 MacOS

Explains what Apple Intelligence is, the kinds of tasks it can help with, when and how it becomes available on Apple devices, which device models support it, and how Apple handles personal information and privacy. Applies to Bowdoin students, faculty, and staff using an Apple computer, iPad, or iPhone.

Explains how to approve the Mobile Device Management (MDM) profile that completes enrollment of a Bowdoin-issued Mac into the Jamf management solution. Covers opening the device management settings and approving the MDM profile. Applies to Bowdoin-issued Macs.

Explains how to open an app that macOS blocks because it was not downloaded from the App Store or from an identified developer. Covers using the Privacy and Security settings to allow a trusted app to run. Applies to anyone using a Mac.

This article explains the Apple notification that warns users when they have apps installed that will no longer run after upgrading to macOS 28 (Fall of 2027), which drops support for Intel-only (Rosetta 2) apps. It describes what the notification means, which apps may be affected, and what steps Bowdoin clients should take to prepare.

Explains how faculty and staff can use the Privileges app to grant themselves temporary administrator rights so they can run commands that require elevated privileges in Terminal on macOS.

This article explains how to fix a drag-and-drop issue in macOS Tahoe where files cannot be moved from a local folder to OneDrive-redirected folders (such as Documents or Desktop) in the Finder sidebar. The issue occurs when OneDrive's Known Folder Move feature is enabled, causing the original macOS folders to become locked. Resetting the Finder sidebar shortcuts resolves the problem.

Instructions for enabling Find My on a Bowdoin-issued MacBook and iPad mini. Find My allows users to locate, lock, or erase their devices remotely if they are lost or stolen. Covers both macOS Sequoia and current iPadOS.

Troubleshooting steps for a Mac when a printer appears paused, stuck "in use," or will not print new documents. Covers checking printer status, clearing stuck jobs, restarting, power cycling the printer, removing and re-adding the printer, and resetting the printing system as a last resort. Applies to anyone printing from a Mac.

Troubleshooting steps for the Jamf Self Service app on a Bowdoin-managed Mac when an application will not install, keeps showing "Reinstall," or appears stuck. Covers reinstalling, quitting Self Service, and restarting the Mac. Applies to Bowdoin students, faculty, and staff on college-managed Macs.

Explains why macOS repeatedly prompts for a keychain password, which usually happens when the account password no longer matches the login keychain password, and points to Apple's instructions for updating the keychain password or creating a new login keychain. Applies to anyone using a Mac.

Troubleshooting steps for when Bowdoin's Notability license is not recognized on a Mac or iPad. Explains that the license applies only to Bowdoin-issued devices that download Notability from Self Service. Applies to current Bowdoin faculty, staff, and students.

Troubleshooting steps for when Bowdoin's Notability license is not recognized on a Mac or iPad. Explains that the license applies only to Bowdoin-issued devices that download Notability from Self Service. Applies to current Bowdoin faculty, staff, and students.

Explains why sudo permissions fail in Terminal on a Bowdoin Mac when administrator access is requested through the Privileges app after Terminal is already open, and how to fix it by requesting privileges before opening Terminal. Applies to Bowdoin faculty and staff using the Privileges app on a Bowdoin Mac.

Resolves the "This Mac can't connect to iCloud because of a problem" message that can appear when signing in with an Apple Account on macOS. The fix is to sign out of the Apple Account, restart the Mac, and sign back in. Applies to anyone using a Mac.

Explains how to quickly hide desktop items on a Mac or Windows 11 computer for a meeting or screen share. Covers hiding all items, moving items into a folder, tidying with Stacks, and hiding system or device icons. These options change only what appears on the desktop and do not delete files. Applies to college-owned or personal computers.

Explains how to install and use Homebrew, a free, open-source package manager for macOS that simplifies installing software from the Terminal. Covers running the install command, completing the "Next steps" configuration, and installing a package as an example. Applies to anyone using a Mac.

Explains how to install macOS software updates on a Bowdoin Mac, both before you are prompted and after an update prompt appears, including how to defer a prompt and what happens once the update deadline passes. Applies to Bowdoin students, faculty, and staff using a Bowdoin-issued Mac.

Overview of the Jamf Self Service app on Bowdoin-owned Macs and iPads, including where to find it, how to install licensed and free software without administrator access, and how software availability varies by device role and signed-in user. Applies only to Bowdoin-owned and Bowdoin-managed Apple devices.

Instructions for connecting a second display to a Mac and setting it to either extend the desktop for more workspace or mirror the main screen. Covers connecting the display, opening Displays settings, choosing the arrangement, and adjusting resolution. Applies to anyone using a Mac.

Explains how to keep a Mac from going to sleep so that a long-running task, such as an initial Druva inSync backup, is not interrupted. Covers the sleep settings in System Settings under Battery or Energy Saver. Applies to anyone using a Mac.

