Navigating in The Dock and on The Finder on The Mac, Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Hello Techstravaganza friends,

Siena provided a wonderful tutorial of navigating both the Doc and the Finder on the Mac this afternoon! Have a listen at the following link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5RmWYTsj1he2YUmjOOtpvh

Show Notes

Mac Finder Tutorial: Navigating the Dock

Siena demonstrated how to access and navigate the Mac Dock using VoiceOver.

• Details
  • Siena: Explained that the Dock can be accessed from any application using Control-Option-D (VO-D).
  • Siena: Demonstrated navigating the Dock using VO-Right Arrow and VO-Left Arrow, noting that VoiceOver announces the app name, number of new items, and position (e.g., “Mail, 2 of 42”).
  • Siena: Showed that single or multiple-letter navigation (e.g., typing “C” then “L” for Clock) can be used to jump quickly to a specific Dock item.
  • Siena: Noted that the Finder icon is always first and cannot be moved, and the Trash is always last and cannot be moved or deleted.
  • Siena: Explained that a separator divides applications from folders on the Dock.
  • Siena: Noted that unlike iOS devices (which allow only 5–7 Dock icons), the Mac Dock can hold as many icons as desired; she had 42.
• Conclusion
  • The Dock is navigable via keyboard shortcuts and letter-based navigation.
  • The Finder and Trash icons have fixed positions on the Dock.

Mac Finder Tutorial: Removing Apps from the Dock

Siena demonstrated how to remove applications from the Dock.

• Details
  • Siena: Navigated to an app (e.g., GarageBand), pressed Control-Option-Shift-M to open the context menu, down-arrowed to the Options submenu, right-arrowed to open it, and pressed Enter on “Remove from Dock.”
  • Siena: Demonstrated removing GarageBand, Brave Browser, VLC, and Riverside Studio from the Dock.
  • Roueida: Asked where removed apps go; Siena clarified they remain in the Applications folder and are not deleted from the Mac.
  • Siena: Noted that pressing Command-Shift-A opens the Applications folder to access removed apps.
• Conclusion
  • Removing an app from the Dock does not uninstall it; it remains accessible via the Applications folder (Command-Shift-A).

Mac Finder Tutorial: Adding Apps to the Dock

Siena demonstrated how to add applications from the Applications folder to the Dock.

• Details
  • Siena: Navigated to the Applications folder using Command-Shift-A, found the desired app (e.g., Dice World) using multi-letter navigation, and pressed Control-Command-Shift-T to add it to the Dock.
  • Siena: Acknowledged the shortcut is complex (“finger gymnastics”) and introduced Sticky Keys as an alternative — pressing Shift five times to enable Sticky Keys, then pressing each modifier key (Control, Command, Shift, T) one at a time.
  • Ivy Matouk: Asked whether Sticky Keys needed to be configured in Settings; Siena confirmed it is available by default on Mac (pressing Shift five times toggles it), but on iPad/iPhone it must be enabled in Accessibility Settings under Motor > Keyboard.
  • Ivy Matouk: Asked how to turn Sticky Keys off; Siena confirmed pressing Shift five times again toggles it off.
  • Roueida: Suggested a more ergonomic approach — holding Command and Control with the right hand, and pressing Shift and T with the left hand — which Siena found more comfortable and adopted.
  • Ivy Matouk: Noted that sighted users simply drag apps to the Dock with a mouse; Siena confirmed this and noted the keyboard shortcut is the VoiceOver-accessible equivalent.
  • Ivy Matouk: Asked about the difference between adding to the Dock versus the Desktop; Siena explained it is a matter of personal preference and that the Desktop is better suited for temporary files.
• Conclusion
  • The shortcut to add an app to the Dock is Control-Command-Shift-T.
  • Sticky Keys (toggled by pressing Shift five times) simplifies complex multi-key shortcuts.
  • Roueida’s ergonomic tip: use the right hand for Command and Control, and the left hand for Shift and T.

Mac Finder Tutorial: Where Is My Ride App

A brief discussion arose about the “Where Is My Ride” app visible on Siena’s Dock.

• Details
  • Roueida: Asked what the app was.
  • Siena: Explained it is an adaptive transportation tracking app specific to Hamilton, Ontario, which notifies users when their ride is approaching (up to 30 minutes in advance).
  • Siena: Noted the app was designed for iPhone but runs on her M1 Mac (2020 or later) because Apple Silicon Macs can run some iOS apps.
  • Roueida: Mentioned there may be a similar app for adaptive transport in Quebec and expressed interest in exploring it.
  • Siena: Described the account setup process (passenger number and password) and noted that users can check rides on behalf of friends.
• Conclusion
  • The app is Hamilton-specific but illustrates the capability of M1 Macs to run select iOS apps.
  • Roueida planned to inquire about a similar service in Quebec.

