by

Preview App For Mac Sidebar Contents Not Showing

Preview is the default application in macOS for image files, like JPG and PNG, and PDF files. While it's primary purpose offers you a quick and easy way to see various documents, it has several pretty cool editing and markup features you may not even be know are there.

How to view photos and PDFs in Preview on Mac

On your Mac, click the Finder icon in the Dock to open a Finder window. Do any of the following: Search for a tag: Enter the tag color or name in the search field, then select the tag from the suggestions. Select a tag in the sidebar: To see everything with a certain tag, click the tag in the Finder sidebar.

Preview is the default app for viewing images and PDF files on your Mac. So, any time you double-click on, or otherwise launch, one of those files, it'll open in Preview.

If, for some reason, another app has taken over responsibility for a certain file type, and you want to give it back to Preview, you make the change right in the Finder.

Preview App For Mac Sidebar Contents Not Showing
  1. Right/Control - click on the file you want to open.

  2. Hover on Open With…

  3. Click Preview

How to crop documents in Preview on Mac

Preview can help you do some simple edit your photos and PDFs.

  1. Open the file you want to crop in Preview.
  2. Click the Show Markup Toolbar button. It's the button with the little toolbox icon.

  3. Click, hold, and drag on the file to create a selection.

  4. Click, hold, and drag on any of the blue dots to resize the selection if needed.

  5. Use the Command - K keyboard shortcut to crop the image.

How to show markup tools in Preview on Mac

Preview has several tools to choose from to edit your photos including Selection, Sketch, Text, Color Adjust, and more. You just need to show the Markup Toolbar to see them all.

  1. Open the file you want in Preview.

  2. Click the Show Markup Toolbar button. It's the button with the little toolbox icon.

How to highlight PDFs in Preview on Mac

  1. Open the PDF you want to highlight in Preview.
  2. Click the Highlight button.
  3. Select the text you want to highlight.

  4. Repeat as necessary.

How to annotate a document in Preview on Mac

Preview can allow you do various different types of annotations to documents, so whether you're going through a draft of a proposal or marking papers, you can make all the notes and marks you want.

  1. Open the file you want to annotate in Preview.

  2. Click Tools in the top menu bar.

  3. Hover over Annotate

  4. Click on the type of annotation you wish to perform.

From here you have a few options of what you can do, here's a quick breakdown.

Highlight Text

Allows you to highlight any selected text.

Underline Text

Allows you to underline any selected text.

Strike Through Text

Allows you to strike through any selected text.

Rectangle

Places a rectangular on the document, which you can move around and resize.

Oval

Places an oval on the document, which you can move around and resize.

Line

Places a line on the document, which you can move around and resize.

Arrow

Places an arrow on the document, which you can move around and resize.

Polygon

Places a Polygon on the document, which you can move around and resize.

Star

Places a Star on the document, which you can move around and resize.

Text

Places a Text box on the document.

Speech Bubble

Places a Text box on the document, which you can type a message inside the bubble.

Preview App For Mac Sidebar Contents Not Showing Iphone

Mask

Places a layer mask on the document, so you can make a passage stand out.

Loupe

Creates a magnifying circle, perfect for calling out small icons.

Preview App For Mac Sidebar Contents Not Showing Computer

Note

Creates a note, so you can leave comments.

How to add your signature to a document in Preview on Mac

If you ever type up letters or need to sign a digital contract you can save your signature in Preview and then add it to any document you want. You can add your signature using a the trackpad or even using the built-in camera.

Here’s how. Disconnect phone from facetime app on mac.

Oct 18, 2019  Open the App Store app on your Mac. Click Updates in the App Store toolbar. Use the Update buttons to download and install any updates listed. When the App Store shows no more updates, the installed version of macOS and all of its apps are up to date. That includes Safari, iTunes, iBooks, Messages, Mail, Calendar, Photos, and FaceTime. To automatically install macOS updates, select “Automatically keep my Mac up to date.” To set advanced update options, click Advanced, then do any of the following: To have your Mac check for updates automatically, select “Check for updates.” To have your Mac download updates without asking, select “Download new updates when available.”. Press the power button and hold down the Shift key to start the Mac up in Safe Mode. Open App Store and update your apps while in Safe mode. Here's how to use Safe Mode on a Mac. Mac app stuc in pasued update. Apr 30, 2019  If you have stuck downloads in the Mac App Store or updates that won’t start, cancel them and try starting them again. Often, this will be enough to fix the problem. For whatever reason, the request for the update or the app ends up in a loop request that times out. The store app shows that it’s loading when in fact, nothing is happening.

  1. Open the file you want to sign in Preview.
  2. Sign your name on a piece of white paper

  3. Click the Show Markup Toolbar button. It's the button with the little toolbox icon.

  4. Click the Sign button.

  5. Click Camera

  6. Hold that **signed paper* up to the camera.

  7. Click Done.

  8. Click your signature.

  9. Reposition and resize the signature to your liking

How to share documents from Preview on Mac

  1. Open the file you want to share in Preview.
  2. Click the Share button.

  3. Choose the option you want. Your choices include:

    • Mail
    • Messages
    • AirDrop

    • Notes

Questions?

Anything else you'd like to know about Preview? Let us know in the comments below.

macOS Catalina

Main

We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

Us-only

Apple's $500 million batterygate settlement now live, here's how to claim

Eligible users can now apply to receive a cash payment from Apple as part of the $500 million settlement for its part in the iPhone slowdown controversy, 'batterygate'.