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February 3, 2021

Why does my Mac’s mouse keep disappearing? How to fix a mouse cursor that won’t stay on the screen

using mac — It’s easy to find a mouse cursor that’s disappeared.
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If the mouse keeps disappearing on your Mac, make sure that it’s connected, and the cursor isn’t too small.
You can quickly find your cursor by shaking your Mac’s mouse, which will cause the cursor to suddenly grow larger.
Though rare, a constantly disappearing mouse could also signal an issue with an app or your Mac’s memory.
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A disappearing cursor or mouse pointer can be a frustrating time-waster. The good news is that while there are several reasons why you might not be able to find your cursor, there are also easy ways to bring it back.

If your Mac’s mouse cursor has a habit of going missing, here are the most common ways to get it back.

How to troubleshoot when your mouse keeps disappearing on a Mac

Quickly shake your mouse

When troubleshooting a problem like this, where there are several different explanations, it’s best to start with the simplest solution.

If you can’t see your mouse pointer, try shaking your physical mouse – do this by moving it left and right across your mousepad quickly.

If you do it quick enough, your mouse cursor will blow up in size until you stop shaking. It’s hard to miss, but you may need to do it a few times before you find it.

This feature should be enabled by default, but if it’s not, you can enable it:

1. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen, and select “System Preferences.”

2. In the menu that appears, click “Accessibility.”

3. Click “Display” in the sidebar.

4. Check off the “Shake mouse pointer to locate” option.

Make your cursor bigger

If you’re having trouble tracking your mouse as it moves, it might mean you need to make the cursor bigger permanently. Luckily, you can do just that.

1. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen, and select “System Preferences.”

2. In the menu that appears, click “Accessibility.”

3. Click “Display” in the sidebar.

4. Use the “Cursor size” slider to make your cursor bigger. The farther to the right it is, the bigger it’ll be.

Screen Shot 2021 02 03 at 2.40.26 PM — Use System Preferences to make your mouse bigger temporarily or permanently.
William Antonelli/Business Insider

Check that your mouse is working

If your mouse isn’t working, your cursor won’t appear at all.

If you’re using a wireless mouse, turn your mouse off and replace its batteries, or charge it. Once you do, turn it back on and reconnect it.

If you’re using a USB mouse, disconnect and reconnect it.

If neither of these methods work, disconnect your mouse and restart your computer, then reconnect.

Screen Shot 2021 02 03 at 2.51.07 PM — If you see this in your “Mouse” menu, there’s no mouse connected.
William Antonelli/Business Insider

Change or restart apps

It’s possible the app you are currently using is suppressing the mouse. Sometimes this happens intentionally, like with certain video apps, but it might also be a bug or a glitch.

Press Command + Tab to switch to a different app and try moving the mouse again. If you think it’s a bug with a specific app, restart the app.

Make sure it’s not on a different monitor

This might seem obvious, but it’s often the culprit: If you have more than one monitor connected to your Mac, it’s possible the mouse is on a different display and not where you expect it.

This is most likely if your monitors are misconfigured so you can’t drag the mouse pointer from one monitor to the next.

monitors office setup — If your monitors are on the wrong sides, it’s easy to lose track of your mouse.
Dave Smith/Business Insider

Reset your NVRAM

If your mouse is still missing, your Mac’s NVRAM (nonvolatile random-access memory) might be corrupted. Resetting this memory will restore your mouse (and probably fix other bugs you’re having).

Don’t worry – this won’t delete any of your files or personal data.

To do this:

1. Turn off your Mac computer.

2. When you turn it back on, immediately press Option + Command + R + P.

apple keyboard nvram — You’ll have to press Option + Command + R + P.
Apple; skitching by William Antonelli

3. Hold these keys down for about 20 seconds. You can release the keys after the second startup sound; or, if your computer is a recent model with the T2 security chip, after the Apple logo appears and disappears for the second time.

Let your computer start up again normally, and the issue should be fixed.

