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macOS Tahoe 26 macOS Sequoia 15 macOS Sonoma 14 macOS Ventura 13 macOS Monterey 12 macOS Big Sur 11.0

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Welcome
About your Mac model
- MacBook Neo
- MacBook Air
- MacBook Pro
- iMac
- Mac mini
- Mac Studio
- Mac Pro
Whats new in macOS Tahoe
Get to know the desktop
- Work on the desktop
- Whats in the menu bar?
- Quickly change settings
- Whats in the Apple menu?
- Search with Spotlight
- How to use Siri
- Get notifications
- Open apps from the Dock
- Organise your files in the Finder
Mac basics
- Connect to the Internet
- Sign in to your Apple Account
- Set up iCloud
- Browse the web
- Preview a file
- Take a screenshot
- Change your displays brightness
- Adjust the volume
- Use trackpad and mouse gestures
- Use Touch ID
- Print documents
- Keyboard shortcuts
Apps
- Apps on your Mac
- Open apps
- Work with app windows
- Tile app windows
- Use apps in full screen
- Use apps in Split View
- Use Stage Manager
- Get apps from the App Store
- Install and reinstall apps from the App Store
- Install and uninstall other apps
Files and folders
- Create and work with documents
- Open documents
- Mark up files
- Combine files into a PDF
- Organise files on your desktop
- Organise files with folders
- Tag files and folders
- Back up files
- Restore files
Personalise your Mac
- Change System Settings
- Choose your desktop picture
- Add and customise widgets
- Use a screen saver
- Add a user or group
- Add your email and other accounts
- Automate tasks with Shortcuts
- Create Memoji
- Change your login picture
- Change the system language
Get to know Siri
- Find out what Siri can do
- Turn on and activate Siri
- Customise Siri
Apple Intelligence
- Intro to Apple Intelligence
- Translate messages and calls
- Create original images with Image Playground
- Create your own emoji with Genmoji
- Use Apple Intelligence with Siri
- Find the right words with Writing Tools
- Summarise notifications and reduce interruptions
- Use Apple Intelligence with apps
- Use ChatGPT with Apple Intelligence
- Apple Intelligence and privacy
- Block access to Apple Intelligence features
Beyond Mac basics
- Set up a Focus to stay on task
- Block pop-ups in Safari
- Use Dictation
- Perform quick actions with hot corners
- Send emails
- Send text messages
- Make a FaceTime call
- Edit photos and videos
- Use Live Text to interact with text in a photo
- Start a Quick Note
- Get directions
Use Apple devices together
- Intro to Continuity
- Use AirDrop to send items to nearby devices
- Hand off tasks between devices
- Control your iPhone from your Mac
- Copy and paste between devices
- Stream video and audio with AirPlay
- Make and receive calls and text messages on your Mac
- Use your iPhone internet connection with your Mac
- Share your Wi-Fi password with another device
- Use iPhone as a webcam
- Insert sketches, photos and scans from iPhone or iPad
- Unlock your Mac with Apple Watch
- Use your iPad as a second display
- Use one keyboard and mouse to control Mac and iPad
- Sync music, books and more between devices
Apple Account and iCloud
- Manage Apple Account settings
- Set your Apple Account picture
- What is iCloud?
- What is iCloud+?
- Store files in iCloud Drive
- Share and collaborate on files and folders
- Manage iCloud storage
- Use iCloud Photos
Screen Time
- Get started with Screen Time
- Set up Screen Time for yourself
- Set up Screen Time for a child
- Track app and device usage
- Set time limits for apps and websites
- Set up content and privacy restrictions
Family Sharing
- Set up Family Sharing
- Get Family Sharing recommendations
- Add family members to a Family Sharing group
- Remove family members from a Family Sharing group
- Manage sharing and parental settings
- Share a Photo Library
- Collaborate on projects
- Find content shared with you
- Find your family and friends
Watch, play and learn
- Play music
- Watch and listen together with SharePlay
- Listen to podcasts
- Watch TV shows and movies
- Read and listen to books
- Read the news
- Write in your journal
- Track stocks and the market
- Play games on your Mac
- Subscribe to Apple services
Use accessories and hardware
- Connect an external display
- Use the camera
- Connect a wireless accessory
- Connect a printer to your Mac
- Connect AirPods to your Mac
- Optimise your Mac battery life
- Optimise storage space
- Burn CDs and DVDs
- Control accessories in your home
- Use Windows on your Mac
Accessibility
- Get started
- General
- Vision
- Hearing
- Mobility
- Speech
Privacy and security
- Control what you share
- Set up your Mac to be secure
- Allow apps to see the location of your Mac
- Use Private Browsing
- Keep your data safe
- Understand passwords
- Change weak or compromised passwords
- Protect email privacy in Mail
- Use Sign in with Apple for apps and websites
- Find a missing device
Restart, update, reset and restore
- Shut down or restart your Mac
- Start up your Mac in safe mode
- Keep your Mac up to date
- Reinstall macOS
- Erase your Mac
Resources for your Mac
Resources for your Apple devices
Copyright and trademarks

