Apple MB543LL-A User Manual
MacBook Air
Essentials
Contents
4 Chapter 1: MacBook Air at a glance
4 Say hello to MacBook Air
5 Take a tour
6 What’s included
6 Keyboard
7 Trackpad
8 Use an external display
9 Charge the battery
10 Chapter 2: Get started
10 Set up
11 Find your way around
14 Quickly open apps
15 Split View
15 Search with Spotlight
16 Access all your content anywhere with iCloud
17 Use your MacBook Air and iOS devices together
20 AirDrop
20 AirPrint
21 AirPlay
22 Migrate your data
23 Back up and restore
24 Chapter 3: Apps
24 About apps
25 Safari
26 Mail
27 Notes
28 Messages
29 Calendar
30 Photos
31 iTunes
32 FaceTime
33 Maps
34 iBooks
35 Pages
36 Numbers
37 Keynote
38 iMovie
39 GarageBand
41 App Store
2
42 Chapter 4: Explore MacBook Air
42 Get answers in Mac Help
43 Learn more
44 Chapter 5: Safety, handling, and support
44 Important safety information
46 Important handling information
47 Understanding ergonomics
48 Learning more, service, and support
49 FCC regulatory compliance
50 Canadian regulatory compliance
51 Europe—EU Declaration of Conformity
51 ENERGY STAR® Compliance Statement
51 Apple and the environment
51 Disposal and recycling information
52 Software License Agreement
Contents 3
MacBook Air at a glance
1
Say hello to MacBook Air
Take a look around. Want a quick intro to the features (ports, connectors, accessories) of your
MacBook Air? Go to the next section, Take a tour.
Get started. Press the power button on the keyboard of your MacBook Air, follow the Setup
Assistant prompts, and you’re up and running. For details, see Set up and Migrate your data.
Stay in sync. Access your documents, photos, music, apps, contacts, and calendars across all your
devices with iCloud. And use your MacBook Air with your iOS devices to make and receive phone
calls and texts, or create an Instant Hotspot. Learn more in Access all your content anywhere with
iCloud and Continuity overview.
Unleash your creativity. Plan events and share info and photos with Notes; organize and listen to
music, books, movies, and more with iTunes; create presentations with Keynote; and check out all
the apps available on the App Store, to express yourself in as many ways as you have ideas.
Dig deeper. Explore your MacBook Air and get your questions answered. Go to
Get answers in Mac Help.
4
Take a tour
USB 3
3.5 mm headphone jack
Thunderbolt 2
Power buttonFaceTime HD camera
The 13-inch MacBook Air has the following features built in:
MagSafe 2
•
MagSafe 2 power port: Charge your computer. If you accidentally trip over the power cord, it
Dual microphones
cleanly detaches.
•
USB 3 ports: Transfer data, connect USB 2 and USB 3 devices, and more.
•
3.5 mm headphone jack: Plug in stereo headphones or a digital 5.1 surround-sound speaker system
and experience high-quality sound while watching movies or listening to your favorite music.
•
Dual microphones: Talk with friends or record audio.
SDXC card slot (13-inch model only)
•
SDXC card slot: Transfer photos and videos from your digital camera. The SDXC card slot is
USB 3
available on the 13-inch model only.
•
Thunderbolt 2 port: Transfer data at lightning-fast speeds, and connect a display such as the
Apple Thunderbolt Display.
Note: You can use the cable that came with your camera or a USB card reader to transfer photos
and videos to your 11-inch MacBook Air.
Multi-Touch trackpad
•
FaceTime HD camera: Make FaceTime video calls or take pictures and video. If the light is
glowing, the camera is on. For more information, see FaceTime.
•
Power button: Press and hold for three seconds to turn your MacBook Air on or o, or press to
put it to sleep.
•
Multi-Touch trackpad: Use the Multi-Touch trackpad for precise pointer control. It supports
inertial scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three-nger swipe, four-nger swipe, tap, double-tap, and
drag capabilities. For more about using gestures, see Trackpad.
Chapter 1 MacBook Air at a glance 5
What’s included
Power button
Function keys (F1 to F12)
To use your MacBook Air, you need these two accessories, included in the box:
45W MagSafe 2 Power Adapter: To charge your MacBook Air, use the
included power adapter. Make sure the AC plug is fully inserted into
the power adapter and the electrical prongs on the AC plug are fully
extended, then plug the adapter into a power outlet. The magnetic
connector helps guide the plug into the port and disconnects easily.