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January 30, 2021

How to reset and change your Gmail password if you’ve forgotten it, on desktop or mobile

To reset your Gmail password, you’ll need to select the “Forgot password” option on the login screen.
Once you click this option, you’ll be asked to provide Google with your recovery phone number or email — a link to reset your password will be sent to you.
Once you reset your Gmail password, you’ll need to create a new one.
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So you just found that your Gmail password isn’t working. In the moment of panic that follows, you’re probably wondering if you were hacked, or if you simply don’t remember what the password was.

The good news is, you probably weren’t hacked – Google sends out notifications and warnings whenever someone signs in on a new device or changes your password, so unless you’ve been logged out for a while, that’s unlikely.

Still, it’s a pain not to be able to access your email, and you probably want to remedy this situation as quickly as possible. Luckily, it’s very easy to reset your Gmail password from your computer or your phone, so long as you set up any method of recovery at the beginning – a backup email or phone number.

Here’s how to reset your Gmail password, from both your phone and your computer.

How to reset your Gmail password and create a new one

1. Go to the Gmail login screen on your device and type in the name of the account you need to recover.

2. When it asks you to enter your password, instead hit the phrase “Forgot password?” in blue underneath.

3. If you can, type in the last password you remember using with your Gmail account. Gmail does this just in case you haven’t actually forgotten your password.

If the password you enter is actually your current password, you’ll be redirected to Gmail, and you don’t need to worry about the rest of these steps.

If the password you enter is an old one or one you’ve never used, Gmail will automatically take you to step four.

How to Gmail password reset 1 — Enter the last password you remember using.
Melanie Weir/Business Insider

4. Depending on whether you have a phone connected to your Google account, Google may automatically send your phone a notification – pressing “Yes” on this notification will let Google reset your password.

If you don’t receive this notification or want to do it a different way, click “Try another way” at the bottom of the screen.

Screen_Shot_2020 09 16_at_5_20_41_PM — You might receive an automatic notification.
William Antonelli/Business Insider

5. If you’ve set up a recovery phone number with this account, or another account attached to this one, Gmail will give you the option to send a text or call to that number containing a code you can use to confirm your identity.

If you have your phone on you, select your preferred method of communication, then skip to step six.

How to Gmail password reset 2 — Select whether you want Gmail to text or call you with the recovery code.
Melanie Weir/Business Insider

If you don’t have your phone with you, or would prefer Gmail not contact you in this way, click “I don’t have my phone” at the bottom, and proceed to step five.

6. If you have another email associated with this one as a recovery email, Google will give you the option to have a recovery code sent to that email. If that method is agreeable to you, click “Send,” then proceed to step six.

How to Gmail password reset 3 — Confirm your recovery email and press “Send” to have the code sent there.
Melanie Weir/Business Insider

If, for some reason, you don’t have access to the recovery email account, you’ll have to click “Try another Way,” after which Gmail will ask for an email address you do have access to. They will take time to assess your problem individually and determine if they can help you recover your account. However, there’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to recover your account this way.

7. Enter the code that’s been sent to your phone or recovery email address.

Note that entering the “G -” at the beginning isn’t necessary – the entry field fills this in for you. Enter the numbers only.

How to Gmail password reset 4 — Enter the code you were sent.
Melanie Weir/Business Insider

8. Gmail will now ask you to select a new password. Try to choose something you won’t easily forget, or else write it down somewhere safe so you can look at it next time and avoid this hassle.

How to Gmail password reset 5 — Set a new password.
Melanie Weir/Business Insider

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January 26, 2021

How to delete your Gmail account without losing any of your data

You can delete your Gmail account in the “Data & Personalization” tab of your Google settings.
Deleting your Gmail account won’t delete your Google account entirely, but will delete all the email you have saved at that address.
Once you delete your Gmail account, you won’t be able to send or receive email from that address.
You can download your email data before deleting the Gmail account, if you’d like to save your emails.
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If you have a Gmail account that you no longer want, whether because it was for a business you no longer run, or was created when you were thirteen and now only receives spam emails, you may find yourself wanting to delete it.

When you delete a Gmail address, you won’t delete the Google account associated with it. This means you’ll still be able to use other Google apps like YouTube or Docs.

