Glossary, every Mac word, explained simply.
Whenever you hear a Mac word and don't know what it means, look here. Each term tells you what it does and what it was called in Windows.
Apple Menu
The black apple icon at the very top-left of the screen. Click it for sleep, restart, shut down, and System Settings.
Was on Windows: the Start Menu's "Power" button area.
Application (App)
A program, Word, Safari, WhatsApp, ATLAS. All your apps live in the Applications folder.
Was on Windows: a Program in Program Files.
ATLAS
A web browser built around ChatGPT. You use it for asking questions, researching, and getting answers. It's just an app, open it like any other.
Like: Edge or Chrome, but ChatGPT-first.
⌘ (Command Key)
The key with the cloverleaf symbol, used the way you used Ctrl on Windows. ⌘+C copies, ⌘+V pastes.
Was on Windows: the Ctrl key.
Desktop
The screen you see when no apps are open. You can put files and folders here, but try to keep it tidy.
Was on Windows: Desktop (same word, same idea).
Dock
The strip of icons at the bottom of the screen. Click any icon to open that app. Drag apps in and out to keep your favourites handy.
Was on Windows: the Taskbar.
Downloads (folder)
Where every file you download from the internet lands by default. Files saved from WhatsApp, email attachments, they all go here first.
Was on Windows: the Downloads folder (same).
Finder
The app you use to look at all your files and folders. It's always running. Click the smiley-face icon in the Dock.
Was on Windows: File Explorer.
Force Quit
How you close an app that's frozen. Press ⌘+⌥+Esc, pick the stuck app, click Force Quit.
Was on Windows: End Task in Task Manager.
Home Folder
Your personal main folder, has your name on it. Inside live Documents, Downloads, Desktop, Pictures, Music, and more.
Was on Windows: C:\Users\YourName.
iCloud Drive
Apple's cloud storage. Files saved here are also on Apple's servers, so if your Mac breaks you don't lose them. For your case, Google Drive does the same job and works with your Android phone too.
Like: OneDrive on Windows.
Launchpad
A grid showing every app on your Mac. You can also press ⌘+Space and type the app's name, usually faster.
Was on Windows: the Start Menu's All Apps list.
Menu Bar
The thin strip at the very top of the screen. It shows the menus for whichever app you're using right now (File, Edit, View, etc.) plus your battery, Wi-Fi, time, and so on.
Was on Windows: the menus inside each app's window. On Mac, the menus moved to the top.
Preview
The built-in app that opens images and PDFs. You can also crop, mark up, and convert files in it.
Was on Windows: Photos / Adobe Reader / Paint mixed together.
Quick Look
Select any file in Finder and press Space. A preview pops up without opening the app. Press Space again to close.
Was on Windows: the Preview pane in File Explorer (but better).
Spotlight
The Mac's universal search. Press ⌘+Space, type anything, an app, a file, a setting, even maths. Hit Enter to open it.
Was on Windows: the Start Menu / Search bar.
System Settings
Where you change Wi-Fi, sound, display, trackpad, keyboard, and everything else about how your Mac works. Apple menu → System Settings.
Was on Windows: Settings / Control Panel.
TextEdit
Mac's basic text editor. Good for jotting notes. Not as fancy as Word.
Was on Windows: Notepad.
Trash
Where deleted files go. They sit there until you choose Empty Trash. Until then, you can drag them back out.
Was on Windows: the Recycle Bin.