When the adapter is connected, an LED on the magnetic connector lights
up. An amber light shows that your MacBook Air is charging, and a green
light shows that it has a full charge.
AC power cord: To extend the reach of your power adapter, attach the
included AC power cord. Then plug the three-prong end of the AC power
cord into a power outlet.
Adapters and other accessories are sold separately at apple.com or your local Apple Store.
Be sure to review the adapter or accessory documentation to make sure you’re choosing the
right product for your MacBook Air.
Keyboard
The function keys on the keyboard provide shortcuts for common functions, such as increasing
the volume or screen brightness.
Function (Fn) key
•
Power button: Press and hold for 3 seconds to turn your MacBook Air on or o. Press to
put MacBook Air to sleep.
•
Brightness keys (F1, F2): Press or to increase or decrease the brightness of the screen.
•
Mission Control key (F3): Press to view what’s running on your MacBook Air, including all
your spaces and open windows.
•
Launchpad key (F4): Press to instantly see all the apps on your MacBook Air. Click an app
to open it.
Chapter 1 MacBook Air at a glance 6
•
Keyboard illumination keys (F5, F6): Press or to increase or decrease the brightness of
the keyboard.
•
Media keys (F7, F8, F9): Press to rewind, to play or pause, or to fast-forward a song,
movie, or slideshow.
•
Mute key (F10): Press to mute the sound from the built-in speakers or 3.5 mm headphone jack.
•
Volume keys (F11, F12): Press or to increase or decrease the volume of sound from the
built-in speakers or 3.5 mm headphone jack.
•
Function (Fn) key: Each function key (on the top row) can also perform other functions—for
example, the F12 key can open Dashboard. Hold down the Fn key while you press a function
key to trigger the action associated with the key.
To set keyboard preferences, use the Keyboard pane of System Preferences (choose Apple menu >
System Preferences, click Keyboard, then click the buttons at the top to see the available options).
Trackpad
You can do a lot on your MacBook Air using simple trackpad gestures—scroll through webpages,
zoom in on documents, rotate photos, and more.
Here are some common gestures:
Click: Press anywhere on the trackpad. Or enable “Tap to click” in Trackpad
preferences, and simply tap.
Secondary click (right click): Click with two ngers to open shortcut
menus. If “Tap to click” is enabled, tap with two ngers.
Two-nger scroll: Slide two ngers up or down to scroll.
Pinch to zoom: Pinch your thumb and nger open or closed to zoom in or
out of photos and webpages.
Swipe to navigate: Swipe left or right with two ngers to ip through
webpages, documents, and more—like turning a page in a book.
Open Launchpad: Quickly open apps in Launchpad. Pinch closed with
four or ve ngers, then click an app to open it.
Swipe between apps: To switch from one full-screen app to another,
swipe left or right with three or four ngers.
Customize your gestures. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences or click the System
Preferences icon in the Dock, then click Trackpad.
Learn more about each gesture and customize trackpad features in Trackpad preferences.
Chapter 1 MacBook Air at a glance 7
Use an external display
The Thunderbolt port on your MacBook Air supports video output. You can use an external
display, a projector, or an HDTV with your MacBook Air.
To connect Do this
Apple Thunderbolt Display Plug the display’s cable directly into the Thunderbolt
2 port
on your MacBook Air.
DisplayPort or Mini DisplayPort display Plug the display’s cable directly into the Thunderbolt
2 port
on your MacBook Air.
VGA display or projector Use a Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter to connect
the display to the Thunderbolt 2 port
MacBook Air.
DVI display or projector Use a Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter to connect
the display to the Thunderbolt 2 port
MacBook Air.
HDMI display or HDTV Use a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter and an HDMI
cable to connect the HDMI display or HDTV to the
Thunderbolt 2 port
on your MacBook Air.
You can also mirror your MacBook Air screen on a VGA display, or on an HDMI display or TV in up
to 1080p HD. See AirPlay for details.
Adapters and other accessories are sold separately at apple.com or your local Apple Store.
Review the documentation or check with the manufacturer to make sure you choose the
right adapter.
on your
on your
Chapter 1 MacBook Air at a glance 8
Charge the battery
The battery in your MacBook Air recharges whenever the MacBook Air is connected to power.