However, deleting the Gmail address means deleting all the email saved inside of it. Additionally, neither you nor anyone else will be able to send or receive mail at that address.

So, make sure you’re absolutely sure of your decision before you decide to delete your Gmail account.

If you’re certain you want to do it, here’s how to delete a Gmail account using any internet browser on your PC or Mac computer.

How to delete your Gmail account

1. Open the Gmail account that you want to delete on your PC or Mac computer.

2. Click on your profile icon in the top-right corner to open your account menu.

3. From your account menu, click “Manage your Google Account.”

How to delete Gmail account — Select “Manage your Google account.”
Melanie Weir/Business Insider

4. In the left-hand sidebar, click the “Data & personalization” tab.

5. Scroll down and click “Delete a service or your account.”

6. Click “Delete a service” under the “Delete a Google service” section.

7. Enter your password, if prompted, to verify that it’s you.

8. On this page you can choose to download your data before deleting your account by clicking the blue “DOWNLOAD DATA” button.

9. Click on the trash can icon next to “Gmail” at the bottom of the page.

10. Enter an email to send a confirmation message to. This email cannot be another Gmail account. Click the blue “SEND VERIFICATION EMAIL” button.

11. Log into the email account you provided and open the email that Google just sent. Click on the link inside to finish the deletion process.

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January 21, 2021

What is Apple One? Here’s what you need to know about Apple’s subscription service bundle

exercise at home tv fitness — Apple One bundles all your Apple subscriptions, like Apple Fitness Plus, into one package.
Oleh_Slobodeniuk/Getty Images

Apple One is a subscription bundle of Apple streaming, storage, news, and fitness services.
You can sign up for Apple One on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer.
There are Apple One plans for individuals, families, and premium users.
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Apple One is a single monthly subscription bundle of the company’s popular services.

If you sign up for Apple One, you’ll get Apple Music and Apple TV Plus for streaming, Apple Arcade for gaming, and iCloud for storage. If you opt for the Premier plan, you’ll also get Apple Fitness Plus and Apple News Plus.

The idea is that subscribing to Apple One gives you more for less money. For example, an Apple Music plan is $9.99 a month on its own, but the lowest tier of Apple One (with Apple TV Plus, Apple Arcade and 50 GB of iCloud storage) is $14.95 a month. If it’ll save you money, the company’s devices will recommend an Apple One plan when signing up for a second individual service.

You can sign up for on your iPhone, Mac computer, or iPad, but once you sign up, you’ll be able to access them across your devices. There are several plans depending on what you need.

What to know about Apple One plans

Apple One offers three plans:

Individual plan ($14.95 per month): You’ll have Apple Music, Apple TV Plus, Apple Arcade, and 50 GB of iCloud storage. As its name implies, the plan is suited for a single person.
Family plan ($19.95 per month): You’ll have all the same services as the individual plan, 200 GB of iCloud Storage, and the ability to share your plan with up to five other people. That’s enough for you, your spouse, kids, and grandma, too.
Premier plan ($29.95 per month): The top-tier plan gives you the same services as the family and individual plans, 2 TB of iCloud Storage, Apple Fitness Plus and Apple News Plus. You can share this plan with up to five other people. If you’re an avid runner, have a family and thousands of files, this plan will suit you.

Pick a plan based on whatever your needs are – you can always upgrade or downgrade your plan later if those needs change.

Remember, any services you aren’t paying for are free the first month of your Apple One plan.

Ways to sign up for plans

You can sign up for Apple One on your Mac computer, iPhone, or iPad. To get started, you’ll likely need to update your software. On your desktop, go to “System Preferences” and then “Software Update.” Mobile device users can find “Software Update” under Settings.

You can search for Apple One on your iPad or iPhone, or go to your device’s settings. Tap “Account” and then “Manage Subscriptions.”

See our step-by-step guide on how to sign up for Apple One for more information.

