Apple Mac Mini Late2014 Essentials Manual

							 Chapter 2    Get started 21
Instant Hotspot
Lost your Wi-Fi connection? Use the Personal Hotspot on your iPhone or iPad to connect your 
Mac mini to the Internet.
Note:  Personal Hotspot requires an iPhone or a cellular model iPad, with iOS 8 or later.
Connect to your device’s personal hotspot. Click the Wi-Fi status icon  i n the menu bar, then 
choose your iPhone or iPad from the list of devices that appears. (You don’t need to do anything 
on your device—Mac mini connects automatically.)
Check the status of your connection. Look in the Wi-Fi status menu to see the strength of the 
cellular signal.
When you’re not using the hotspot, your Mac mini disconnects to save battery life.
To learn more about using Instant Hotspot, messages, phone calls, Universal Clipboard, and 
Handoff with your Mac mini, open Mac Help (see Mac Help). See the Apple Support article 
support.apple.com/HT204681 or go to www.apple.com/osx/continuity .
Apple Pay
The convenience and security of Apple Pay is now available on your Mac. With Apple Pay, your 
credit or debit card information is never stored or shared by Apple with the merchant. When you 
shop online using Safari, look for a “Buy with Apple Pay” button. Confirm payment using your 
iPhone or Apple Watch. 
Note:  For information about Apple Pay availability and current card issuers, see the Apple Support 
articles support.apple.com//HT204916 and www.apple.com/apple-pay/where-to-use-apple-pay .
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Set up Apple Pay. Apple Pay uses the credit or debit cards you’ve already set up on your iPhone 
or Apple Watch, so no extra setup is required. You must be signed in to an iPhone or Apple 
Watch that has Apple Pay set up with the same Apple ID you’re using on your Mac mini. The 
default payment card, shipping, and contact information that is set on your iPhone or Apple 
Watch is used for purchases on your Mac.
Make a purchase. Click the Apple Pay button on the website, then to confirm the purchase, use 
Touch ID or the passcode on your iPhone, or double-click the side button on your unlocked 
Apple Watch.
For more information about using Apple Pay, see the Apple Support article 
support.apple.com/HT201239.
AirDrop
AirDrop makes it easy to share files with nearby Mac computers and iOS devices. The devices 
don’t need to share the same Apple ID.
Note:  AirDrop for iOS requires devices that have the Lightning connector and iOS 7 or later. 
Not all older Macs support AirDrop (for a list of supported Macs, see the Apple Support article 
support.apple.com/HT203106).
Send a file from the Finder. Click the Finder icon  in the Dock, then click AirDrop in the sidebar 
on the left. When the person you want to send a file to appears in the window, drag the file to 
him or her.
Send a file from an app. While using an app like Pages or Preview, click the Share button 
 and 
choose AirDrop. 
Control who can send items to you using AirDrop. Click the Finder icon 
 in the Dock, click 
AirDrop in the sidebar, then click “Allow me to be discovered by” and choose an option.
When you send a file to someone, the recipient can choose whether or not to accept the file. 
When someone sends you a file, you can find it in the Downloads folder on your Mac mini.
 Tip: If you don’t see the recipient in the AirDrop window, make sure both devices have 
AirDrop and Bluetooth turned on and are within 30 feet (9 meters) of each other.
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AirPrint
You can use AirPrint to print wirelessly to:
 •An AirPrint-enabled printer on your Wi-Fi network
 •A network printer or printer shared by another Mac on your Wi-Fi network
 •A printer connected to the USB port of an AirPort base station
Print to an AirPrint printer. When you print from an app, click the Printer pop-up menu in the 
Print dialog, then choose an AirPrint printer in the Nearby Printers list. 
Can’t find the printer you’re looking for? Make sure it’s connected to the same Wi-Fi network 
as your Mac mini. If it’s connected and you still don’t see it, try adding it: Click the System 
Preferences icon  in the Dock, click Printers & Scanners, then click Add . (You may have to 
temporarily connect the printer to your Mac mini using a USB cable.)
For a list of AirPrint-enabled printers and other supported printers, see About AirPrint and 
Printer and scanner software available for download for your Mac .
AirPlay
Show whatever’s on your Mac mini screen on the big screen using AirPlay Mirroring. Connect 
your HDTV to Apple TV, and make sure the Apple TV is on the same Wi-Fi network as your 
Mac mini to mirror the Mac mini external display on your TV screen or use the HDTV as a second 
display. You can also play some web videos directly to your HDTV without showing what’s on 
your desktop—handy when you want to play a movie but keep your work private.
Mirror your Mac mini using AirPlay Mirroring. Click the AirPlay icon  in the menu bar, then 
choose your Apple TV. When an AirPlay display is active, the icon turns blue.
