The wait for macOS Sequoia is finally over. Available to those who own a supported Mac, the new operating system brings a slew of major and minor updates that streamline the Mac experience. If you just install macOS Sequoia, there are a handful of useful features to test out.
Apple has detailed everything available for macOS Sequoia. However, if you want to simply jump in and check out its most notable features right now, we’ve curated 8 things you should try first.
The New Passwords App
Key Features of the Built-in Password App
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Automatic Password Management:
The app automatically saves and retrieves passwords when you visit login pages, functioning similarly to previous macOS versions. -
View and Manage Passwords:
Access all your saved passwords, passkeys, verification codes, and Wi-Fi codes directly in the app. -
Wi-Fi Code QR Generation:
Tap into any saved Wi-Fi code to generate a QR code with a single click. This makes it easy to print out Wi-Fi codes for sharing around your home.
Menu Bar Integration
- Show Passwords in Menu Bar:
Enable this setting in the Password Settings to add a key icon to your menu bar.
Clicking the key icon provides quick access to websites where you’ve recently created logins, as well as recommended details for the current website, including the ability to copy passwords easily.
Reminders & Calendar Integration
Key Features of Calendar and Reminders Integration
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Unified View:
See your Reminders within the Calendar app, allowing you to manage your tasks and schedule in one place. -
Complete Reminders:
Complete Reminders directly from the Calendar, making it a central hub for time management. -
Drag and Drop Functionality:
Easily drag and drop emails or other items from different apps, like Mail, into Calendar to schedule tasks.
By default, these items are treated as events, but you can switch them to Reminders with a tap.
Additional details from the dragged item, such as content or links, are automatically filled in, saving time and ensuring you have all the information you need.
Reduce Interruptions Focus Mode
Key Features of Reduce Interruptions Focus Mode
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Enabling the Focus Mode:
Access Settings and choose Focus to find the new Reduce Interruptions focus mode.
This mode functions like any other focus mode, allowing you to silence or allow notifications from specific people or apps. -
Apple Intelligence Integration:
The unique feature of this focus mode is its use of Apple Intelligence to determine if certain notifications should bypass your silenced settings.
For example, if you’ve silenced a friend’s messages during work hours, but they send an urgent message, Apple Intelligence can allow this notification to come through, ensuring you don’t miss important communications.
iPhone Mirroring
Key Features of iPhone Mirroring
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Compatibility Requirements:
Works with any Apple silicon-based Mac or Intel-based Mac with a T2 security chip.
Both the Mac and the iPhone need to be updated to the latest versions of their operating systems. -
Setup and Initial Impressions:
The feature is impressive upon first setup, allowing seamless control of your iPhone directly from your Mac, with full access to apps and notifications.
Practical Uses of iPhone Mirroring
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Access iPhone-Exclusive Apps:
The main benefit of iPhone mirroring is accessing apps that are only available on your iPhone, like security systems, banking apps, or social media platforms such as Instagram.
For instance, security notifications can now be handled directly on your Mac without needing to pick up your iPhone, including viewing live video feeds and hearing audio through your Mac. -
Enhanced Productivity:
By reducing the need to switch between devices, iPhone mirroring helps maintain focus while allowing you to manage iPhone-specific tasks directly on your Mac.
Safari Improvements
Using “Hide Distracting Items”
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Activate the Feature:
Tap the Reader View icon to the left of the address bar. Select Hide Distracting Items to enable the feature. -
Removing Page Elements:
Click on any item on the page to remove it, providing a cleaner, more focused reading experience.
Be sure to press Done when finished to avoid hiding items you may need to interact with. -
Important Note:
This feature is not an ad blocker; removed items will reappear if you refresh the page. It’s most useful for extended reading sessions, presenting cleaner web pages, or capturing screenshots.
Improvements to Reader View
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Easier Access:
Reader View has been cleaned up and simplified. To access it, press the Reader View button to the left of the address bar and select Show Reader. -
Apple Intelligence – Summarize Feature:
When Apple Intelligence is enabled, you’ll see a Summarize option at the top of articles in Reader mode.
Tapping Summarize generates a summary of the article, which appears in a bar on the right side of the screen, offering a quick overview of the content.
New Calculator Features
Using the Conversion Feature in the Calculator
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Accessing Conversion Mode:
Press Command-Option-C on your keyboard to open the conversion mode in the calculator.
Tap on the top or bottom unit to select the types of units or currencies you want to convert. -
Available Conversions:
The calculator supports conversions for a variety of units, including angles, area, energy, power, pressure, speed, and currency.
Currency conversions are particularly useful, with updates provided hourly to ensure accuracy. -
Performing Conversions:
Simply type in the number you want to convert, and the calculator will automatically perform the conversion.
Use the up and down arrows on the left to switch between the two selected currencies or units. -
Integrated Calculations:
You can also perform calculations within the conversion mode. For example, to convert $2,500 to British pounds and apply a 15% discount, type in “2,500 minus 15%” in the US dollar field, and the calculator will automatically show the converted pound amount.
Screen Snapping
Using the Native Screen Snapping Feature
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Hover Over the Green Traffic Light:
Place your cursor over the green traffic light button on any app window to access screen snapping options.
In the Move and Resize section, you can snap the window to the left, right, top, or bottom of your screen.
In the Fill and Arrange section, you can resize the app to fit the display without going full screen or let your Mac intelligently arrange multiple windows. -
Additional Options via the Window Menu:
Go to the Window menu at the top of the screen to access more move, resize, and full-screen tiling options.
Recommended Settings Adjustments
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Disable Margins for Tiled Windows:
Go to System Settings > Desktop and Dock > Windows.
Turn off Tiled Windows Have Margins to remove the small gap around the edges of your display and between apps. -
Disable Drag-to-Tile Feature:
If you use multiple displays, consider turning off the Tile by Dragging Windows to the Screen Edges feature, as it may not work well with your setup.
Instead, hold down the Option key while dragging a window to the desired area to snap it into place more precisely.
Notes Improvements
Key Features in the Updated Notes App
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Audio Recording and Transcription:
Record audio directly into the Notes app by pressing the audio icon and hitting the record button at the bottom of the screen.
Your Mac automatically transcribes the audio, and this feature is available even without Apple Intelligence on compatible Macs.
With Apple Intelligence: Double-click on a transcription, press the ellipsis button in the upper right, and select Add Transcript to Note. The transcription is added as plain text, which you can then manipulate using AI features like creating summaries, key points, lists, tables, or even rewriting the content. -
In-Note Calculations:
Perform calculations directly within a note by simply writing out the calculation. Your Mac will automatically provide the answer without needing to switch to the calculator app. -
Text Highlighting:
Highlight text by selecting it and pressing Shift Command E on your keyboard. -
Collapsible Headings:
Headings in your notes are now automatically collapsible. Any content under a heading can be collapsed into it, making it easier to organize and navigate your notes.