Charge the battery. Connect your MacBook Air to a power outlet using the included cable
and 45W MagSafe 2 Power Adapter. The indicator light glows amber to indicate the battery is
charging. The battery recharges more quickly when the computer is o or in sleep.
Check the battery’s charge. Look at the battery status icon at the right of the menu bar to see
the battery level or charging status. Click the icon to show how much power you have left if you
keep using the apps, peripheral devices, and system settings you’re now using.
ChargedCharging
Conserve battery power. To extend battery life on a given charge, you can reduce the display
brightness, close apps, and disconnect peripheral devices you’re not using. You can change your
power settings in Energy Saver preferences (click the System Preferences icon in the Dock,
then click Energy Saver). If your MacBook Air is in sleep when a device is connected to it, the
device’s battery may drain.
For more information about the internal, rechargeable battery in your MacBook Air, and for
conservation and performance tips, go to www.apple.com/batteries.
Chapter 1 MacBook Air at a glance 9
Get started
2
Set up
The rst time you turn on your MacBook Air, Setup Assistant walks you through the simple steps
needed to start using your new Mac. If you want to transfer your data from another computer,
see Migrate your data for details.
To get the most out of MacBook Air, be sure to connect to Wi-Fi, turn on Bluetooth® wireless
technology, get an Apple ID, then sign in to iCloud. You can do these steps quickly and easily
with Setup Assistant—but if you want to do them later, here’s how:
Connect to Wi-Fi. Click the Wi-Fi status icon in the menu bar, then choose a Wi-Fi network
and enter the password, if necessary.
Turn o Wi-Fi. Click the Wi-Fi status icon in the menu bar, then choose Turn Wi-Fi O.
Turn Bluetooth on or o. Click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar, then choose Turn
Bluetooth On or Turn Bluetooth O.
Tip: If you don’t see the Wi-Fi status icon or Bluetooth icon in the menu bar, you can add
them. For Wi-Fi, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Network. Click Wi-Fi in the
list on the left, then select “Show Wi-Fi status in menu bar.” For Bluetooth, choose Apple menu >
System Preferences, click Bluetooth, then select “Show Bluetooth in menu bar.”
10
Get an Apple ID. Your Apple ID is the account you use for just about everything you do with
Help menu Menu bar The desktop
Wi-Fi
Apple, including buying or subscribing to music, movies, and TV shows from the iTunes Store,
getting books from the iBooks Store, downloading apps from the App Store, and storing your
content in iCloud.
If you don’t already have an Apple ID, you can create one (it’s free). Choose Apple menu >
System Preferences, click iCloud, then click Create Apple ID.
Set up iCloud on your MacBook Air. With iCloud, you can store all of your content—documents,
movies, music, photos, and more—in the cloud, and access it anywhere you go.
To set up iCloud, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click iCloud. In the window that
appears, enter your Apple ID and password. Then select the features you want to use. To nd out
more, see Access all your content anywhere with iCloud.
Important: Be sure to use the same Apple ID for iCloud on all your devices.
Find your way around
The desktop
The rst thing you see on your MacBook Air is the desktop, where you can organize your les,
quickly open apps, search for anything on your MacBook Air and the web, and more.
Finder icon Dock
System Preferences icon
Tip: Can’t nd the pointer? To magnify it temporarily, move your nger back and forth on the
trackpad. Or, if you’re using a mouse, slide it back and forth.
Chapter 2 Get started 11
Finder
Go to the Finder.
Open System Preferences.
The Finder is an app that’s always open. Use the Finder to organize and nd your les.
Open a Finder window. Click the Finder icon in the Dock at the bottom of the screen.
The Dock
The Dock, at the bottom of the screen, is a convenient place to keep the apps and documents
you use frequently.
Apps go on the left side of the line;
files and folders go on the right.
Open an app or le. Click its icon in the Dock.
Add an item to the Dock. Drag the item and drop it where you want it. Place apps to the left of
the line in the Dock, and les or folders to the right.
Remove an item from the Dock. Drag it out of the Dock. The item isn’t removed from your
MacBook Air—just from the Dock.
Tip: You can make the Dock larger or smaller, add or remove items, move it to the left or right
side of the screen, or even set it to hide when you’re not using it. To change how the Dock looks,
click the System Preferences icon in the Dock, or choose Apple menu > System Preferences.
Then click Dock.
Chapter 2 Get started 12
System Preferences
Search Mac Help.
