve Activity Monitor issues. To restart your Mac, select the Restart option from the Apple menu in the upper-left-hand corner of
your display.

3. Update your Mac

Ensure that your Mac is running the
latest version of the macOS software.
Follow these steps to update your Mac:

To update macOS Mojave or higher, head over to System Preferences and then Software Update.
To update macOS High Sierra or older, launch the App Store on your Mac and then click the Updates tab.

4. Safe Mode

Starting your
Mac in Safe Mode
may resolve your problem. You need to start your Mac in Safe Mode, then while in Safe Mode try to launch Activity Monitor. Then restart your Mac normally to exit Safe
Mode. Follow these steps:

Shut down your Mac by going to Apple menu > Shut down.
Power your Mac back on and immediately press and hold the Shift key.
Hold down the Shift key until you see the login screen.
After the login screen appears, release the Shift key.
Now, login.
Your Mac is now running in Safe Mode. Your Mac will run slower, don’t worry, it’s normal. Now launch Activity Monitor. Is it opening and working?
Whatever the case,
exit Safe Mode.
Simply restart your Mac normally without pressing any keys.

5. Delete Activity Monitor plist file

A plist is a “preference” file for apps. This file stores app preference settings. Sometimes this file might get corrupted and lead to problems like this. Deleting
may fix Mac activity monitor not working issues.

When this file is deleted, a new plist file with the default settings Is automatically created by macOS.

Follow these steps:

Exit Activity Monitor if it’s active.
Launch Finder.
Now, press and hold down the Option (alt) key.
While holding down the Option key, click Go and Library.
Go to the Preferences folder.
Next, find the com.apple.ActivityMonitor.plist file.
Next on, erase this file by dragging it to the Trash.
Finally, empty the Trash.
Now, open Activity Monitor to see if it works.

6. Use Console

If you are still experiencing problems, you may need to use the Console app to identify and then fix the problem. The Console app allows you to view debug messages and log
files on your Mac. Please follow these steps:

Launch Console. You can launch it from the Utilities folder in your Applications directory. Alternatively, you can use Spotlight.
Next, try to launch Activity Monitor.
Next on, monitor Console for Activity Monitor log messages. These log entries may offer you hints.

Finally, if a third party app is causing problems, you can
contact its developer
or
remove it.

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How to Record Voice Memos & Audio on your Mac: Help Guide

Wednesday August 12, 2020 4:14 pm EAT by GeeksModo Staff

Mac features a built-in Voice Memos recorder app that allows users to easily record their voice, a conference, a lecture, a note, a meeting, or any
other audio. Apple has made it really easy to create these voice memos with your Macs built-in microphone, a wired or Bluetooth headphones, or a supported microphone (see this article
your
microphone is not working: fix).
You can also edit (like trimming) or share your recordings. In this article, I’ll show you exactly how to use the macOS Voice Memos app.

You can also use
iCloud
to sync all of your voice memos across all your Apple devices.

All MacBooks that supports macOS Mojave and higher features a built-in Voice Memos app.

How to record voice memos on MacBook

Please follow these steps:

On your Mac, launch the Voice Memos app. You can open the app in several ways:
- You can use Launchpad.
- You can
  use Spotlight.
- You can launch the Applications folder and click the Voice Memos app.
- Or ask
  Siri.
If you are opening this app for the first time, you will see a Welcome screen that says “Welcome to Voice Memos”. This screen gives an introduction.
Click Continue.
You might also see the following two popups:
- One indicating “Voice Memos” would like to use your current location. You can click OK if you want to allow this. When you OK this, your recordings will be
  named alongside the location where they are recorded. Do not worry It’s easy to change this setting by heading over to System Preferences > Security & Privacy
  > Privacy > Location Services. Also, you can disable location-based naming by heading over to Voice Memos > Preferences and then uncheck the “Location-based Naming”
  Box.
- Also, you might see a popup stating “iCloud Syncing”. You can turn on this if you want to access your recordings across all of your Apple devices. Again,
  you can change this later by heading over to System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud.
  Voice Memos iCloud.
To start a voice memo recording, click the Record button. And recording will start.
You will see a new screen. This is your recording screen.
When you are done recording, simply hit Done. If you want to pause your recording, then you can click the pause icon.

