How to Upgrade to macOS Ventura
Supported OS macOS 13 Ventura (latest release) is the currently supported operating system for school district Macbooks. It's important your Mac stay updated to the latest operating system supported by the district. Software compatibility. Ensure all software used for class works as expected. Security. Apple constantly releases new security pat...
Screen Capture
You may need to take a screen capture (or screenshot or grab; different terms, same idea) of your Apple’s desktop or laptop’s screen. Apple has a screenshot page that lists this info. Here’s the two most basic and commonly-used commands. Copy your entire screen Command-Shift-3 Screenshot of a portion of your screen Command-Shift-4; click and drag...
Install a Printer (Mac)
School Printers School printers are installed on Macs using Self Service. Staff have access to most printers and copiers at their primary building. If a printer does not appear in Self Service, staff can request they be given access by opening a help desk ticket, For example, if a teacher's primary building is Sweeney Elementary and they are teachin...
Fixing Date and Time on Mac
Macs will sometimes lose their date and time settings due to the battery having fully lost its charge. It is common for Macs to be left in cold cars overnight, during practice, or an activity which in turn speeds up how quickly the battery is drained. Mac are designed to be operated between 50-95 degrees F. Please try to avoid leaving them in cold ...
Connect to Network Drives or Shares
There are two common ways to connect to a network drive on a Mac. For the majority of users, the first method through NoMAD will work. For users with additional access to network drives, the second method may be necessary. Delete Local Drive Connections Note that these methods only work on-site or for staff who have been given VPN access and have ...
Restart Your Mac
A common troubleshooting step is to restart your computer. People may joke about "did you try turning it off and on again" as a fix, but that idea sticks around because sometimes (often) it works. School Macs will receive a notification like the one below after it has not been restarted for 10 or more days. Select the Restart button to have the syst...
Mac Adapters, Dongles, and Docks
Newer MacBook Air models (2018 and later) only support USB C connections (in addition to a standard headphone jack). In order to avoid staff purchase of off-brand or untested dongles and peripherals, we will be maintaining and occasionally updating this page to reflect approved adapters. USB C accessories should be approved through technology throug...
Mac Software Updates
Apple Software Updates Apple Software Updates can be installed by any user through System Settings > Software Update. When Self Service detects there's an available update, it will display the Apple Software Updates option. Clicking on it will open the Software Update window. It's the equivalent of going to System Settings > Software Update. O...
Install GarageBand on Mac
Delete App Size Note GarageBand along with additional content is very large - around 5 GB. Before beginning make sure your computer has a reliable network connection and enough free disk space. 1. Open Self Service and search for GarageBand. 2. Select Install. The main GarageBand app will be downloaded and installed. 3. Do not open GarageBand. Basic...
Fix Office for Mac Licensing Issues
Sometimes Office for Mac apps (Excel, Outlook, Word, etc.) have issues with activation or licensing. Follow these directions to run the Self Service troubleshooting tool which fixes the majority of issues. Note, in some cases even after following these steps sometimes apps will still show as unlicensed. If that occurs, please open a help desk ticke...
Mac FileVault 2 Issues
District Macs are encrypted using Apple's FileVault 2 technology. Sometimes if there is an issue with the encryption status or other data associated with your Mac you may receive a notification like the one below. Click the notification and you'll be prompted for your password. Enter your password to update the encryption key and update it with our ...
Allow Screen Sharing and Recording on Mac
Permissions Everyone can complete the steps below. Admin rights are not required. There is a lock icon in the bottom left hand corner which does not need to be unlocked. To share your screen on Mac you need to allow screen recording access. You may see a prompt like this when first trying to share your screen in a video conference like Google Meet. ...
Change Macbook Name
MacBooks need to be on macOS 11 BIg Sur or greater. Please see this article for more information. 1. Open Self Service and search for "Change Computer Name." Click Change 2. A pop-up will appear. Choose your primary location and click Next. 4. Enter your desired name. 3. Once complete, it will give you a success message....
How to Back Up Your Mac
The process of backing up a computer can take anywhere from 30 minutes to multiple hours depending on the amount of files stored on your computer. Make sure you won’t need to physically move the computer until the backup is complete. The recommendation is to back up your files before school starts in order to give yourself enough time. Step-by-step ...