File Explorer shortcuts on a Mac: the Finder equivalents for Windows users
How do you rename a file with F2, delete with Delete or go back with Backspace on a Mac? The Finder shortcut for every everyday File Explorer action, and a free way to keep your Windows habits.
How to open RAR and 7z files on a Mac (without WinRAR or 7-Zip)
Double-clicking a RAR file doesn't work on a Mac, and there is no WinRAR or 7-Zip window for macOS. Two free ways to extract RAR and 7z with what macOS already includes: one Terminal command, or a right-click.
Why is my external drive read-only on Mac?
Your USB stick or external hard drive opens on the Mac, but you can't copy anything to it. How to check its format, and what to do about NTFS, write protection, disk errors and permissions.
How to cut and paste files on a Mac
Finder has no Cut for files, but you can still move files with the keyboard. The Finder shortcut, the drag-and-drop rules, and how to get Ctrl+X and Ctrl+V back.
How to create a new text file (or Word document) on a Mac
Finder has no "New Text Document" like Windows. Three ways to create a new .txt file on a Mac — TextEdit, Terminal, or a right-click — and how to make a blank Word, Excel or PowerPoint file the same way.
How to undo moving or deleting files on a Mac
Moved files to the wrong folder or deleted the wrong one? How to undo it in Finder, get files back from the Trash or from Time Machine, and undo the last 50 file operations with Ctrl+Z.
How to use one external drive on both Mac and Windows
A USB stick or external hard drive that works on both a Mac and a Windows PC: which format to choose (exFAT, FAT32, NTFS or APFS), how to format it on either computer, and how to avoid the 4 GB file limit.