Your audio recording will be named with your location, if you enabled this setting. If not, your recording will be named as a “New Recording X”. To rename
your recordings, simply click their names.

Edit a memo

Apple provides multiple editing options:

Trim from the beginning or end

To edit an existingvoice memo, click a recording and then edit.
If you want to edit as you record, simply pause your video.
You can click the trim button.
Now, yellow handles will appear. Drag the yellow arrow. Then click Trim.

Delete a voice memo

Locate and click the voice memo you wish to erase.
Now, click Delete or right-click (control-click) and select Delete.

The deleted voice and audio files will be stored in the Recently Deleted folder for 30 days. You can change this setting by heading over to Voice Memos > Preferences.
Apple offers you multiple options to choose from:

After every thirty days.
After every seven days.
After one day.
Immediately.
Never.

Replace part of a voice memo

. Identify the recording you want to edit and hit Edit.
Now, click on the red Replace button.
After clicking the Replace button, your recording will be re-recorded.

Share a memo

Here’s how to share your memos:

Locate the memo you wish to share.
Now, click the Share button.
Now, you can share via mail,
AirDrop,
etc.

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AirPods not Connecting to Mac? Check the Fix

Friday June 19, 2020 8:05 pm EAT by GeeksModo Staff

AirPods wont connect with MacBook and you don’t know why. You’ve tried everything but AirPods won’t pair with MacBook. Well, in this article, I’m going to tell you exactly how you can fix if your AirPods won’t connect to your Mac. It seems that connection problems are not common but still the vast majority of
users seem to experience them every now and then. Your AirPods connect to other devices, such as your Mac, using Bluetooth. And Bluetooth devices can undergo
numerous pairing failures. This problem is prevalent inAirPods, AirPods 2, andAirPods Pro.

It only take a few steps to fix the issue if Mac cannot connect to one or both of your AirPods.

I suggest that you try these troubleshooting steps in order. After trying every step, check your Airpods again to see if they are now working.

AirPods not connecting to Mac: Fix

If you can’t connect AirPods to Mac, follow these steps to fix the issue:

1. Restart your Mac

This is a simple but effective tip. Simply restarting your Mac may resolve your problem. On your Mac, choose Apple menu > Restart.
Check your Airpods to see if they are now working. If AirPods won’t connect to MacBook, try the next step.

2. Bluetooth and charge

After restarting, ensure that Bluetooth is switched on on your Mac. You can click the Bluetooth status icon in the menu bar to switch it on. If you do not
see the Bluetooth icon, head over to System Preferences > Bluetooth and choose the “Show Bluetooth in menu bar” box.

Now, try to turn off Bluetooth on your Mac, wait for about ten seconds and then turn it back on.

In addition, put your AirPods in their charging case. Make sure that they are charging. Keep in mind, your AirPods will appear only when they’re
Close to your Mac and ready to use.
After trying the above step, check your Airpods to see if they are now working. AirPods not connecting to Mac? Try the next solution.

3. Update your Mac

If you have the second-generation of AirPods or newer, ensure that your Mac is running macOS Mojave 10.14.4 or higher. If you have the
Ensure that your Mac is running macOS Sierra or higher. And if you haveAirPods Pro, ensure your Mac is running macOS Catalina 10.15.1 or higher.

If you are not sure, follow these steps to identify which generation of AirPods you have:

check its model number. If they are connected to your iPhone or iPad, you can check your AirPod’s model number by heading over to Settings > General > About > your
AirPods.
You can also check the number on either of your AirPods. The numbers are quite small so, you may need to use a a magnifying glass.
First-generation AirPods model numbers are: A1523/A1722.
Second-generation AirPods model numbers are: A2032/A2031.

