Mac 101: how to install applications

I know this may seem like a d’oh entry. But trust me, when I first got my mac, coming in cold from an era of PC installers etc, the simplicity of installing (and uninstalling) applications really threw me offguard.

In any case, here’re some quick step-by-step instructions on how to get those new applications up and running:

Installing applications

1. You’re likely to have downloaded a .dmg file in your downloads folder (or wherever you saved it). double click it to “mount” the .dmg file on your desktop, which should look like this (i’ve changed the icon on .dmg files for my mac but it should state .dmg)

2. Once you double click it, a new finder window displaying the contents of the .dmg file should pop up. looking like this:

drag and drop the application (e.g. dupeGuru ME) into the accompanying Applications folder shortcut. If there is no Applications folder shortcut, don’t panic. just drag and drop the application into your applications folder sitting pretty on the dock.

3. THERE IS NO STEP 3.Ok fine, dismount the .dmg file from the desktop by right clicking and selecting eject. This is more like a 1/2 step.

voila!

Uninstalling applications

1. Open the applications folder. Drag and drop the application to trash. Done and dusted!

There’s a more advanced way of getting rid of your applications together with lurking preference files but that’s for another day. for most of us though, this one-step uninstall serves our purposes!

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