Mac Finder Tutorial: Finder Menus and Keyboard Shortcuts

Siena walked through the Finder menu bar to highlight key keyboard shortcuts.

• Details
  • Siena: Demonstrated accessing the menu bar with VO-M (Control-Option-M) and navigating menus with arrow keys.
  • Siena: Highlighted shortcuts from the File menu: Command-N (new Finder window), Command-Shift-N (new folder), Command-O (open), Command-W (close window), Command-I (get info), Command-D (duplicate), Command-Delete (move to trash), Command-E (eject external drive).
  • Siena: Highlighted shortcuts from the Edit menu: Command-C (copy), Command-V (paste), Command-Option-V (move/paste and remove from original location), Command-Z (undo), Command-Shift-Z (redo).
  • Siena: Highlighted shortcuts from the View menu: Command-1 (icons), Command-2 (list — recommended for VoiceOver users), Command-3 (columns), Command-4 (gallery).
  • Siena: Highlighted shortcuts from the Go menu: Command-Shift-F (Recents), Command-Shift-O (Documents), Command-Shift-D (Desktop), Command-Option-L (Downloads), Command-Shift-H (Home folder), Command-Shift-C (Computer), Command-Shift-R (AirDrop), Command-Shift-I (iCloud Drive), Command-Shift-A (Applications), Command-Shift-U (Utilities), Command-Up Arrow (enclosing folder).
  • Siena: Recommended using List View (Command-2) for VoiceOver users as it allows simple up/down arrow navigation.
• Conclusion
  • The Finder menus display all available keyboard shortcuts, making memorization optional.
  • List View is the recommended Finder view for VoiceOver users.

Mac Finder Tutorial: Copying, Moving, and Pasting Files

Siena demonstrated how to copy, move, and paste files and folders within the Finder.

• Details
  • Siena: Demonstrated copying a file using Command-C and pasting a copy to a new location using Command-V.
  • Siena: Demonstrated moving a file (removing it from the original location) using Command-Option-V instead of Command-V.
  • Siena: Showed how to open multiple Finder windows (Command-N) and switch between them using the VoiceOver Window Chooser (Control-Option-F2-F2).
  • Siena: Demonstrated selecting multiple files using Shift-Down Arrow.
  • Siena: Noted that applications cannot be moved out of the Applications folder to the Desktop (the system requires a password and may produce errors); only copies can be made.
  • Siena: Demonstrated undoing actions using Command-Z and confirmed the undo history is accessible via the Edit menu.
  • Siena: Showed how to create a new folder using Command-Shift-N, rename it by typing immediately after creation, and open it with Command-O.
  • Siena: Demonstrated navigating back to a parent folder using Command-Up Arrow.
  • Siena: Demonstrated permanently deleting a file using Command-Option-Delete (bypasses Trash) versus Command-Delete (moves to Trash).
• Conclusion
  • Command-C / Command-V copies a file; Command-Option-V moves it.
  • Applications should be copied rather than moved from the Applications folder.
  • Command-Shift-N creates a new folder; Command-Up Arrow navigates to the enclosing folder.

Upcoming Session Announcements

Siena outlined the schedule for upcoming Techstravaganza sessions.

• Details
  • Siena: Confirmed that August 5 would feature a tutorial on setting up an iPhone from scratch with VoiceOver.
  • Siena: Announced that August 7 (first Friday of the month, 7–9 PM) would be a Techstravaganza Extra session covering Google Meet, noting that VoiceOver accessibility bugs in Google Meet have been largely resolved.
  • Siena: Clarified that Techstravaganza will remain on Zoom; the Google Meet tutorial is intended to prepare participants in case they are invited to Google Meet sessions.
  • Siena: Noted that Techstravaganza Evenings (formerly Techstravaganza 2.0) takes place on the second Thursday of each month from 7–9 PM.
  • Siena: Reminded participants that all workshops are recorded and available as podcasts.
• Conclusion
  • August 5: iPhone setup from scratch with VoiceOver.
  • August 7: Google Meet tutorial (Techstravaganza Extra).
  • Techstravaganza Evenings: second Thursday of each month, 7–9 PM.
  • The Mantis Q40 tutorial is postponed to a future date.

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