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January 12, 2021

How to AirPlay content to your Apple TV and mirror your phone or computer to a TV screen

laptop and TV child watching tv — If you have an Apple TV, you can AirPlay from any Apple device.
Maskot/Getty Images

You can AirPlay to an Apple TV by connecting your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to the same Wi-Fi network as your Apple TV and clicking the AirPlay icon.
When you AirPlay to your Apple TV from a Mac, it’ll mirror your computer’s screen exactly.
On a device like an iPad or an iPhone, you can mirror your entire screen, or a specific video app like YouTube.
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AirPlay is a useful tool that allows you to project content from an Apple device to your Apple TV. If you use AirPlay on a Mac computer, your computer’s screen will replace your Apple TV’s screen. Everything you look at on your computer will appear on your TV, allowing you to watch video content or even simply use a bigger screen for a video conferences, presentations, or other apps.

You can also use AirPlay from an iPad or iPhone. On these devices, you can use AirPlay directly from an app that supports the feature, such as Photos, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and others. You’ll know if AirPlay is supported in the app if you see the AirPlay icon in the corner of the video screen on your device. If AirPlay isn’t an available option on the app, you can mirror your iPhone’s screen to your Apple TV instead.

Before you start, you have to make sure your iPhone, iPad, or Mac are on the same Wi-Fi network as your Apple TV. If they’re not, your Apple TV won’t be able to find your other devices.

How to AirPlay to Apple TV from a Mac computer

1. Click on the AirPlay icon in the right corner of the toolbar at the top of your computer screen. It looks like a rectangle with a triangle at the bottom.

How_to_Airplay_to_Apple_TV_1 — The AirPlay icon is the square with the triangle pointing into it.
Ryan Ariano/Business Insider

2. Scroll down to locate your Apple TV. Your Mac should see any devices it can AirPlay to, including your Apple TV. Click on “Apple TV.”

How_to_Airplay_to_Apple_TV_2 — Scroll down to your Apple TV.
Ryan Ariano/Business Insider

3. Your computer’s screen will now appear on your television and anything you do or view on your homescreen will appear on the TV.

How_to_Airplay_to_Apple_TV_3 — Your TV should now mirror your computer screen.
Ryan Ariano/Business Insider

How to AirPlay to Apple TV from an app on your iPhone or iPad

1. Open the app with the content you want to AirPlay to your Apple TV.

2. Find the content you want to AirPlay.

3. While it’s playing, tap on the video. If it can AirPlay to your Apple TV, you will see the AirPlay icon in the top right corner of the content. If this is the first time, you should get an authentication prompt asking you to input a code that will show up on your Apple TV.

How_to_Airplay_to_Apple_TV_4 — If you can AirPlay it to your Apple TV, you will see the AirPlay icon in the upper right corner of the content you want to cast.
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4. Tap on the AirPlay icon. It will give you the option to AirPlay to your Apple TV.

How_to_Airplay_to_Apple_TV_5 — When you tap the AirPlay icon, you will see what devices you can AirPlay to, including your Apple TV.
Ryan Ariano/Business Insider

5. Your content will now be streaming on your Apple TV.

How to airplay your iPhone or iPad’s entire screen to an Apple TV

1. Make sure your iPhone or iPad is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Apple TV.

2. Go to the Control Center on your device. If you have an iPhone X or later, or an iPad with iPadOS or later, swipe down from the upper right corner of your screen to open Control Center. If you have an iPhone 8 or earlier or an iPad with iOS 11 or earlier, swipe up from the bottom of your screen to open Control Center.

3. Tap “Screen Mirroring” from the Control Center, beside the icon of two overlapping rectangles.

4. Choose your Apple TV from the list of available options. An AirPlay passcode may appear on your TV screen – if it does, enter the code in the pop-up on your iPhone or iPad screen.

5. Your entire screen should now be mirrored. To play video from a specific app, simply start playing the video in the app on your device and it should appear full-screen on the Apple TV.