Ensure that your Mac is running the latest version of macOS. Follow these steps to
update your Mac:

If your Mac is currently running macOS Mojave or higher: Go to the System Preferences from the Apple menu and then click Software Update. If there is an update
available, follow the onscreen prompts to update your Mac.
If your Mac is currently running macOS High Sierra or higher: Launch the App Store on your Mac and go to the Updates tab. Click the Update button if there is
an update.

Now check if AirPods are working. If AirPods cannot connect to MacBook, try the next solution.

4. Remove your AirPods from Mac’s list of Bluetooth devices

Please follow the steps below. Doing this will remove your AirPods from the list of Bluetooth devices and then reconnect.

From the Apple menu, go to System Preferences.
Now, click on Bluetooth.
A list of your Bluetooth devices will appear.
Does your AirPods appear on the list? If your AirPods is not listed here, you may need to set up your AirPods with your Mac. Check the next tip.
if your AirPods appear in the list of devices (as Not Connected), click to select it.
You will see a delete (X) icon.
Simply click the X to remove your AirPods.

Now, let’s reconnect again:

Place the AirPods in their charging case.
Ensure that your charging case is near your Mac so that they are within range.
Flip open the charging case lid.
On your Mac, head over to System Preferences and click on Bluetooth.
Now, does your AirPods appear in the devices list?
Simply select your Airpods and hit Connect.

5. Set up AirPods

If your AirPods does not appear in the list of devices, set up your AirPods. Simply follow these steps to pair your Airpods with your Mac:

On your Mac, head over to System Preferences and then click on Bluetooth.
Now, switch on Bluetooth if it’s off
Next, put the AirPods in their charging case.
Next on, flip open the charging case lid.
Press and hold the small button (rear of the charging case). Don’t release the button until you see the status light flash white. Then let go off the button.
On your Mac, your AirPods will appear in the devices list of Bluetooth devices, simply hit Connect.

In case AirPods cannot connect to Mac after performing the above steps, try the next solution.

6. Reset your AirPods

If your AirPods won’t pair with MacBook still, consider resetting your AirPods. Simply follow these steps:

Put the AirPods in their charging case. Ensure both AirPods and the charging case have sufficient charge. Ensure that the lid is open.
Next, close the lid, wait for about thirty seconds, and then open the lid.
Next on, while the lid is open, locate the round button on the rear of the accessory and then press and hold the button for about 15 seconds until you see the status light
flash white and then amber).
Now, you have reset your AirPods.
Now, connect your AirPods to your Mac. Follow the “Set up AirPods” steps above.

7. Reset your Mac’s Bluetooth module

If your AirPods wont connect with MacBook after performing the above steps, try to reset your Mac’s Bluetooth module. Before you dive into it, Ensure that the Bluetooth status menu is visible in the menu bar. If not, on your
Mac, head over to System Preferences, click Bluetooth, then click on the “Show Bluetooth in menu bar” option. Simply follow these steps:

On your keyboard, press and hold the Shift + Option (Alt) keys at the same time.
While holding down the keys, click the Bluetooth status icon in the menu bar.
A new menu will appear. Choose Debug.
Now, click Reset the Bluetooth module.
finally, restart your Mac.

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Mac Camera Not Working? Check the Fix

Friday June 19, 2020 8:08 pm EAT by GeeksModo Staff

Most Mac models include built-in cameras. In fact, all Mac laptops, namely MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, come with a built-in iSight, FaceTime, or FaceTime
HD camera. Cameras are an integral part of computers. For example, using your camera, you can record videos,make group FaceTime calls or record lectures.
For instance, if your Mac camera is not working on Skype, you may not be able to use the video feature. This means, also for example, that you may run into
FaceTime problems
and get “
No Video
” error messages if your Mac camera is not working properly.

In this article, I’ll tell you exactly how you can fix Mac camera not working issue. Sometimes, your camera may not work at all and sometimes you may
get a “camera not connected” message. Please try the fixes below before
submitting your camera for service.

How to get your camera working again

Follow these instructions in order. Test your camera after performing each step to see if your problem is fixed.

