Become a macOS Big Sur GENIUS
With Big Sur, Apple has literally turned macOS up to 11 with a fresh look and plenty of new features. After nearly 20 years of macOS 10 (or Mac OS X), Big Sur is the operating system that marks the transition into macOS 11 and we’ve got all of the insight you need to become an instant-expert in using the new system software.
The Big Sur update has taken its time to roll out, but the new features were certainly worth the wait. As well as a touched-up aesthetic, Big Sur comprises of a huge Safari overhaul, more detailed widgets, the introduction of an iOS-style Control Centre in the menu bar plus additional enhancements to a wide range of other apps, including Maps, App Store and Photos.
Big Sur also allows you to run iPhone and iPad apps on your Mac, although this only applies to new Macs that are running Apple Silicon. Current Macs with Intel processors won’t have the ability to run iPhone apps, but they can run iPad apps if the developers update them using a technology called Mac Catalyst, which is behind the Big Sur Maps and Messages apps.
Prepare your Mac
Have you yet to make the leap to Big Sur? Then here are a few steps to help you prepare your Mac for the big update
01 Check compatibility
Before preparing your Mac for Big Sur, check that you can actually run it. Go to Apple>About This Mac>Overview and ensure that it meets the requirement details at apple.com/macos/big-sur-preview/.
02 Clear some space
Still in the About This Mac window, click on Storage>Manage and then work through the various suggested steps to free up space on your Mac’s HD, including moving files to iCloud and deleting older ones.
03 Remove old apps
Click on ‘Applications’ in the sidebar and work through the list of apps installed on your Mac. Some apps take up quite a bit of space so remove any
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