For many people, their Mac is the central hub of their digital life.

Thankfully, macOS has multiple features and tools to help you keep everything organized.

Here, we’ll cover six tips to help you get started.

Two Macs and a MacBook on a desk

Two ways you might manage your files include using Stacks and folders.

macOS will automatically group files based on what throw in of content is on your desktop.

The same goes for documents and other types of files.

Stacks on macOS desktop

So,use Stacks to keep your desktop organized.

When it comes to folders, you might use them to organize files on a broader scale.

Using folders can be suitable if you want to organize documents by a specific category or topic.

Folders on macOS desktop

Folders have been around for decades and are still just as helpful.

Use Tags in Finder

Another way to organize individual documents is by assigning Tags in Finder.

Of course, you’re able to also create a custom Tag.

Tags in macOS Finder

you could accessLaunchpad on your Macfrom the Dock or Applications folder in Finder.

you’re able to arrange the most used applications from left to right on the Dock.

You ideally want only your most frequently used apps in the Dock.

Launchpad in macOS

The first one is Stage Manager, a feature Apple introduced alongside macOS Ventura.

Stage Manager can help you if you often switch between multiple applications that you use together.

It can even help you focus on your content by minimizing distractions.

The dock in macOS

If you knowhow to use Stage Manager, you might improve your tool workflow without installing a third-party tool.

Other third-party tools are also available, such as BetterSnapTool, Mosaic, and HazeOver.

To learn more about these window management tools, refer to our article on thebest Mac window management tools.

Stage Manager juggling Photos Asana Finder and Chrome on the desktop

Over time, your needs will also change for what you need access to on your SSD.

A great place to store content while still having access to it wirelessly is iCloud Drive.

However, if cloud storage isn’t appealing, an external drive might be a viable option.

iCloud Drive in Finder

External drives with at least 1TB of storage are plentiful and relatively affordable.

A physical drive can also be helpful if you want to offload multiple large files.

Organizing your Mac is just the first step to being more productive.

photo of a woman using an external hard drive with their computer