1. Restart your Mac

Before trying the possible solutions described below, consider restarting your Mac. Try to restart your Mac to see if that fixes your
problem. To restart your Mac, simply select Restart from the Apple menu.

2. Update your Mac.

Ensure that your Mac is running the latest version of macOS software. Simply follow these steps:

If your Mac is running macOS Mojave or Higher: Click the System Preferences from the Apple menu and then click Software Update. If
there is an update available, simply click Update Now and follow the onscreen prompts. (note: you may also want to check the “automatically keep my Mac up
to date” box).
To update macOS High Sierra or Sierra, simply open the App Store on your Mac and
then click the Updates tab.

3. Allow app permission

Is your problem is app-specific. For example, your camera works in Zoom but does not work with Skype? Are you experiencing this issue with specific
apps that require video connections like Skype, Adobe Connect, WhatsApp, Google Meet, etc? You may have a permission problem. Consider giving your apps
permission. On your Mac, go to Apple menu and System Preferences, Security & Privacy, then click the Privacy tab. You will see camera in the left side, select it
and then allow apps to access your camera. Tick the checkbox next to the app to turn on camera access. Now, you’ve given apps permission to use the camera.
Test again.

App specific camera problems

Another possible solution if your Mac camera is not working, consider uninstalling the problematic app
(in the app that camera does not work) and then try to download a fresh.

4. If you are getting the “There is no connected camera.” error message then try the following steps:

Launch
Terminal
(Applications /
Utilities).
Type in the following command and hit enter:
sudo killall VDCAssistant
Next, type in the following command and hit enter:
sudo killall AppleCameraAssistant
If asked, type in your admin password.
Now, restart your computer and check if your camera is working.

5. Reset NVRAM or PRAM and SMC on your Mac

Simply follow these steps to reset NVRAM or PRAM and SMC on your Mac:

Power off your Mac.
Power on your Mac and immediately press and hold the Option, Command, P, and R.
Hold down these keys for about 20 seconds.
Your Mac will seem to restart.
The NVRAM or PRAM will be reset.

To reset the SMC, please check out this article for steps to
reset the SMC.

6. Restart your Mac in Safe Mode

Safe Mode may fix Mac camera not working problem. Simply follow these steps:

Shut down your Mac.
Power on your Mac and immediately press and hold down the Shift key.
Hold down the Shift key until the login screen appears. Then let go off the Shift key.
Login. (You may need to log in a couple of times).
Now, your Mac is
running in Safe Mode.
Check if your camera is working.
Now, restart your Mac normally. This will
exit Safe Mode.
And then check if your camera is working as expected.

7. Check if your Mac can recognize your camera

Simply follow these steps to check if your camera is recognized on Mac:

Launch the
System Information
app on your Mac. You can find this in the
Utilities folder
inside the Applications folder. Alternatively, you can access the System Information by clicking the Apple menu > About This Mac > Overview > System Report.
Look for the Hardware (or USB) header.
Check if your camera is detected

8. Allow camera access for browsers

If Mac camera is not working online in a browser such as
Safari,
Chrome, Fire fox, Edge, consider checking if there are browser camera settings. For instance, if Mac camera is not working in Safari, follow these steps to allow camera access:

Launch the Safari app.
Now, click Safari and Preferences.
Next, click the Websites tab.
Next on, click Camera.
You will see the websites (like Twitter) that are running, look for the drop-down menu and choose Ask, Deny, Allow.

9. standalone camera fixe

If you are experiencing camera problems with your standalone camera (not built-in), then please check the following tips:

Ensure that your camera is plugged in properly.
Shut down your Mac and then switch off your camera. Wait for about ten seconds. Disconnect the camera and then plug it back in. Now, restart your Mac. Check if your
camera is working.
Unplug your camera and plug it to a different port.
Ensure that your camera cable is not damaged, you can try using a different cable.

If your Mac camera is still not working properly, considercontacting Apple. The following are available
Apple’s support
options:

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