Operating Systems · Topic 12 of 15
macOS Features and Tools
Learn macOS tools: Finder, Dock, Spotlight, System Settings, Time Machine, Disk Utility, Keychain, FileVault, Terminal and how apps are installed.
- 5 min
- Finder is the file manager and Spotlight is the search tool.
- Mission Control shows open windows and Spaces (virtual desktops).
- Time Machine is the macOS backup tool.
What it is
macOS is Apple's desktop operating system for Mac computers. Its design differs from Windows in how apps are installed, how settings are found and which tools handle backups and encryption. The exam expects you to recognise the main features and match the tool to the task.
How it works
Interface features
| Feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| Finder | The file manager, similar to File Explorer |
| Dock | A bar of app shortcuts, with a dot under running apps |
| Spotlight | System search, opened with Command plus Space |
| Mission Control | Shows all open windows and virtual desktops (Spaces) |
| Menu bar | Always at the top, with the Apple menu and the active app's menus |
| Gestures | Trackpad actions such as swiping between desktops or pinching |
| System Settings | Where options are changed. Older versions call it System Preferences |
The Apple menu gives access to System Settings, the App Store, Force Quit and the restart and shut down options. Force Quit can also be opened with Option plus Command plus Escape, and it ends an app that has stopped responding.
Disk Utility and file systems
Disk Utility manages drives and volumes. It can format and partition disks, and it has First Aid, which checks a volume for errors and tries to repair them. Current Macs use APFS (Apple File System).
Time Machine
Time Machine is the built in backup tool. It saves versions of files to an external drive or network location, and lets the user browse back in time to restore a file or a whole system. It is the expected answer for macOS backup questions.
Keychain
Keychain stores passwords, certificates and secure notes for the user and fills them in for apps and sites. It is the macOS password manager. With an Apple Account, iCloud Keychain can sync them to the user's other Apple devices.
FileVault
FileVault is full disk encryption for the startup drive. It protects data if the Mac is lost or stolen, and a recovery key is available in case the password is forgotten.
iCloud and Apple Account
An Apple Account lets a Mac sync data through iCloud, including files in iCloud Drive, photos, contacts and calendars. The Find My feature can locate, lock or erase a lost device. Continuity features, such as AirDrop and Handoff, let nearby Apple devices share files and continue tasks.
The account was formerly called an Apple ID. In a company, managed Apple Accounts are created by the organization, and mobile device management (MDM) profiles can restrict features such as iCloud services, App Store installs and AirDrop. Activation Lock ties a Mac to the Apple Account that enabled Find My, so a company has to manage or release it before reusing a returned device.
Two messaging services use the same account. iMessage sends messages over Wi-Fi or mobile data between Apple devices, shown as blue bubbles, while plain text messages show as green. FaceTime makes audio and video calls between Apple devices.
Terminal
Terminal is the command line, running a Unix style shell. It uses many of the same commands as Linux, such as ls and cd. Because the shell is Unix based, many Linux style commands work, though some options differ from the Linux versions.
Installing and removing apps
| Format | How it works |
|---|---|
.app | A single application bundle that is dragged to the Applications folder |
.dmg | A disk image that mounts like a drive and holds an app or installer |
.pkg | An installer package that runs a guided setup |
| App Store | Apps from Apple, checked by Apple |
To remove most apps, drag them from Applications to the Trash. Gatekeeper is the security feature that checks whether an app comes from the App Store or an identified developer before it first runs.
System folders
| Folder | What it holds |
|---|---|
/Applications | Installed applications |
/Users | One home folder for each user account |
/Library | System wide settings, drivers, fonts and shared support files |
/System | Core macOS files, protected from changes |
/Users/name/Library (shown as ~/Library) | Settings and data for one user. It is hidden by default in Finder |
To open the hidden user Library, hold the Option key while choosing Go in the Finder menu bar.
Recovery and updates
macOS Recovery starts from the recovery partition to reinstall macOS, restore from Time Machine or use Disk Utility. Software Update in System Settings installs system and security updates.
Rapid Security Response (RSR) delivers small security fixes between full macOS updates. It installs without a full operating system upgrade, usually needs only a quick restart, and can be removed if it causes problems.
Best practices
Keep regular backups with Time Machine, keep the operating system (OS) and apps updated, use antimalware software, and use FileVault on portable Macs. Use strong passwords and keep them in Keychain or another password manager.
When a scenario describes a Mac that needs a backup, the tool is Time Machine. When it describes disk encryption, the tool is FileVault.
What to remember for the exam
- Finder is the file manager and Spotlight is the search tool.
- Mission Control shows open windows and Spaces (virtual desktops).
- Time Machine is the macOS backup tool.
- Keychain stores passwords, and FileVault encrypts the startup drive.
- Disk Utility formats, partitions and repairs drives with First Aid.
- Apps install from the App Store,
.dmgimages and.pkgpackages. - Force Quit ends an unresponsive app.
- Find My can locate, lock or erase a lost Mac.
- Terminal gives a Unix style command line.
Common mistakes
Confusing Keychain with FileVault. Keychain stores credentials. FileVault encrypts the drive.
Expecting an installer wizard for every app. Many apps are simply dragged into Applications from a .dmg.
Treating the Dock dot as an open file. A dot under an icon means the application is running, not that it has a window.
Skipping backups before an update. A major macOS update should follow a fresh Time Machine backup.
Check yourself
Which macOS tool provides versioned backups?
Time Machine.
Which feature encrypts the whole startup disk on a Mac?
FileVault.
How do you end an application that has frozen?
Use Force Quit from the Apple menu or press Option, Command and Escape.
Topic 12 of 15 in Operating Systems
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