macOS is a very feature-rich operating system. There are so many features that fly under the radar, or can be a lot more powerful than you think. Here are three of my favorite lesser-known macOS features.
Tab Groups
In 2021 Apple released macOS Monterey, and with it, Tab Groups. They are the most underrated and overlooked feature in all of Apple's software. You should check Tab Groups out, as they can be very powerful.
A Tab Group is simple. It's a set of two or more tabs, grouped together in a way that lets you access them all at once. Usually you'd group them by category, such as news sites, shopping, or streaming sites. I even have one for Wordle and games like it, so I could go through them as part of my daily routine.
Once a Tab Group is made, you have access to it across your Apple devices signed into your Apple ID. It can also be shared to someone else, allowing it to be collaborative. An example would be researching camping spots with friends online. Use Tab Groups however you'd like, across all devices.
Shortcuts
The Shortcuts app isn't exactly hidden. Most people have seen it on their iPhone or put it away in the junk folder on their Mac. Those people don't know how deep you can go with sequences and automations.
Shortcuts can do something as simple as making a QR Code from anything (WiFi password, Website, App Link) to split-screening specific apps on your Mac. All you have to do once it's added is say, "Hey Siri, Split Screen Photos and Messages," for example. You can track how much time you've spent doing things, logged in the Notes app. You can even swiftly rickroll your friends (here's a quick shortcut for that, just tell Siri to order pizza) at a moment's notice. The best part? Shortcuts sync throughout all of your devices.
Copy and Paste between iPhone and iPad to Mac
Have you ever had some text you needed to get from your iPhone to your Mac? As it turns out, that's easily possible. Simply copy on your iPhone, and hit command + V on your Mac to paste. It works with anything, even photos. You can go the other way, too.
Add on a clipboard manager such as CopyClip to your Menu Bar, and it's incredibly easy to manage anything you've copied between your iPhone and Mac. It'll also let you see previous things you've copied, so you won't lose that specific text line from that one article you already closed out of.
