20 Tips to Use Apple Pages on Mac That You Must Know

Apple Pages is a word processing tool developed by Apple Inc. (For example, Microsoft has Microsoft Word); the Apple Pages app runs on iOS and macOS operating systems. It is an easy-to-use application that allows users to create documents on their devices. Users can write simple articles, use Apple page templates, or create stunning documents with great graphics. For most users to get the most out of this free word processor,

we have compiled the 25 best tips to use Apple Pages for Mac like a pro that everyone must know. Now, Even more stunning with Universal Control in MacOS Monterey or later updates. [Edit or Add content from Another side by Mac, MacBook, Or iPad]. I hope this tutorial will be useful for Students, business users, and All guys who are Looking for Microsoft Word alternatives on Mac.

Best Tips to Use Apple Pages on Mac

1. Track Word Count

1. One of the best means to track progress is to keep track of the word count. In Pages, it is easy to do so.
2. Just click View > Show Word Count [Shift + Command + W] to see the tracker at the bottom of the page’s screen.

Open pages app click view select Show Word Count on mac
Select documents folder to select pdf choose insert on mac
Click view select Show Word Count on mac
Click on 294 words on mac

2. Track the Changes made to the Document

If one is sharing their Pages app documents with a team, they can use the Track Changes feature to detect changes. This feature makes collaboration seamless. To track changes in composition, one needs to click Edit > Track Changes.

Open pages click edit select track changes on mac

It makes it easy to view all changes made to a page document. All changes are tracked and shown in the toolbar at the top of the document.

Click on particular word easy to changes made to a page document on mac
Click on accept on macClick on accept on mac
Click edit select turn off tracking on mac
Choose Accept All Changes on mac

3. Easily customize the Pages toolbar

A Cool trick on Pages is easily customizable to fit the workflow and project requirements with just a few simple tweaks. The Pages toolbar is also customizable as per the requirements with specific controls and tools.

1. To do this, click View > Customise Toolbar!

Open pages app click view select Customize Toolbar.. on mac

2. Here, one can easily add, remove, or change available tools on the toolbar by simply dragging and dropping. Click on Done.

Click on toolbar select done button on mac

Adding hyperlinks to the document makes it stand out from the rest. The addition of hyperlinks is a simple process; all one needs to do is click Format > Add Link.

Select particular word on mac

One can add a hyperlink to web pages, emails, and bookmarks in this manner.

Select particular word on mac

5. Add custom shapes to the library

The addition of custom shapes is great for creating visuals like graphs, call-outs, and more in the document. One can also create a shape which they can then add to the custom shape library. If the person has to add a custom shape to the library, they need to press control + click, then click on Save to My Shapes. One can also give it a name of their choice.

Select shape icon in pages app on mac
To a shape add custom shape to the library on mac

6. Choose a Default template in Apple’s Pages for easy document creation

If there is a document type one often uses, they can set it as their default template. It will help to get back to work faster. All one needs to do is Open Pages and click Pages > Preferences, then click Use Template.

Click pages select settings... on mac

It will automatically select the blank template.

Click general tab check Use template- click on change template on mac

If one wishes to use a different template, one needs to click Change Template.

Click on AI Templates to blank select choose on mac

7. Reduce documents file size

Large documents which include high-quality images and videos can be reduced in Pages. It is recommendable as it will help in keeping critical content alive. To reduce documents file size, one needs to click File > Reduce File Size,

Click file select Reduce File Size.. on mac
select the correct adjustments in pages on mac

then select the correct adjustments. One can also scale down large images, remove trimmed parts of videos and audio.

8. Customize auto-correction settings

Certain words are refinable by auto-correct. One can customize the auto-correction settings in Pages to avoid making these changes over and over again. All one needs to do is click Pages > Settings…> Auto-Correction.

Click pages select settings... on mac
Select Auto-Correction click on Ignored Words... in pages app on mac

Here, one can add ignored words, change capitalization rules and do a lot more to fit their preferences.

9. Easily arrange images

The creation of visual documents like newsletters, flyers, and others requires images. In Pages, one can arrange them to best fit one’s design preferences. To do so, all one needs to do is, upload the image (s) they wish to work with, then click Arrange in the right toolbar.

Click media select choose option on mac
Click download option select image choose insert on mac
Click on drag the image on mac
Click on format in pages app on mac
Click on style under the format section on mac
Click on image under the format section on mac
Select arrange under the format section on mac

Here, one can also change the size, alignment, text wrapping, and so on.

10. Limit layout and design arrangements in during collaboration 

When working with colleagues, sharing copies of one’s documents using formats other than Pages is better. Pages help one to save documents in multiple formats such as Microsoft Word and others. When drafting a document, it is better to limit layouts and design arrangements. One needs to apply header, body, and caption styles and do not need to worry about the final look of the document. When one is ready to publish their work, they can use Pages to make the document look attractive by updating the applied styles.

