This easy-to-use guide covers troubleshooting tips and tricks for Mac hardware and software, written by the well-known Macworld columnist and Macintosh guru Chris Breen. The book contains troubleshooting tips and techniques for both Mac OS 9 and OS X, and additional projects for making a Macintosh more productive-sharing files, making Mac OS X work more like Mac OS 9, and more.

Macs run smoothly most of the time. This book will prepare you for the rare occasions when yours doesn't. Whether you're using an iMac, MacBook, or Macbook Air, our Superguide is filled with solutions for many of the common problems that you might run into. In the United States, when you're in real trouble you have but one number to call: 911. Back in 2000, while we were racking our brains for a title for Macworld's tips and troubleshooting column, we invoked this emergency calling code, preceding it with "Mac" so that its humble author (me) wouldn't be additionally inundated with requests for help with small appliances and domestic disputes. Thus Mac 911became the primary place to go within Macworld's pages for help with all things Apple. We've distilled the Mac troubleshooting knowledge we've acquired over the past 10 years of putting together columns, and created the Mac Troubleshooting Superguide, the latest in Macworld's popular Superguide series. Since the Mac 911 column's birth, we've seen the death (OS 9) and rebirth (OS X) of the Mac OS, the coming and going of countless Mac models, and the explosion of the Internet. We've also witnessed the metamorphosis of Apple the computer company into Apple the media and telecommunications giant, responsible for two of the most game-changing products of the young century, the iPod and iPhone. Yet through all these changes, one constant remains: the desktops and laptops that we increasingly rely on for our work and pleasure sometimes act up in frustrating ways. Fortunately, as exasperating as these hiccups may be, they are often predictable. In this guide, we attempt to present the difficulties you might encounter in the order in which you're likely to encounter them. If, for example, something goes amiss as you're installing the latest greatest version of OS X, you can be assured that you'll find it in the first chapter, Installation. If, later in the day, you press your Mac's power button and nothing good results, you'll find help in the next chapter, which addresses start-up issues, crashes, and freezes. Have a problem with hardware next? Simply page on to Hardware Help. And so on through the System Issues & Fixes, OS X's Applications, the Internet & Networking, and Mac Maintenance chapters. And if, despite all of your diligent efforts, no solution is found, there are directions for what to do next in the Support Tricks chapter. But allow me to also extend a personal invitation to Macworld's Mac 911 forum, where I and other knowledgeable Mac users are eager to lend a helping hand.

Every time Apple releases a new operating system, we pull together the most essential, in-depth, and up-to-date information about the Mac OS and create a new book that gives our readers access to it all in one place. With Snow Leopard now out and rapidly gaining acceptance, it's time for us to release Total Snow Leopard. Following in the footsteps of our popular, everything-in-one-place guides to Mac OS X (Total OS X, Total Panther, Total Tiger, andTotal Leopard),Total Snow Leopard is an information-packed 102-page book featuring just about everything you'll need to know about Snow Leopard-all features, great and small. We've taken the best of Macworld's coverage of Mac OS X and distilled it into this book, including contributions from such luminaries as Christopher Breen, Glenn Fleishman, Dan Frakes, Rob Griffiths, Joe Kissell, Ted Landau, Kirk McElhearn, Rich Mogull, Dan Moren, Jonathan Seff, Michael Scalisi, Derrick Story, Ben Waldie, and Sharon Zardetto. The book includes information to help you set up Snow Leopard smoothly and take advantage of its most important features. It'll also help you master the Web with Safari 4, get e-mail with Exchange, keep your Snow Leopard Mac secure, and increase productivity with text substitutions and the Services menu. We think this book is a great resource for everyone who uses Snow Leopard and hope you enjoy our Superguide. If you're looking for more help with OS X, iOS, and all things Apple, make sure to check out our other Superguides.

The latest book in our popular Superguide series, Macworld's Switching to Mac Superguide , is aimed at new Mac owners who are making their first baby steps into the OS X world. If you or someone in your family is finally making the switch to a Mac from a PC, this indispensable guide can help with the big move. Moving from Windows to OS X means rewiring your muscle memory and learning to do old things in new ways. The basic stuff you do dozens of times a day-opening and closing programs and files, managing windows-are all done differently on a Mac. Switching can feel like you've been transported to a country where the language sounds vaguely familiar, but is definitely not your native tongue. This book will be your guide and interpreter. In Macworld's Switching to Mac Superguide, we give you a quick orientation to your new computing landscape and its principal parts (the Finder, the Dock, the Menu Bar). We explain how to work with files and programs and how to get started with OS X's built-in applications. We also walk you through the process of moving-transferring old files to the new system and customizing, and even show you how to run Windows on your Mac (if you must) or to share files, screens, backup drives, and routers between your new Mac and Windows PCs. Think of us as a friendly new neighbor: eager to welcome you and happy to do whatever we can to help you settle in. If you can't quite leave Windows behind, don't worry. You can run Windows right on your Mac. We'll tell you what tools you need and how to get started. Finally, just in case you hit a few bumps on the road with your Mac, you'll find instructions on how to troubleshoot your Mac like a pro.

