Just updated to macOS Ventura? Then master every new feature now!
Apple has just released its 19th major macOS release in Ventura, which follows the home state naming system that began with macOS Mavericks. This update creates yet more synergy between Mac and iOS (not least by rebranding System Preferences as ‘System Settings’) and introduces a trove of new treasures to discover and adopt in your dayto-day Mac use. Over the following pages we’ll highlight the key features of the update and guide you through the process of setting them up and using them.
Maximise your Stage Manager
Designed to improve your focus on the current app that you’re using, Stage Manager is Ventura’s marquee feature – here’s how it can be used to improve your concentration.
Set up Stage Manager
Although Stage Manager is very straightforward with limited options, there are a couple of ways to personalise it and make it quicker and easier to use, such as making it accessible straight from your Mac’s menu bar.
Go to System Settings>Desktop & Dock and scroll down to the ‘Stage Manager’ option. You can turn it on from here and click ‘Customise’ to adjust other options.
In System Settings>Control Centre, change the menu next to Stage Manager to ‘Show in Menu Bar’ to provide easier access to this feature via a menu bar icon.
Stage Manager is easy to turn on from Control Centre, but clunky to turn off. With the feature added to your menu bar, you can turn it off and on quicker.
Become a Safari power-user
A lot has been added to Apple’s web browser in the Ventura update, such as web push notifications and strong password editing. But check out these other new features that make browsing and managing your tab groups much easier.
Create a Tab Group Start Page
Another new feature in Safari is the option to have dedicated Start Pages for each Tab Group that you can customise with a background image and favourites. It’s not obvious how to set one up, so we’ll guide you through the process here.
Click on the tab icon at the top of the Safari sidebar and select ‘New Empty Tab Group’. Name your group and it will start with your default Start Page design by default.
Click on the settings icon in the lowerright corner and then click on the ‘X’ icon to delete the current background image. Click ‘+’ and then choose a new background.
The image will be unique to that tab group. Click on ‘Start Page’ at the top of the sidebar to see your original. If you change what features are displayed then these affect all.
Do more in Reminders
The Reminders app has enjoyed several key enhancements in the Ventura update. There are improved Scheduled and Today lists and more formatting options, as well as the option to pin rem