Click share icon select Invite with Link on mac
Click on to icloud select Copy Link on mac
sharing copies of one's documents format on mac & iPhone

11. Save Pages document as a Word file

It is easier to share documents when saved as Word files. All one needs to do is click File > Export To > Word > Next. Give the document a name, save it somewhere, and then click Export. One can save the document as a Word document.

Click file select export to then word... on mac

Save into Docx and Doc [Word 2097 to Word 2004] format.

Click on Export Your Document to save on mac

Click next to save.

12. Use list formats to organize ideas

When mapping out ideas for a report, an essay, or something else, it is advisable to open Pages and type out one’s thoughts in single paragraphs without worrying about the sequence or hierarchy.

Click on bullets & lists to select list styles options on mac

After one has finished the list, one can use the Text Inspector in Pages to apply for bullets or numbers.

13. Apply style sheets (Pages) to take advantage of automated formatting

When working in Pages, applying a title, heading, or body gives one an efficient way to reformat texts in long documents. Go to Insert > Table of Content [Document, Section, No Text Occurance] In Pages

Click insert select table of contents to document on mac

using Styles enables one to build a Table of Contents that automatically adds page numbers. The page numbers also keep on updating as the document grows and changes.

14. Do not optimize media in a working document

A media-heavy document in Pages will have a large file size. One can optimize the document by using the Reduce File Size command. But it would be ill-advised to optimize a working document. Once a document is optimized, it will be impossible to enlarge pictures without losing image quality.

Click file to advanced then select change file type to Single File on mac

15. Use page layout mode carefully

The page layout mode in Pages is better when working with single-sheet design or multiple-page documents where the text does not flow across pages. Creating posters, brochures, and newsletters is relatively straightforward in Pages. In-Page, Layout mode offers the easiest way to position text and graphics, File > Convert to Page Layout.

Click file select Convert to Page Layout on mac
Select Convert on mac


However layout mode is not the best if the text is flowing across several pages.

16. Add photos and movies to Pages documents

As Pages connects to Apple core technologies for handling audio, video, and images, any media added to Pages is processed quickly. One will not suffer from lags even when they scroll and edit. Pages also create ePUB files that play audio and video.add-photo-and-video-in-pages-on-mac

To add on Page Document, Copy media file from finder on Mac and Directly paste in to Document.

17. Define capitalization

In Pages, it is easy to change capitalization. In the Text pane of the Format sidebar, next to the buttons for Bold, Italic, and Underline. There is the option for capitalization.

Click format icon select style to pages app on mac
Click more text options to capitalization select none option on mac

One can easily change to upper case and then back to lower case with ease.

18. Apply styles with a keyboard shortcut

One can apply styles easily by pressing the Function keys. In the sidebar, one needs to click the downward-pointing disclosure triangle next to the style name, then gently hover to the right of the style one wants to associate with a Function key. Then click the rightwards pointing chevron that appears, and pick a Function key under Shortcut in the pop-out menu.

19. Define text styles

Styles make our documents look more consistent. So, it is necessary to deal with styles that include collections of characters like font and line spacing, among other things that define what a text of a text looks like.

20. Configure live word and character count

Pages have a live word count. It is activable from the View menu button. After it is showing, one can click it to see other statistics about the text. change-word-count-location-on-document-in-pages

One can also drag the word count anywhere on the page, and it will snap to the horizontal center.

21. Adjust the spacing between characters

One can easily tweak the spacing for a word or more from the cog menu next to the Bold, Italic, Underline buttons in the Format toolbar. change-text-style-in-pages-on-mac

It is something that professional designers often do.

22. Pasting text from a web page without formatting

One can easily copy text from a webpage. All one needs to do is select the required text and press Command-C. With the text on one’s clipboard, it’s ready to paste into Pages. One can also press Command-V in Pages, and any text on the clipboard will paste, retaining the type attributes.

23. Know when to reduce file size in Pages

Suppose a document is eating up storage space. Then one can choose File > Advance > Reduce File Size. It will go immediately downsample any large media files.

24. Quickly get rid of Snap Guides

Pages use Snap Guides to help one line up different elements. Snap Guides are the yellow lines that make everything look better. But if anyone wants to override Snap Guides in Pages quickly, all they need to do is hold down the Command button when moving an item to remove Snap Guides temporarily.

25. Password Protection

On-Page, one can password-protect their files. One can access the Password via File > Set Password. It is great if one wants to share confidential documents.

Click file select set password... on mac
Enter password to select Set Password on mac

Apple Pages is an easy-to-use application that allows users to create documents on their devices quickly. It comprises various Apple-designed templates and includes themes like letters, resumes, posters, and outlines. To make the best use of this application, we hope the tips mentioned above will work wonders for you.

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Karly Wood

Karly Wood is a journalist based in Ohio who specializes in covering Apple and technology trends. With a varied experience in reporting on public safety, government, and education, her insights bridge multiple disciplines, providing readers with a well-rounded perspective on today's technological advancements. If you need to contact me, you can reach me at [email protected] or through (Facebook)

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