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January 11, 2021

What is GarageBand? Here’s what you need to know about Apple’s free music creation studio

GarageBand on Macbook with instruments — GarageBand is Apple’s free music production and engineering software used by experts and novices alike.
David Caudery/MacFormat magazine via Getty Images

GarageBand is Apple’s free music creation software that comes preloaded on Macs, iPhones, and iPads.
GarageBand operates like a fully equipped music studio, giving you a library of lessons and sounds that include percussion, rhythm, and vocals.
Combined with the Touch Bar features on a MacBook Pro, learning, creating, recording, and editing music can be a seamless process.
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In his attempt to “democratize music-making,” Steve Jobs unveiled GarageBand at Macworld in 2004. Seventeen years since its creation, GarageBand has become a widely used audio software.

Apple’s music creation studio has a sound library composed of instrument presets, synths, loops, and more. Novice musicians to veteran engineers have flocked to the digital studio for its accessible and up-to-date way of creating music.

Here’s everything you need to know about GarageBand.

What is GarageBand?

Pre-installed on more than a billion Macs, iPhones, and iPads, GarageBand is a staple of many an Apple user’s experience. Yet, not everyone is aware of its full range of capabilities.

For musicians, this app can remove the need for expensive audio gear or booking costly studio time. The streamlined design and editing software makes it easy to navigate through the application’s multiple functions. It also introduces instruments and sounds that ensure users don’t feel overwhelmed by their lack of familiarity.

This software starts everyone off in a default state, giving users the ability to craft and expand their own GarageBand experience.

GarageBand app on iPad — GarageBand offers a full dashboard of instruments that you can use to create your next song.
MediaNews Group/Bay Area News via Getty Images

The application is free for iOS, iPadOS, and MacOS, making it an affordable digital resource for creating and sharing music. Apple iCloud integration allows you to add tracks across devices, whether you’re at home or on the go.

Built with an ability to play and record live instruments, GarageBand gives musicians the chance to plug in their equipment like a guitar or microphone, record their play, and add it to their sound library.

GarageBand features and tools

One of the biggest advantages of GarageBand is its welcoming layout, regardless of your expertise level. For beginners, an excellent place to start is the Quick Help button in the top left corner. This enables yellow text boxes, which explain the function of anything your cursor is over.

Touch instruments are the most well-known feature of the app. Piano, guitar, and drums are just a few digital instruments you can play that sound and respond like the real thing. This ensures a more realistic and visceral sound while constructing a track.

What is GarageBand 2 — You can select which instruments you want on your track.
Abbey White/Business Insider

In 2010, the Groove Track feature was added as Apple’s version of a spell-checker for rhythm. It programs all the other tracks you have selected to adjust and synchronize their timing to the chosen groove track.

GarageBand has a popular teachable feature in its built-in lessons for the guitar and piano. There are 40 different genre-based lessons to follow along with using the Touch instruments. Users are given feedback in real-time to sharpen their skills and track their progress.

Just a few among many, these tools and features have made GarageBand one of the most widely-used digital audio workspaces. Apple’s music creation studio may not be for everyone, but anyone can use it.

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January 5, 2021

How to play Jackbox games on a TV, whether you’re using a gaming console, computer, or streaming device

Friends celebrating around TV — Jackbox makes hosting in-person or virtual game nights through your TV fun and easy.
Tetra Images/Getty Images

There are several ways you can play Jackbox games on a TV.
You can download Jackbox on gaming consoles, such as the Nintendo Switch, or connect your mobile device or computer to a TV, or stream a game with services like Apple TV.
You’ll need to determine what devices a Jackbox game or party pack is compatible with before you choose how to connect it to your TV for gameplay.
Additional apps and equipment like Chromecast or an HDMI cord may be necessary to play Jackbox games on your TV.
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Jackbox, a purveyor of party games, is best seen on a TV for the excitement of watching your silly drawings, clever wit, and inside jokes play out on the big screen. And whether you realize it or not, you likely already have access to one of many methods available for playing a Jackbox party pack or standalone game on a TV.

But before you learn how to play through your TV, you’ll want to confirm which games are compatible with your device. This will help you make the best decision setting up play through your big screen. To do this, just click on the game or party pack you want to purchase and scroll to the compatibility section beneath the game or pack’s description. If you see your platform or device listed, you’re ready to buy.