Prevent (or solve) problems with your Apple Account! Version 1.0, published September 20, 2024 The center of the Apple world is your Apple Account. This little identifier ties up your access to iCloud; to purchased and streaming music, TV, and movies; and to all your devices. While an Apple Account is essential, Apple has made it difficult to navigate the many features associated with it—and particularly to troubleshoot and resolve problems that crop up. This book answers dozens of questions and guides you through solutions. It also explains how to use security, recovery, and other features tied to your Apple Account. Everything Apple relies on your Apple Account. It’s a key that unlocks a long list of Apple products and services on any of numerous devices. iCloud uses an Apple Account, as does Apple Music; the App Store; the Music, TV, and Books apps; and more. An Apple Account protects your personal information, including email and iOS/iPadOS backups; helps you find a lost iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch; and can even unlock your Mac. So it goes without saying that if something goes wrong with your Apple Account, you could be in for a world of hurt. Unfortunately, things go wrong with Apple Accounts all the time. Fortunately, Glenn Fleishman, a veteran technology journalist and the author of Macworld’s “Mac 911” column, is ready to help with expert advice on how to manage your Apple Account—including how to prevent, solve, or work around most common problems! This book is fully up to date with all the changes released by Apple in 2024 connected to your Apple Account—including the change of name from Apple ID to Apple Account—as well as for iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15 Sequoia, watchOS 11, tvOS 18, and other Apple products and services. In this book, Glenn answers questions like: • What all is my Apple Account used for? • How does my iCloud account relate to my Apple Account? • What’s two-factor authentication and how do I manage it—and not get locked out of my account? • Should I invest in hardware security keys to up the protection of my Apple Account account? • Are there other mechanisms I can use to ensure that I can recover an Apple Account in the event of a problem? (Spoiler: yes!) • What should I do if I have two or more Apple Accounts or iCloud accounts? • Will I lose access to all my Apple media purchases if I move to another country? • Can I share an Apple Account with someone else? • What does an Apple One subscription offer and how does it interact with Family Sharing and iCloud+ storage tiers? • Is there an explanation for how code-based and hardware-based second factors protect my account and how they differ from passkeys? (Yes!) • What exactly should I do if I think someone is hacking my Apple Account account? • How can I recover a forgotten Apple Account password? • What happens if I’m assaulted or drugged and someone gains access to my iPhone passcode and resets my Apple Account? (Sadly, a too real, if uncommon, problem.) • What steps should I take if Apple locks me out of my account? • If I lose access to an email address associated with my Apple Account, what can I do? • What Apple Account changes in recent versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS do I need to know about? • How can I use Family Sharing to share data and purchases within my family? • What types of subscriptions can I manage with my Apple Account, and how? • Which payment methods can I associate with my Apple Account, and how do I manage them? And that’s just the beginning. Glenn has packed a remarkable amount of concise problem-solving information into this comprehensive book. Read it before you encounter Apple Account problems to minimize your risk, and if you’ve already encountered a problem, read it to find the best path to a rapid solution.

Maintain, troubleshoot, and speed up your Mac! Version 1.0, published June 26, 2024 Macs are generally quite reliable computers, but things still can and do go wrong. When you encounter an error message, an ornery app, or other unwanted behavior, don't panic. Take a deep breath and turn to the expert advice in Take Control of Solving Mac Problems. This book—which replaces, updates, and extends Joe's earlier books Take Control of Maintaining Your Mac, Take Control of Troubleshooting Your Mac, and Take Control of Speeding Up Your Mac—is a complete guide to both preventing and solving Mac problems. You'll learn how to think like a technician, use powerful tools and techniques, and cope with surprises. The book covers three distinct areas. Maintain Your Mac Perform preventive maintenance steps that will reduce the likelihood of problems—and make it easier to recover if something does go wrong: • Make sure macOS and other software is up to date. • Free up disk space and reduce clutter. • Learn about backups, creating a troubleshooting account, and other measures to take before disaster strikes. • Explore third-party maintenance apps that may simplify common operations. • Follow a simple, ongoing maintenance routine. Troubleshoot Mac Problems The heart of the book is about diagnosing problems and finding solutions: • Learn 14 useful troubleshooting techniques that you can apply to a wide range of issues. • Find ready-to-use solutions to 25 common Mac problems. • Discover how to approach novel or unusual problems without obvious remedies. • Understand the best (and worst) ways to search for help online. • Figure out when it's time to seek professional help, and where to find it. Speed Up a Slow Mac Learn what to do if individual apps bog down or your entire system seems sluggish: • Find out what to do if web browsing is unusually slow. • Get to know Activity Monitor to find out what's going on under your Mac's hood. • Learn ways to reduce CPU and RAM usage. • Find memory leaks and tame background processes. • Determine your options for hardware upgrades when software fixes aren't enough. That's just a taste of the extensive material in this detailed, 188-page book. It's designed for Macs running macOS 11 Big Sur or later, including macOS 12 Monterey, macOS 13 Ventura, macOS 14 Sonoma, and macOS 15 Sequoia. The following Mac models are at least capable of running a supported version of macOS: • iMac (mid 2014 or later) • iMac Pro • Mac mini (late 2014 or later) • Mac Pro (late 2013 or later) • Mac Studio • MacBook (2015) • MacBook Air (2013 or later) • MacBook Pro (late 2013 or later) In other words, any Mac released in 2014 or later, plus the 2013 models of the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac Pro.