Open Spotlight.
System Preferences is where you personalize your MacBook Air settings. For example, use
Energy Saver preferences to change sleep settings. Or use Desktop & Screen Saver preferences
to add a desktop picture or choose a screen saver.
Customize your MacBook Air. Click the System Preferences icon in the Dock, or choose
Apple menu > System Preferences. Then click the type of preference you want to set.
Menu bar
Use the menus and icons along the top of the screen to open new windows, connect to a Wi-Fi
network, check your Wi-Fi status , change the volume , check your battery charge , and
perform other tasks.
View Notifications.
Spotlight
Find anything on your Mac—and beyond. Spotlight searches your MacBook Air, as well as
other sources like Wikipedia, Maps, weather, stocks, and sports. For information about what you
can do with Spotlight, see Search with Spotlight.
Chapter 2 Get started 13
Help
Launchpad arranges your apps in
Help for your MacBook Air and OS X apps is always available.
Get help. Click the Finder icon , then click the Help menu and choose Mac Help. Or type in the
search eld and choose a suggestion.
To learn more, see Get answers in Mac Help.
Quickly open apps
Your MacBook Air comes with apps for all the things you love to do—browse the web, check
email, share photos, enjoy movies, and more.
Folder containing apps
Launchpad icon
a grid. Click an app icon to open it.
App Store icon
Open an app. Click an app icon in the Dock, or click the Launchpad icon in the Dock and click
the app you want. You can also search for an app using Spotlight, then open the app directly
from your Spotlight search results.
Organize apps in Launchpad. Launchpad organizes your apps in a grid, similar to iPhone, iPad,
and iPod touch. Drag an app onto another app to create a folder. Drag more apps to the new
folder to add them. To remove an app from a folder, just drag it out.
Get more apps. Click the App Store icon
in the Dock. Apps you download from the App Store
automatically appear in Launchpad. To quickly get updates to apps and OS X, click Updates in
the App Store.
Chapter 2 Get started 14
Split View
Open two apps and
Interact with the
Get weather, stocks, sports,
Use Split View to ll the screen with two apps or two windows from the same app. Click and
hold the Full Screen button in the upper-left corner of a window. As the window shrinks,
drag it to the left or right side of the screen, then click another window to begin using both
windows side by side.
work in them side by side.
To exit Split View, move the pointer to the top of the screen to show the window buttons, then
click the Full Screen button . The other window remains in full-screen view.
Search with Spotlight
Spotlight is an easy way to nd anything on your MacBook Air, such as documents, contacts,
calendar events, and email messages. Spotlight Suggestions oer info from Wikipedia articles,
Bing search results, news, sports, weather, stocks, movies, and other sources.
When you search with Spotlight, the preview area on the right provides search results you can
interact with—make a call, send an email message, play a song, get directions, even convert
currencies. Spotlight can provide answers to math questions or dene words, all on your desktop.
transit info, and more.
preview in Spotlight.
Chapter 2 Get started 15
Search for anything. Click at the top right of the screen or press Command–Space bar, then
start typing.
Preview your results. Click a search result and view it in the preview on the right. Sometimes
that’s all you need to do—click items or links right in the preview. You can also double-click a
result to open it.
Find your les fast. Scroll to the bottom of the results list, then double-click “Show all in Finder.”
Open an app. Type the app name in Spotlight, then press Return.
Turn o Spotlight Suggestions. If you want Spotlight to search only for items on your
MacBook Air, you can turn o Spotlight Suggestions in Spotlight preferences. Click the System
Preferences icon in the Dock, click Spotlight, then click to deselect Spotlight Suggestions.
Make any other changes you want to the list of categories Spotlight searches.
Note: Not all features of Spotlight Suggestions are available in all languages or regions, and
some features may vary by region.
Access all your content anywhere with iCloud
iCloud is the easiest way to make sure all your important content is everywhere you are. iCloud
stores your documents, photos, music, apps, contacts, and calendars, so you can access them any
time you’re connected to Wi-Fi.
An iCloud account is free, and it comes with 5 GB of free storage space. Purchases you make from
the iTunes Store, App Store, or iBooks Store don’t count toward your available space.
iCloud also keeps everything up to date on all your devices. So if you have an iPhone, iPad,
or iPod touch, just sign in to iCloud using the same account and you’ll have everything
you need, everywhere.
Chapter 2 Get started 16
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