Discover these tricks to optimize screen space on a Mac.
There are different methods to prevent the elements on your Mac screen from interfering with your work. Try these tips to clear up some visual space.
If you feel that your Mac desktop is too cluttered and you don’t have enough screen space for all your applications and tools, don’t worry. There are several ways to optimize your visual space without needing to purchase a MacBook model with a larger screen or an external monitor. Before making a significant investment, you can adjust some software settings to free up considerable space.
To begin, access the System Settings app on your Mac. You can find it by clicking the Apple logo in the upper right corner and selecting System Settings. From there, go to the Displays section in the left sidebar, where you’ll find size options ranging from Larger Text to More Space. By selecting the More Space option, all items on your Mac's screen will decrease slightly in size, creating a sense of more space to work.
It’s important to mention that this option may not be suitable for everyone, especially if you have vision issues, as reducing the size of items can be uncomfortable. However, if you’re looking to make the most of your screen space, it’s worth a try.
Additionally, the Mac dock, which appears by default, takes up a small but constant amount of space on the screen. To reclaim this space, you can choose to hide the dock. In System Settings, go to the Desktop & Dock section and select the option to automatically hide and show the Dock. With this, the dock will disappear, allowing you to use that space for your tasks. When you need to access the dock, just move the mouse pointer to the area where it used to be, and it will reappear.
Another way to gain more space is by hiding the menu bar. In the settings, go to the Control Center section and enable the option to automatically hide and show the menu bar. This will allow the menu bar at the top of the screen to hide in a similar manner to how you did with the dock. While this may reduce usable space compared to hiding the dock, it can be helpful for focusing since you’ll have fewer visible icons on the screen.
If you need even more space and you have an iPad, you can use it as a second monitor for your Mac. Simply go to the Displays section in System Settings, click the + button, and add your iPad as an additional display. This option is especially useful when you’re traveling, as it allows you to have more space to work away from your usual desktop and external monitor.