Whether you've just purchased your very first Mac or you're a long-time Mac user who wants a comprehensive guide to their OS, let Macworld's Mac Basics Superguide welcome you to the Mac and latest version of OS X, Mountain Lion. We'll help you move files from your old Mac or PC, get acquainted with the desktop, the Dock, Mission Control, and gestures. We'll provide a primer for tweaking your system preferences, changing your desktop wallpaper, setting parental controls, and adding third-party utilities. And we'll introduce you o the many built-in apps OS X has to offer, along with an overview on buying apps from the Mac App Store. When it comes to security, the Mac has some great features, and you needn't be confused: We explain just what Gatekeeper and app sandboxing are, and what they have to offer. And in case you get jammed up, the book has a whole chapter dedicated to basic troubleshooting and when to call in the experts. That's why we make Mac Basics, the Macworld Superguide dedicated to getting started with all things Mac. There are plenty of manuals and guides that explain every single system feature and setup detail; this book is instead designed to actively get you (or your family member) up and running without making you feel like you're studying a textbook. Our 230-page book has you covered from the first time you turn on your Mac. We walk you through the setup process and transferring any old files you might have; and introduce you to the menus, windows, and places you need to know about to get going. From there, we help you customize Multi-Touch gestures, organize your files, and tweak your preferences. We'll get your Mac suited up with third-party apps and accessories. And you can follow our troubleshooting tips and security suggestions to keep your computer safe and sound. You won't find everything they need to know about the Mac in this book. (That's what Macworld.com is for.) But we hope it can provide you with the tools you'll need and make you excited to learn more. If you are debating the upgrade to Mountain Lion, you might instead consider getting our Total Mountain Lion Superguide, which collects all our top-notch Mountain Lion coverage into one easy-to-read ebook. If you're insistent on staying with Lion or Snow Leopard, there's always our best-selling Total Lion Superguide, and our Snow Leopard version of Mac Basics.

Research digital cameras and accessories. Improve your photography workflow. Manage images on your Mac or on the go. Edit and tweak your pictures to perfection. Print, share, and display photos to the world. Protect your images from disaster. For all the work camera companies have put into making their cameras as easy to use as possible, many people still find the process of getting a good shot shrouded in mystery. Add in the camera capabilities of most modern smartphones, and it's easy to get quickly overwhelmed by all the possibilities. Enter Macworld's Digital Photography Superguide, fourth edition, for all your photographic needs. While Macworld regularly features photography tips and how-to articles, we know that digging back through all of those stories can be a hassle, if not impossible. For readers who want all the information in one place, we're pleased to present our Digital Photography Superguide .In the fourth edition of our popular photography book, we offer the latest advice on buying a new camera; getting great shots; managing and editing your growing photo library with desktop applications like iPhoto '11, Aperture, and Photoshop Elements; and much more. We've even included a special section on iPhone photography for any budding iPhone-ographers out there. The information has been updated and expanded to cover all the latest developments in digital photography, and we've organized it in this easy-to-follow guide for beginners and pros alike. In this 196-page book, you'll learn about the entire photography process: We'll walk you through purchasing the digital camera that's right for you; shooting in difficult situations; importing photos quickly and safely; managing your image collection by adding valuable information like names, locations, and ratings; and sharing your photographs with the world by taking advantage of both print products and online services. We'll also explain how to protect your photos from hard-drive disasters. If you've been wishing you knew more about your camera, or you feel overwhelmed by your photo library and aren't sure where to turn, this book can help.

When it comes to uncovering your Mac's hidden powers, there's no better resource than MacOSXHints.com, a collaborative Website that lets Mac users share their favorite tips and tricks. In fact, over the past ten years, the site has collected more than 13,000 hints. We've done more than just copying-and-pasting the hints from the site, though. We've also rewritten them all in a clear, straightforward fashion, complete with screenshots, to make them as easy-to-use as possible. We've tried to address nearly every aspect of Snow Leopard, including customizing the look of Finder windows, searching hidden system files with Spotlight, and making the most of OS X navigation tools like Quick Look, Exposé, and Spaces. Save time with undocumented shortcuts and unlock powerful file sharing and printing features. Follow the step-by-step advice on squeezing more power from OS X's productivity programs, including Mail, iCal, and iChat. Track down anything online and stay organized with Safari tips. Finally, take a trip to Terminal. If you're new to OS X's command-line interface, we'll show you how to get started and how to protect yourself from dangerous actions. If you're a command-line veteran, you'll find tips for taking advantage of hidden commands and strategies for working in Terminal more efficiently. And yes, if you are still using Leopard, we've still have the previous version of this book available. If you're looking to get the most out of Snow Leopard, this book is a great way to help you do just that. And once you're up to speed, we encourage you to share the wealth-post your own discoveries and tips at www.macosxhints.com.