Mac Geek Gab — Apple Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting

One Exclamation Point Short


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Ever triggered a hidden Mac feature by accident? This week you’ll find out why a stray backtick fires up the Magnifier in macOS Preview, and how a single screenshot plus built-in OCR can lift text straight out of an image (even if that Wi-Fi password still refuses to cooperate). You’ll grab the trick for sharing your network as a scannable QR code from the Passwords app, learn why YouTube TV blocks video over screen sharing in Chrome while Safari sidesteps it, and untangle guest-mode quirks on Apple Vision Pro. From Touch ID suddenly demanding your password to a backup SSD that swears it’s still In Use, you’ll walk away with the Terminal commands and fixes to set things right.

Then you’ll map your next move off a MacBook Air, weighing an M4 Mac mini against an iMac and stalking the refurb store for the right deal. You’ll set HomeKit lights to fade in with sunrise, audit your Tailscale network for sloppy permissions, breathe easier with a tested air purifier, and give that retired iPad a whole second life. And when something mysteriously stops working, Don’t Get Caught burning two hours blaming software for what turns out to be a cable you quietly swapped out: check your cables first. Hit play, load up on tips, and head into your week a little geekier.

  • 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1147 for Monday, June 22nd, 2026
    • 00:03:35 June 22nd: National Onion Ring Day
    • MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a license to SaneBox
    • Quick Tips
      • 00:00:01 Susan-QT-macOS Preview has a magnifier in Tools > Show Magnifier
      • 00:03:53 Use the backtick to invoke Magnifier in Preview
      • 00:06:15 Dave-QT-Take a picture or screenshot to OCR text within an image
      • 00:11:32 YouTube TV doesn’t allow video when the screen is being shared…in Chrome
        • …But Safari might let it (it certainly does with Fubo)
        • 00:13:29 Screen Mirroring vs. Apple Vision Pro
        • 00:15:21 QT-KiwiGraham-Passwords app allows you to show a QR code of current wifi network
        • 00:17:31 Bill-1146-Why not use the Apple TV app’s download abilities?
        • Sponsors
          • 00:19:41 SPONSOR: Even Realities G2. Use promo code MGG at evenrealities.com to get 10% off Even Ring 1 and/or Even Clip when you add them to your Even G2 order.
          • 00:21:49 SPONSOR: Scribe. Don’t get caught being the only person who knows how something works. For a limited time, book a demo at scribe.how/MGG and mention MGG for your first month of Scribe Capture free.
          • 00:23:52 SPONSOR: NordLayer Browser. The business browser built for how modern work actually happens — giving IT the visibility and control to secure SaaS, stop phishing, and prevent data leaks right at the source.
          • Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared!
            • 00:24:54 Jim-Moving from a MacBook Air to…what next?
              • Set alerts for refurbs at RefurbMe
              • 00:38:14 Joe-HomeKit Light That Fades In and Out
                • Philips Hue Lights
                • Philips Hue Bridge to use HomeKit
                • LIFX Bulbs
                • 00:43:00 MACGEEKGAB to save $50 at Macstock
                • 00:46:32 Richard Davis-Why does Touch ID tell me I need to type my password?
                  • If Touch ID isn’t working on your Mac
                  • 00:50:00 Todd-?-How to eject an SSD backup drive that’s mysteriously “In Use”
                    • sudo mdutil -i off “/Volumes/[Drive Name]”
                    • lsof | grep “[Drive Name]”
                    • Cool Stuff Found
                      • 00:58:52 CSF-Matt from Midlothian-Quip, the clipboard manager, has Capture Text from Screen as a feature
                      • 00:59:39 CSF-Winix 5510 Air Purifier
                      • 01:02:44 Alexander-CSM-Reevio takes stills and turns them into morphed videos
                        • Examples of Adam, Dave, and Pete
                        • 01:07:49 Kent-CSF-DAKBoard1121-Use for an Old iPad – No Coding Required
                        • 01:09:26 Steve-CSF-iFramix – A Frame for your old iPad!
                        • 01:11:38 Johannes-CSF-Super Productivity – Free!
                        • 01:13:04 Arvy-CSF-Tailsnitch does a security audit on your Tailscale Tailnet
                        • Don’t Get Caught
                          • 01:14:20 RollingTux-DGC-Cables are often the Culprit!
                          • 01:16:20 MGG 1147 Outtro
                            • MGG Monthly Giveaway
                            • Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly
                            • Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts)
                            • The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast!
                            • Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts
                            • MGG Merch is Available!
                            • Mac Geek Gab iOS app
                            • Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page
                            • Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar
                            • This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors
                            • MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews
                            • 224-888-GEEK
                            • Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List
                            • BackBeat Media Podcast Network
                            •  

                               

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                              Mac Geek Gab — Apple Tips, Tricks, and TroubleshootingBy Dave Hamilton, Pilot Pete & Adam Christianson

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