¶ macOS Big Sur
¶ Operating Systems
There’s a moment that many longtime Mac users remember vividly: the first time they saw macOS Big Sur. It wasn’t just another system update—it was a shift. A familiar world suddenly felt fresher, smoother, more spacious. The icons were softer, the colors brighter, the shapes more refined. The whole interface seemed to breathe differently. Big Sur wasn’t only an operating system; it was a statement about where the Mac was heading, a bridge between decades of tradition and a new chapter powered by Apple silicon.
This course of one hundred articles is an invitation to explore macOS Big Sur in a way that goes beyond the surface, beyond the menus, beyond the glossy marketing. It’s a chance to understand how the system thinks, why certain changes matter, what’s happening beneath the fluid animations, and how you can use this OS with a sense of confidence and insight. Big Sur marked a turning point in Apple’s software history, and studying it closely helps you understand not only the Mac, but the broader arc of modern computing.
To appreciate Big Sur, you have to understand the environment it entered. macOS Catalina had introduced major shifts—dropping 32-bit applications, strengthening system security, and redefining app permissions. But Catalina still carried the design language that macOS had relied on for many years. The visual transition from Yosemite through Catalina had been gradual, a slow evolution rather than a leap.
Big Sur changed the tempo. It introduced a new design vocabulary—one that echoed iOS and iPadOS without mimicking them outright. Transparent layers, soft shadows, increased spacing, rounded corners, refreshed icons, consistent shapes, and cleaner typography. Every part of the system felt like it had been dusted off and polished. It was Apple’s way of preparing the Mac for a future where its hardware and software would be more unified than ever.
The timing makes sense when you consider what was happening behind the scenes. Apple was preparing to move the Mac away from Intel processors and toward its own Apple silicon chips. Big Sur would be the first macOS version to run natively on the new M1 architecture. This wasn’t a small transition—it was monumental. The last time Apple had changed CPU architecture, from PowerPC to Intel in 2006, the shift reshaped the entire Mac ecosystem. With Big Sur, the company was doing something similarly bold, but with modern expectations for performance, battery life, and compatibility.
Because of this, Big Sur carries a particular energy. It’s both forward-looking and respectful of the Mac’s past. It speaks both to long-time Mac users and to those who may be approaching the platform for the first time because of the hype around Apple silicon. In a sense, it’s the first macOS version designed for a new generation of Macs—sleek, efficient, responsive machines where software and hardware blend almost invisibly.
This course aims to guide you through that world at a steady, thoughtful pace. You’re not just going to learn how to use macOS Big Sur—you’re going to learn how to understand it.
The journey begins with the visual layer, because that’s what everyone notices first. Even if you’ve used Macs for years, Big Sur changes the emotional landscape of the interface. The menu bar floats more lightly on the screen. The Dock has a gentler presence. Icons embrace depth without feeling gaudy. Windows are more translucent, with frosted layers that hint at what’s beneath while keeping focus on what matters. Buttons often reveal themselves only when needed, reducing clutter and easing your attention.
This design isn't mere ornamentation—it reflects a shift in how Apple wants you to interact with your Mac. The system encourages focus, calmness, and a kind of visual breathing room. It prioritizes content over chrome. As you explore this course, you’ll learn how every design choice aligns with the deeper mechanics of Big Sur: improved performance, more flexible animation frameworks, unified design principles across Apple platforms, and a renewed emphasis on clarity.
But Big Sur isn’t just about aesthetics. Under the hood lies an expanded system for privacy and security. The OS isolates more system components, strengthens permissions, expands transparency around data access, and enforces stricter rules about what apps can do behind the scenes. Apple continues to move toward a world where macOS inherits the security philosophy of iOS—without sacrificing the openness that many Mac users value. Understanding this balance is crucial. This course will help you navigate those changes thoughtfully, so you understand not only how to manage permissions, but why certain prompts and restrictions exist in the first place.
Another defining feature of Big Sur is the Control Center. Borrowed from iOS but re-imagined for the Mac, it offers a centralized place to adjust key settings without diving through menus. It may seem like a simple convenience, but it’s actually a deeper reflection of Apple’s long-term aim: harmony between devices. Big Sur is a bridge that lets macOS embrace efficiencies learned from mobile design while keeping the power and flexibility of a desktop OS. You’ll learn how the Control Center integrates with system preferences, how to customize it, and how it affects your workflow.