Once you’ve made your purchase, ensure you also have a device like another iPad, computer, or smartphone available to log into Jackbox.TV, as that’s how you’ll enter your answers, make your drawings, and vote on the best of the bunch each round.

Here’s how you can play Jackbox on a TV.

How to play Jackbox on a TV with a gaming console

If you own a Nintendo Switch, Playstation 3, 4, or 5, Xbox One, or Xbox Series S/X, these consoles all support hosting some or all of the games in the Jackbox catalog through their respective stores. Download Jackbox games to your console and, if an HDMI cable is required, connect it from your TV to your console to play – just like you would with other games.

How to play Jackbox on a TV with a streaming device

Jackbox can also be played directly on Apple TV and iPad with the app version. To play the game on your iPad, you want to mirror it to your Apple TV using AirPlay. For iPad users with Google Home, you can also cast the game on your TV through the app’s built-in mirroring tool.

Amazon Fire TV users can simply purchase the Jackbox app from Amazon and play straight from their TV, while Android TV users can also purchase the Jackbox app in the Google Play Store and start having fun through their compatible TVs.

How to play Jackbox on a TV with a computer

The Steam, Humble, and Fanatical gaming platforms all have Jackbox available to download for PC, Mac, and Linux users. Epic Games also offers Jackbox for PC and Mac devices. Once purchased, you’ll be able to access the games from your purchase library.

To play games from these platforms on your TV, you’d just need to connect your computer to your TV with an HDMI cord, use screen-mirroring tools from AirPlay on your Mac, or cast from your Mac or PC with Chromecast.

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December 25, 2020

MacBook Touch Bar: The special touchscreens built into MacBook Pro models, explained

MacBook Pro Touch Bar — The Touch Bar is only available on the high-end MacBook Pro models.
Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

The MacBook Touch Bar is a thin touchscreen above the number keys on MacBook Pro keyboards that offers versatile functionality.
To use a Mac’s Touch Bar and its library of digital icons, you can tap, swipe, and slide along the bar.
Some Touch Bar buttons change depending on the app you’re using, while others remain constant.
You can open your Mac’s System Preferences menu to change some of the Touch Bar’s settings.
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Introduced to MacBooks in 2016, the Touch Bar is a small touchscreen located above the number keys on MacBook Pro keyboards.

The Touch Bar was built to replace the function keys – the numbered F1 through F12 keys that come standard on most keyboards. Despite this, the Touch Bar actually has a variety of features and tools that change depending on what app you’re using.

As of this writing, the Touch Bar is only available on 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pro models. However, this might change in the future.

How to use a MacBook Touch Bar

As its name suggests, Apple’s Touch Bar is activated by touch, and as such responds to gestures like tapping, swiping, and sliding. You can use these gestures to adjust the brightness and volume, activate Siri, access function keys, and more depending on the app you’re using.

For example, if you’re checking your email, you’ll see actions to reply or flag emails on the Touch Bar. Image editing apps might let you trip or crop with a touch. And a calculator will display the standard adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing symbols.

Try using different apps and watch how the Touch Bar changes to match them.

This Apple Support page shows which buttons pop up when you select a file in Finder (including Preview and Share) and when you view a picture in the Photos app (including Rotate and a slider to quickly navigate through photos).

apple macbook pro touch bar — Apps have specific Touch Bar commands.
AP

An advantage of the Touch Bar is its ability to customize which buttons appear. For app-specific functions, you can customize the buttons to include commonly used tasks. To change your Touch Bar’s settings, open System Preferences, select “Keyboard” and the “Keyboard” submenu afterward, then choose and adjust among the variety of customizable options available for the Touch Bar.

And if something appears on the Touch Bar that you want to save for later, you can take a screenshot of just the Touch Bar.

The Control Strip

While the buttons located in the center of the Touch Bar will change depending on the app you’re using, the Control Strip, which is located on the right side, doesn’t change. Here, you’ll find buttons to activate Siri and adjust settings like brightness and volume. To expand the Control Strip, tap the left facing arrow button.

