New ways to use your Mac

Discover desktop navigation methods to organize your workspace

WHILE MOST OF us stick with what we know, Apple has packed the Mac with lots of alternative ways to use it. This extends to such basic principles as how to navigate the desktop, organize applications and their windows, and switch between them.

With a cluttered desktop, it can become a headache to navigate and find the app window you want. The Dock is fine for opening favorite apps and switching to them, while the Launchpad is good for viewing all your apps and searching for one. There are some extra tools to help you, however, which we'll explore here.

Switching between running apps is made simpler and quicker with theApp Switcher. If your desktop is becoming cluttered, you can create extra spaces (desktops) from Mission Control and switch between them. Finally, Stage Manager offers an alternative way to organize apps without cluttering the desktop.

HOW TO Switch apps quickly

1 Open App Switcher

Instead of switching between apps via the Dock, there's another way. Hold Cmd and press Tab to open App Switcher.Appearing in the middle of the screen, the App Switcher shows icons for all the apps currently running on your Mac.

2 Select an app

With the Cmd key still held, select an app by moving the mouse pointer or use the Left/Right arrow keys, or Tab. When you then release the keys, the App Switcher will disappear and you'll switch to the chosen app.

3 Switch back and forth