Big Sur also redefines the role of Notification Center, merging notifications and widgets into a single, cleaner vertical space. Widgets are more visually consistent and more useful, and the system encourages you to build a dashboard that feels personal. Notifications themselves are smarter and easier to manage. This course will explore how these interactions shape your daily computing rhythm, and how you can tailor notification behavior to reduce distractions without missing important information.
Safari receives one of the largest updates in Big Sur. The new version is faster, more energy efficient, and more privacy-focused. The start page is customizable. Tabs are more compact. Tracking prevention is more thorough. Safari’s translation tools open new doors, and extensions take on a more meaningful role. When you study Safari as part of this course, you’ll learn more than shortcuts; you’ll understand why Apple invests so heavily in its browser, and how it has become one of the Mac’s most powerful tools.
Messages also gains significant improvements. For years, the Mac version lagged behind its iOS counterpart. Big Sur changes that. Effects, pinned conversations, Memoji editing, group threading—these features bring Messages on macOS in line with the version people use on their phones. This course will explore how Apple rebuilt Messages on a more modern framework, how the new features work, and how Messages fits into Apple’s broader ecosystem goals.
Maps, too, receives a major overhaul. Faster rendering, curated guides, more detailed views, indoor maps for airports and malls, and thoughtful new navigation tools. These changes aren’t simply cosmetic; they reflect Apple’s attempt to turn Maps into a truly cross-platform experience that feels equally powerful everywhere.
One of the most important areas you’ll explore in this course is the way Big Sur adapts to Apple silicon. This is not just a matter of performance—though performance improvements are striking. It’s also about architecture. Big Sur introduces Rosetta 2, a translation layer that allows Intel apps to run on Apple silicon machines with surprising smoothness. You’ll learn how Rosetta works, when it’s used, and what it means for developers and regular users.
This course will also examine the deeper parts of macOS that many users never think about: the filesystem, system extensions, the SIP framework, kernel-level security adjustments, the role of notarization, the new virtualization paths, and system volume sealing. These concepts may sound intimidating, but they will be presented in a calm, approachable way. The aim is not to overwhelm but to help you gain a quiet understanding of how macOS Big Sur keeps your system stable and safe.
Time Machine also evolves in Big Sur, adopting APFS for backups to provide faster, more efficient incremental saves. You’ll explore this new backup framework, understand how it improves reliability, and learn how to maintain healthy backup habits over time.
Because apps sit at the center of everyday computing, a significant portion of this course will also examine the role of universal apps—apps that run natively on both Apple silicon and Intel Macs. Universal binaries reflect Apple’s attempt to smooth the transition between architectures. They also reveal a lot about how modern macOS software is built, packaged, and optimized.
You’ll also explore how Big Sur handles system updates. Apple has reworked the update process to make it faster and less intrusive, sealing system files and pushing updates in a more modular fashion. These changes can feel almost invisible when everything works smoothly, but understanding them helps you appreciate the engineering behind the scenes.
As we go deeper, the course will guide you through workflows, customization, keyboard shortcuts, power management, accessibility tools, Finder optimizations, Spotlight capabilities, and troubleshooting techniques. Big Sur offers small touches that make life easier—previewing files with Quick Look, managing multiple desktops with Mission Control, using AirDrop between devices, synchronizing content with iCloud Drive—each of these has layers of depth worth exploring.
One of the most understated strengths of macOS Big Sur is how seamlessly it interacts with other Apple devices. This course will cover features like Handoff, Universal Clipboard, Continuity Camera, and Sidecar. These aren’t gimmicks; they represent Apple’s vision of a continuity-driven ecosystem, where your devices reinforce each other rather than exist in isolation.
Big Sur also rethinks how developers build apps for macOS. With the arrival of SwiftUI, Catalyst, and enhancements to Xcode, the line between macOS and iPadOS apps grows thinner. Understanding these frameworks gives you insight into why macOS looks and behaves the way it does today—and where it’s heading.
By the time you reach the later sections of this course, you’ll have a comprehensive view of macOS Big Sur. You’ll understand the philosophical shifts that guided its creation: clarity, consistency, predictability, and a future shaped by Apple silicon. You’ll understand how Big Sur transforms old workflows into smoother ones, how it balances openness with safety, how it respects the heritage of macOS while gently nudging the platform toward its future.