Instructions for removing custom Domain Name System (DNS) servers on a Mac so it returns to the DNS settings provided automatically by the network. Applies to Bowdoin faculty, staff, and students who are experiencing slow browsing, name-resolution errors, or custom DNS settings that are not compatible with Bowdoin's network, on either Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

Steps to reset the login password of a Bowdoin Mac user account by starting up from macOS Recovery and using the FileVault recovery key. Intended for use when the standard password-reset steps do not succeed. Applies to Bowdoin-owned Macs with FileVault enabled.

Explains the two main ways to right-click on a Mac: holding the Control key while clicking, or enabling secondary click on a Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad in System Settings. Includes animated examples for the Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad. Applies to anyone using a Mac.

Instructions for changing the default location where macOS saves screenshots so that new screenshots are stored in a folder of your choice. Covers creating a folder, setting the save location in the screenshot toolbar, and taking a screenshot. Applies to anyone using a Mac.

A security guide for protecting a personal Mac, covering enabling automatic updates for macOS and web browsers, installing anti-virus software, turning on the firewall, using strong passwords, and locking the screen. Applies to anyone using a personal Mac.

Walks through the first-time setup of a new Bowdoin-issued Mac, from unboxing and connecting to a network through remote management enrollment, Bowdoin sign-in, creating a local account, and choosing display settings. Applies to Bowdoin students, faculty, and staff setting up a new Bowdoin Mac.

Explains how to set up Okta Desktop Password Sync on a Bowdoin Mac so the local computer login password matches the Okta account password. Covers requesting access for older computers, registering through the single sign-on extension, and enabling Okta FastPass. Applies to Bowdoin faculty and staff using a Bowdoin-issued Mac.

Instructions for enabling Touch ID fingerprint authentication on a Bowdoin-issued MacBook Pro, including adding one or more fingerprints and choosing what Touch ID can be used for, such as unlocking the Mac, authorizing installs, Apple Pay, autofill, and as a factor for Okta Single Sign-On (SSO). Applies to Bowdoin faculty, staff, and students with a MacBook Pro that has a Touch ID sensor.

Directs users to Apple's official instructions for signing out of iCloud on an iPad, iPhone, Mac, or Apple Watch, which is required before a Bowdoin-issued device is brought in for service or replacement. Applies to Bowdoin students, faculty, and staff.

Instructions for switching from a Wi-Fi connection to a wired Ethernet connection on macOS or Windows 11, including plugging in the cable, turning off Wi-Fi, and confirming the wired connection is active. A wired connection is often faster and more stable than Wi-Fi. Applies to Bowdoin faculty, staff, and students on campus.

Explains how iCloud Sync keeps Notability notes up to date across a person's Apple devices, how to enable or disable iCloud Syncing, and what happens to local copies when it is turned off. Notes that iCloud Sync is a two-way sync and that notes deleted from iCloud cannot be recovered. Applies to Notability users with an Apple ID and iCloud enabled on at least two devices.

Explains how iCloud Sync keeps Notability notes up to date across a person's Apple devices, how to enable or disable iCloud Syncing, and what happens to local copies when it is turned off. Notes that iCloud Sync is a two-way sync and that notes deleted from iCloud cannot be recovered. Applies to Notability users with an Apple ID and iCloud enabled on at least two devices.

Explains the built-in keyboard shortcuts for taking screenshots on macOS, including capturing the full screen, a selected area, or a single window. Applies to anyone using a Mac.

What to do when the Jamf Self Service app is missing or not working on a Bowdoin-issued Mac. Because reinstalling Self Service requires IT assistance, this article directs users to the Tech Hub or Service Desk. Applies to Bowdoin faculty, staff, and students with a Bowdoin-issued Mac.

Explains how to turn off Find My Mac and sign out of iCloud in macOS, which is required before a Mac is repaired, replaced, or transferred to a new owner. Covers turning off Find My Mac from the iCloud settings and fully signing out of the Apple Account. Applies to anyone using a Mac.

Explains when Information Technology releases new macOS versions to campus, how to prepare a Mac for the upgrade, and how to install the upgrade manually through System Settings. Applies to Bowdoin staff, faculty, and students using a Bowdoin-issued Apple laptop or desktop.

Answers common questions about whole disk encryption at Bowdoin, including why it is required, how it protects data, and the technologies involved (TPM, the Apple T2 chip, BitLocker on Windows, and FileVault on macOS). Also covers what happens if a password is forgotten or a drive fails. Applies to Bowdoin faculty and staff with a Bowdoin-managed computer.

Answers common questions about whole disk encryption at Bowdoin, including why it is required, how it protects data, and the technologies involved (TPM, the Apple T2 chip, BitLocker on Windows, and FileVault on macOS). Also covers what happens if a password is forgotten or a drive fails. Applies to Bowdoin faculty and staff with a Bowdoin-managed computer.

Explains the Privileges app, which lets a standard macOS account temporarily gain Administrator permissions so the user can install or upgrade software that requires admin credentials. Covers installing Privileges from Self Service and requesting temporary privileges. Applies to Bowdoin faculty and staff with a Bowdoin-issued Mac.