In the expanded view of the Control Strip, you can also adjust keyboard brightness, control video or music playback (with pause, play, rewind, and fast forward buttons), and more.

Macbook Pro with touch bar — Once you get used to it, the Touch Bar is easy to use.
Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

The function keys

Function keys (F1 to F12) are standard on most keyboards, meaning that you’ll likely still need them.

For Macs with a Touch Bar, the function keys are accessed via the Touch Bar. To find them, press and hold the Fn key or Globe key (whichever one you have) on your keyboard.

If this doesn’t work, go to your Mac’s keyboard preferences to ensure this shortcut is enabled. You can find your keyboard preferences in the “System Preferences” app.

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December 12, 2020

How to cut videos in a VLC media player and create new videos by deleting sections you don’t want

macbook laptop using keyboard — It’s easy to cut video using VLC.
belchonock/Getty Images

To cut videos in VLC, you can use VLC’s recording feature to create an entirely new video file.
If you want to cut out multiple clips, you’ll have to either make multiple new video files, or skip around the video while it’s recording.
Both the Mac and PC versions of VLC let you cut videos by recording them.
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You might know VLC as a free, open-source media player – it’s a streamlined program that’s easy to use and plays nearly every type of video under the sun. This makes it a popular tool for anyone who watches videos on their computer.

And although the app is mostly made for watching videos, you can edit videos in several ways too. One of these ways includes cutting smaller clips out of a larger video.

What might otherwise require a paid video editing program can be done in seconds for free with VLC.

The only caveat is that you can’t stop the recording and then start it again in another spot without making multiple video files. You can, however, skip around the video however you like while it’s recording – the new file will record your skips exactly.

How to cut video in VLC on a PC

1. Start VLC and open the file you want to cut into one or more clips.

2. In the menu bar, click “View,” and then in the drop-down menu choose “Advanced Controls.” You should see a new toolbar appear at the bottom of the window, which includes a red record button.

How to cut video in VLC 1 — The Advanced Controls includes a Record button and a Frame-by-Frame button, both of which will be handy for cutting video.
Dave Johnson/Business Insider

3. Position the video at the point you want to start the cut.

4. Click the red Record button in the new toolbar.

How to cut video in VLC 2 — When you click the Record button, it’ll light up.
Dave Johnson/Business Insider

5. Click the Play button until you reach the end of the clip you want to cut. You can also use the Frame-by-Frame button to the right of the Record button in the new toolbar.

6. When you reach the end of the sequence you want to cut out, click the record button again to stop the recording. You can also skip to another part of the video if you’d like to save another clip in the same file.

7. After a moment, the clip should appear in your computer’s Videos folder. It’ll have the same name as the original video, with “vlc-record-” and the current date added to the start of the filename.

To find your Videos folder, open a Windows Explorer folder and go to “This PC” in the navigation pane on the left. There you’ll see your user folders, including Videos. You can also go into VLC’s “Preferences” menu to change this location.

How to cut video in VLC on a Mac

1. Start VLC and open the video that you want to cut.

2. Head to the point in the video where you want to start your clip.

3. In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click “Playback,” and then click “Record.”

How to cut video in VLC 3 — You can also press Option + Command + R to start and stop recording.
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4. Start playing the video again. Play it until the point you want to end your cut, and then click “Record” again in the menu bar. Or, if you’d like to include another clip in the same file, you can skip to the start of that clip and keep recording.

5. Once you click “Record” the second time, your new video will be saved to your Mac’s “Movies” folder. It’ll be named “vlc-record,” followed by the date, time, and the video’s original title.

You can find the “Movies” folder by clicking the name of your computer in the Finder’s sidebar, followed by “Macintosh HD,” then “Users,” then your account name, and then “Movies.” You can also change where your recordings are saved through VLC’s “Preferences” menu.

