Clean up the Mac desktop

The Desktop is the first thing you see when the PC is started. This is where every use of the device begins and often ends there. So nice if there aren’t dozens of files and programs mixed up here. This way you can get started on the device quietly.

Are there unnecessary documents and files on the Desktop? Go through it carefully and delete files or move them to another place. It is best not to have documents and files on the Desktop. This makes the computer slower. A shortcut to a folder, file or document is not a problem, if you do not find it cluttered.

Discard a document or file if you no longer want to use it.

• Right-click on the file or program.
• click on Move to Trash.

Move a document or file to a place in the Finder. This frees up space on the Desktop, and the documents and files are stored where they belong.

• Open the Finder. It’s the smiley face icon on the Dock.
• Go to the place where you want to save the file or program.
• On the Desktop, click the file or program icon.
• Hold down the mouse button and drag the icon to the correct spot in the Finder.

A folder is a convenient place to store files that belong together. But folders belong in the Finder. Would you like a folder on the Desktop? Then move it to the Finder first, then create a shortcut from the Finder to it on the Desktop. Then the folder is always accessible on the Desktop, but it does not cost extra storage space.

The icons of folders, apps and files on the Desktop can be sorted according to your own wishes. For example, put them in alphabetical order. Move folders and files manually by clicking and holding the mouse button and dragging the icons. But there’s also a neat trick to sorting the desktop icons by the device.

• Right-click anywhere on the Desktop.
• click on sort on.
• Choose how the icons should be sorted. For example, click Name, Kind, Edit date, Creation date, Size or tags.

The Mac automatically sorts the icons in the chosen way.

Are the icons on the desktop too small or too big? Adjust the size of the icons to make it easier for you:

• Right-click anywhere on the Desktop.
• A menu appears. Click on at the bottom of this menu Show display options.
• A new window opens. Move the pointer on Symbol Size left or right to make the icons smaller (left) or larger (right).
• You can immediately see what happens to the icons on the Desktop. Satisfied? Close the window with the red ball at the top left.