Your progress is saved in this browser. There’s no timer.
Before you start
- Connect power and have your Mac user-account password ready.
- For initial setup, have Wi-Fi and any Apple Account details you intend to use.
A clear way through this guide.
We’ll show you one step at a time. When you’re ready, press Done — next step. You can go back or take a break whenever you like.
6 steps · Your own pace
Get started with a Mac
Step 1 of 6: Wake or start and sign in
Open the lid or press power. Select your user account and enter its login password. First-time setup separately guides you through region, network and account choices.
✓ Step complete. You can practise it again.
Step 2 of 6: Make text readable
On recent macOS versions, choose the Apple menu, System Settings, Accessibility, Display and Text size. Adjust it gently. Older versions offer different display controls; use the guide matching your software.
✓ Step complete. You can practise it again.
Step 3 of 6: Find the desktop and apps
Locate the Apple menu at the top left and the Finder face in the Dock. Click Finder, then Applications to see installed apps rather than searching for downloads.
✓ Step complete. You can practise it again.
Step 4 of 6: Open TextEdit
Double-click TextEdit in Applications. Click New Document if an opening dialog appears, or choose File, then New. Click inside the blank document.
✓ Step complete. You can practise it again.
Step 5 of 6: Type and save your file
Type ‘My practice note’ and a short sentence. Choose File, then Save. Name it ‘Practice note’, choose Documents as its location and save. Reopen it from Finder’s Documents folder.
✓ Step complete. You can practise it again.
Step 6 of 6: Shut down normally
After saving, choose the Apple menu, then Shut Down and confirm. Wait until shutdown finishes before closing a laptop lid. Avoid holding the power button during ordinary shutdown.
✓ Step complete. You can practise it again.
Take your time. Next marks this step done.
You’ve finished this guide.
Every step is complete. You can come back and practise again whenever you like.
Your small practice task.
Save a practice document in Documents and reopen it before shutting down.
Completing the guide records your progress here; it does not check your device settings.
A common question.
Is my Mac login password my Apple Account password?
They are separate credentials and can be different. Use the password for the Mac user account at its login screen.
Official help, if you need it.
These links provide the product’s own instructions or relevant public guidance. Settings can differ by model and software version.