How to cut video in VLC 5 — You might have to navigate through a few different folders to find your Movies.
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Related coverage from Tech Reference:

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December 10, 2020

How to use AirPlay on a Roku player to stream content from an Apple device

woman watching tv looking through content on phone — It’s easy to stream music, movies, and shows from your Apple device to your Roku with AirPlay.
recep-bg/Getty Images

You can use AirPlay to stream content to your Roku from an Apple device.
AirPlay and Roku are compatible on most media apps, like Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Spotify, Apple Music, and more.
Before you use AirPlay, make sure your Apple device and Roku device are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, and check that your Roku TV has AirPlay turned on.
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AirPlay, a useful casting feature on Apple products, allows you to cast media from your Apple device to many different Roku models. That means that you can display videos, photos, and other media on your TV, even if the casting feature isn’t working or isn’t available.

Not every Roku device supports AirPlay. If you want to use it, you’ll need a supported model:

Roku TV models Axxxx, Cxxxx, CxxGB, or 7xxxx
Streambar model 9102
Smart Soundbar models 9100 or 9101
Roku Ultra models 4640, 4660, 4662, 4661, 4670, or 4800
Roku Premiere models 3820, 4620, or 4630
Streaming Stick models 3810 or 3811

Of course, you’ll also need an Apple device that supports AirPlay, which is any iPhone, iPad, or iTouch running iOS 12.3 or later, or any Mac computer running MacOS Mojave 10.14.5 or later.

How to use AirPlay on your Roku

1. Make sure your Apple device is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Roku TV.

2. Check that AirPlay is turned on on your Roku device:

In the Roku home menu, scroll down to Settings.
In the Settings menu, scroll down and select “Apple AirPlay and HomeKit.”

How_to_use_Airplay_on_Roku_ _7 — Go to “Apple AirPlay and HomeKit.”
Melanie Weir/Business Insider

Ensure that AirPlay is set to “On.”

How_to_use_Airplay_on_Roku_ _9 — Set AirPlay to “On.”
Melanie Weir/Business Insider

3. On your Apple device, find the song, video, photo, podcast, or other media you’d like to stream to your TV.

4. The next step changes depending on what app you’re trying to stream from. Here are some of the most common examples:

On Spotify:

1. Tap the “Devices” button in the bottom left corner of the screen.

How_to_use_Airplay_on_Roku_ _1 — On Spotify, tap the “Devices” icon.
Melanie Weir/Business Insider

2. In the “Listening On” menu, tap “AirPlay or Bluetooth.”

How_to_use_Airplay_on_Roku_ _2 — Tap “Airplay or Bluetooth.”
Melanie Weir/Business Insider

3. Tap the name of your Roku TV.

How_to_use_Airplay_on_Roku_ _3 — Tap the name of your TV.
Melanie Weir/Business Insider

On the Photos app:

1. Tap the “Share” button in the bottom left corner.

How_to_use_Airplay_on_Roku_ _4 — Tap the “Share” button.
Melanie Weir/Business Insider

2. Scroll down on the Share menu until you see AirPlay, and tap it.

3. Tap the name of your TV in the pop-up.

How_to_use_Airplay_on_Roku_ _5 — Scroll down and tap “AirPlay.”
Melanie Weir/Business Insider

On the Apple Music app:

1. Tap the AirPlay button at the bottom center of the screen (the icon looks like three concentric circles with a triangle underneath).

How_to_use_Airplay_on_Roku_ _6__1_ — Tap the AirPlay button at the bottom of the screen.
Melanie Weir/Business Insider

2. Tap the name of your device.

On Hulu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, and other mobile streaming apps:

1. On the mobile app, begin playing the video you want to watch.

2. Tap the AirPlay icon on the top of the video screen (the icon looks like a square with a triangle underneath it).

hulu airplay — Tap the AirPlay icon.
Grace Eliza Goodwin/Business Insider

3. In the pop-up, select your Roku device from the list of compatible AirPlay devices.

Unfortunately, you can no longer use AirPlay to stream content from Netflix.

Troubleshooting tips

If you’re having trouble and your Roku device isn’t displaying on the AirPlay menu, try these troubleshooting tips:

Make sure your Roku device is one of the models listed at the beginning of this article.
Make sure your Apple device is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your TV.
Make sure AirPlay is turned on on your Roku device.

Related coverage from Tech Reference:

Read the original article on Business Insider