Turn on and activate Siri on Mac

Siri is an intelligent assistant thats built into your Mac to help you get things done. To get started, learn the basics like how to turn Siri on and get its attention.

Note: Siri is designed to protect your information, and to let you choose what you share. To learn more, see the Siri, Dictation & Privacy website and the Improve Siri and Dictation & Privacy website.

Turn on Siri

Siri needs to be turned on before you use it to get information. If you didnt set up Siri when you first set up your Mac, do the following:

Go to the System Settings app [] on your Mac.
Click Apple Intelligence & Siri [] (or Siri []) in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)
Open Siri settings for me
Turn on Siri, then click Enable.
If you try to activate Siri when the option isnt selected, youre prompted to enable Siri. You must be connected to the internet to use Siri.
If youre asked if you want to improve Siri and Dictation, do one of the following:
- Share audio recordings: Click Share Audio Recordings to allow Apple to store audio of your Siri and Dictation interactions from your Mac. Apple may review a sample of stored audio.
- Dont share audio recordings: Click Not Now.
Note: You can delete the audio interactions whenever you like see Delete Siri and Dictation history.
If you change your mind later and want to share or stop sharing audio recordings, click Privacy & Security [] in the sidebar, click Analytics & Improvements (you may need to scroll down), then adjust the settings. To learn more about how Apple protects your information and lets you choose what you share, click About Device Analytics & Privacy, then click Improve Siri & Dictation. Or see the Apple Privacy website.
To further customise Siri settings, (such as how to activate either Hey Siri or Siri and how Siri sounds) see Customise Siri.

Activate Siri

After you turn on Siri, you need to activate it, then ask a question or make a request.

Note: You must be connected to the internet to use Siri.

Do one of the following:
- Press and hold [the Microphone key] in the row of function keys on your keyboard. If this key isnt available, use the keyboard shortcut specified in Siri settings.
  Open Siri settings for me
- Click [Apple Intelligence Siri] or [Siri] in the menu bar. If its not shown, see Add Siri to the menu bar.
- Say Hey Siri or Siri (if this option is available and turned on in Siri settings). To turn Hey Siri or Siri on, see Activate Hey Siri or Siri.
  To check whether Hey Siri or Siri is available for your device, language and region, see the macOS Feature Availability website.
Make a request for example, Set up a meeting at 9 or What was the score for last nights game? See How to use Siri.

If you have Location Services turned on, the location of your device is determined at the time of the request. You can change this option in System Settings see Control access to the location of your Mac.

Turn off Siri

Go to the System Settings app [] on your Mac.
Click Apple Intelligence & Siri [] (or Siri []) in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)
Open Siri settings for me
Turn off Siri.

If youre the family organiser for a Family Sharing group, you can set up Screen Time for a child and restrict access to Siri & Dictation. See Change Intelligence & Siri settings in Screen Time.

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Mac User Guide

Turn on and activate Siri on Mac

Turn on Siri

Activate Siri

Turn off Siri

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