In some cases, you can use an AirPlay display even if your Mac mini isn’t on the same Wi-Fi 
network as Apple TV (called peer-to-peer AirPlay). To use peer-to-peer AirPlay, you need an 
Apple TV (3rd generation rev A, model A1469 or later) with Apple TV software 7.0 or later.
Play web videos without showing your desktop. When you find a web video with an AirPlay 
icon 
, click the icon, then select your Apple TV. 
 Tip: If the image doesn’t fit your HDTV screen when you mirror the display, adjust the desktop 
size for the best picture. Click the AirPlay icon 
, then choose an option under “Match Desktop 
Size To.”
Apple TV is sold separately at apple.com or your local Apple Store.
To learn more about AirDrop, AirPrint, and AirPlay, go to Mac Help (see Mac Help). To learn more 
about using a display with your Mac mini, see Connect a display .
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Migrate your data
It’s easy to move your files and settings from another Mac or PC to your Mac mini. To transfer the 
data when you first set up your Mac mini, use Setup Assistant. To transfer data later, you can use 
Migration Assistant. If both computers are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, you can transfer 
the data wirelessly.
 Tip: For best results, make sure your Mac mini is running the latest version of macOS. To check 
for software updates, choose Apple Menu > App Store, then click Updates.
If you used Time Machine to back up your files from another Mac to a storage device (such as an 
AirPort Time Capsule or external disk), you can copy the files from the device to your Mac mini.
Use Migration Assistant. Open a Finder window, go to Applications > Utilities, then double-
click Migration Assistant. Follow the onscreen instructions. For more information, see 
Move your content to a new Mac or Move your data from a Windows PC to a Mac .
You can transfer data from a Thunderbolt-equipped Mac to your new Mac mini using a 
Thunderbolt cable. Put the Mac you want to migrate data from in Target Disk Mode by restarting 
it while holding down the T key. Then connect the two computers using a Thunderbolt cable, 
and open Migration Assistant on your Mac mini. Select “From a Mac, Time Machine backup, or 
startup disk” when asked how you want to transfer your information, click Continue, then select 
the disk you want to transfer information from.
Use Target Disk Mode. You can transfer data from a Thunderbolt-equipped Mac to your new 
Mac mini using a Thunderbolt cable. Put the Mac you want to migrate data from in Target Disk 
Mode by restarting it while holding down the T key. Then connect the two computers using a 
Thunderbolt cable, and open Migration Assistant on your Mac mini. Select “From a Mac, Time 
Machine backup, or startup disk” when asked how you want to transfer your information, click 
Continue, then select the disk you want to transfer information from.
 Tip: For fastest migration, connect your old computer to Mac mini with a Thunderbolt cable. 
If you migrate wirelessly, you’ll get the best results if you keep both computers near each other 
throughout the migration process.
Copy files from a storage device. 
Connect the device to the USB 3 port  or Thunderbolt 2 
port  on your Mac mini, then manually drag files to your Mac mini.
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Save space on your Mac mini
macOS Sierra frees up space on your Mac mini and helps you save space as you work. You can set 
options to free up even more space on your Mac mini. 
Optimize storage. Set options in the Recommendations pane. Go to Apple menu > About This 
Mac, click Storage, then click Details. When your Mac is low on storage, you’ll see an alert that will 
open the Recommendations pane.
Set options to:
 •Optimize iCloud Storage: 
 •Store files in iCloud, where they stay secure and available. You can turn on iCloud Drive to 
store files on your desktop and in your Documents folder in iCloud.
 •Turn on iCloud Photo Library to store items from the Photos app in iCloud.
For more information, see Access your content anywhere with iCloud .
 •Optimize Storage: Remove iTunes movies and TV shows you’ve watched, and keep only recent 
email attachments.
 •Erase Trash Automatically: Automatically erase items that have been in the Trash for more than 
30 days.
 •Reduce Clutter: Review documents and delete older ones stored on your Mac mini.
macOS Sierra also prevents you from downloading the same file twice from Safari, alerts you to 
remove installer software when you finish installing a new app, clears logs and caches that are 
safe to remove when you’re low on storage, and more, to help you save space as you work.
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Back up and restore
To keep your files safe, it’s important to back up your Mac mini regularly. The easiest way to back 
up is to use Time Machine—which is built into your Mac mini—with a wireless AirPort Time 
Capsule (sold separately), or an external storage device connected to your Mac mini.
Files stored in iCloud Drive and photos in iCloud Photo Library are automatically backed up to 
the cloud and don’t need to be part of your backup.
Set up Time Machine. 
Make sure your Mac mini is on the same Wi-Fi network as your AirPort 
Time Capsule, or connect your AirPort Time Capsule or external storage device to your Mac mini. 
Click the System Preferences icon  in the Dock, click Time Machine, then click On. Select the 
drive you want to use for backup, and you’re all set.
Time Machine:
 •Automatically backs up your entire Mac mini, including system files, apps, accounts, 
preferences, music, photos, movies, and documents.