And perhaps most importantly, you’ll understand what it feels like to use Big Sur—not just how to navigate it, but how to make it your own. An operating system is more than its features. It’s the environment in which your digital life unfolds. Big Sur offers a space that feels serene, fluid, and carefully considered. It invites focus, creativity, and a sense of modernity without losing the soul of the Mac.
¶ macOS Big Sur
¶ Beginner Level
1. Introduction to macOS Big Sur
2. What’s New in macOS Big Sur
3. System Requirements for macOS Big Sur
4. Installing macOS Big Sur
5. Setting Up Your Mac for the First Time
6. Navigating the macOS Big Sur Interface
7. Understanding the Dock
8. Using the Menu Bar
9. Overview of System Preferences
10. Customizing Your Desktop
11. Working with Finder
12. Managing Files and Folders
13. Using Spotlight Search
14. Introduction to Siri on macOS
15. Setting Up User Accounts
16. Understanding iCloud Integration
17. Syncing Data Across Apple Devices
18. Basic Security Settings
19. Installing and Uninstalling Apps
20. Using Safari: The Basics
21. Sending Emails with Mail
22. Managing Calendar Events
23. Using Maps on macOS
24. Introduction to Messages and FaceTime
25. Basic Troubleshooting Tips
¶ Intermediate Level
26. Mastering Finder: Advanced Tips
27. Using Tags for File Organization
28. Customizing Finder Preferences
29. Working with Multiple Desktops (Spaces)
30. Using Mission Control
31. Keyboard Shortcuts for Productivity
32. Managing Notifications
33. Using Handoff Between Devices
34. Setting Up Family Sharing
35. Managing Storage with Optimize Storage
36. Using Time Machine for Backups
37. Understanding FileVault Encryption
38. Configuring Firewall Settings
39. Managing Network Connections
40. Using AirDrop for File Sharing
41. Printing and Scanning with macOS
42. Using Preview for PDFs and Images
43. Editing Photos with Photos App
44. Creating Notes with the Notes App
45. Using Reminders for Task Management
46. Introduction to Automator
47. Creating Basic Workflows with Automator
48. Using Terminal: Basic Commands
49. Understanding File Permissions
50. Managing Startup Items
¶ Advanced Level
51. Deep Dive into macOS Big Sur Architecture
52. Understanding the Unix-Based Foundation
53. Exploring the File System Hierarchy
54. Advanced Terminal Commands
55. Writing Shell Scripts
56. Customizing the Terminal Environment
57. Using Homebrew for Package Management
58. Managing Kernel Extensions
59. Understanding System Processes
60. Monitoring System Performance
61. Using Activity Monitor
62. Diagnosing and Fixing Disk Issues
63. Repairing Permissions and Disk Errors
64. Advanced Networking Configuration
65. Setting Up a VPN
66. Configuring a Proxy Server
67. Using SSH for Remote Access
68. Setting Up a Local Web Server
69. Advanced Security Features
70. Managing Keychain Access
71. Using Privacy Controls
72. Enabling and Using Screen Sharing
73. Creating a Bootable macOS Installer
74. Dual Booting macOS and Windows
75. Using Virtual Machines on macOS
76. Advanced Automator Workflows
77. Integrating Third-Party Apps with Automator
78. Scripting with AppleScript
79. Developing Apps with Xcode
80. Understanding macOS APIs
81. Debugging Apps on macOS
82. Using Console for Log Analysis
83. Customizing the Login Screen
84. Modifying System Preferences via Terminal
85. Creating Custom Keyboard Shortcuts
86. Advanced Safari Features and Extensions
87. Using Developer Tools in Safari
88. Managing Fonts on macOS
89. Customizing System Sounds
90. Advanced iCloud Configuration
91. Using iCloud Drive for Collaboration
92. Managing Shared Folders and Permissions
93. Setting Up a Home Network with macOS
94. Using macOS as a Media Server
95. Advanced Time Machine Configurations
96. Recovering Data from Backups
97. Troubleshooting Kernel Panics
98. Resolving Boot Issues
99. Reinstalling macOS Without Losing Data
100. Exploring Future macOS Updates and Trends