 •Remembers how your computer looked on any given day, so you can revisit your Mac mini as 
it appeared in the past or retrieve an older version of a document.
 •Lets you restore your entire system from a Time Machine backup. So if anything happens to 
your Mac mini, your files and settings are safe and sound.
To learn more about backing up and restoring your Mac mini, go to Mac Help (see Mac Help) and 
search for “Time Machine,” “external storage device,” “backup,” or “restore.” To learn more about 
AirPort Time Capsule, go to www.apple.com/airport-time-capsule .
AirPort Time Capsule is sold separately at apple.com or your local Apple Store.
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Apps
Included apps
Your Mac mini comes with a collection of great apps for things you do every day, like surfing 
the web, sending mail and messages, and arranging your calendar. It also comes with apps 
like Photos, iMovie, GarageBand, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote—so you can be creative and 
productive right from the start. The apps that come with your Mac mini are described in the 
following sections.
Find even more apps. Click the App Store icon  in the Dock to find apps for everything you 
want to do. See App Store to learn more.
Get help for any app. Click the Help menu (in the menu bar at the top of the screen) when 
you’re using an app.
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Safari
Safari is the fastest, safest, and most energy efficient way to surf the web on your Mac.
Start searching. Click the Smart Search field at the top of the window to see websites you visit 
most frequently. Or start typing a word or website address—Safari shows you matching websites, 
as well as Safari Suggestions for news, Wikipedia articles, iTunes music, weather forecasts, sports 
scores and player stats, stock prices, help from Apple, and nearby points of interest.
Type what you’re looking for or \fli\fk a favorite.
Spread the word. It’s easy to share a webpage on social media, save it to your bookmarks or 
reading list, or add it to Notes or Reminders. Just click the Share button 
 at the top of the 
window and choose an option.
View multiple pages in one window. Click 
 at the far right of the tab bar to open a new tab, 
then enter an address. To keep a website handy, drag its tab left to “pin” it, and it stays put in the 
tab bar.
Drag a tab to the left 
to pin it in the tab bar.
See what’s open on your devices. You can see open webpages on devices that are signed in to 
the same iCloud account. Just click the Show All Tabs button 
 at the top of the window and 
scroll down if necessary.
Shop with Apple Pay. When you’re shopping online on a supported website, click the Apple Pay 
button to make a purchase. To complete the transaction, use Touch ID or the passcode on your 
iPhone, or double-click the side button on your unlocked Apple Watch. 
 Tip: If the article you’re reading includes animations or flashy ads, you can use Reader view to 
strip out the distractions and focus on the text. Click the Reader button 
 in the Smart Search 
field (if it’s available).
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Mail
Mail lets you manage all your email accounts from a single app. It works with most popular email 
services, such as iCloud, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, and AOL Mail.
One-stop email. Tired of signing in to multiple websites to check your email accounts? Set 
up Mail with all your accounts so you can see all your messages in one place. Choose Mail > 
Add Account.
 Ask Siri. Say something like: “Any new mail from Laura today?”
Add events and contacts right from Mail. When Mail detects a new email address or event in a 
message, just click Add to add it to Contacts or Calendar.
Add names or events to your contacts or calendar  with a sin\fle click.
Never miss an email. Check the Mail icon in the Dock to see the number of unread messages. 
When you get new email, a notification also appears at the top-right of the screen so you can 
quickly preview the new messages. (Don’t want notifications? You can turn them off: Click the 
System Preferences icon 
 in the Dock, then click Notifications.)
You have unread messages.
 Tip: To quickly delete a message in your inbox, swipe left across the message with one finger 
on your Magic Mouse, then click Trash. Or swipe right to mark the message as Unread.
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Notes
Notes are more than just text. Add a checklist and check off items as you complete them. Or 
add photos, videos, and content from other apps, such as a web link from Safari or a location 
from Maps.
 Ask Siri. Say something like: “Create a new note.”
Check off tasks. Click the Checklist button 
 to add an interactive checklist to a note—perfect 
for completing a to-do list or working through a recipe.
Create a checklist.Drag photos and other ite\fs into your notes.
 Tip: When you’re signed in to iCloud, your notes are kept up to date on all your devices—so 
you can create a to-do list on your Mac, then check items off on your iPhone while you’re on 
the go.
Add photos, videos, and more. Click the Photos button 
 to add items from your Photos library 
to a note. Or drag a photo, video, PDF, or other document from the desktop.
Sort notes. You can sort your notes by Date Created, Date Edited, or Title. Select “All iCloud,” 
“Notes,” or a folder, then choose View > Sort Notes By and select a sort option.
Share a note. You can invite people to view and edit your notes by sharing them. Click the 
People button 
 and select a method for sending the link. 
Lock a note. You can lock a note with a password to make sure that only those who know the 
password can see the note. Choose Notes > Set Password to assign a password to use with all 
locked notes. Then select the note you want to lock, and choose File > Lock Note. 
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