Syncing Home And Office Macs

There are several ways to link a home Mac to an office Mac, depending on your needs and technical expertise. If you're looking for a simple way to access files on your office Mac from your home Mac, you can use cloud storage services like iCloud. By enabling iCloud on both Macs and saving your files in iCloud, you can easily access them from any device, including a Windows PC, as long as you're signed in with the same Apple ID.

Another option is to use remote access methods such as Remote Desktop Software, Remote Management in macOS, Remote Login in macOS, or Screen Sharing in macOS. These methods allow you to control and manage your office Mac remotely from your home Mac or other devices. For example, Remote Desktop Software offers features like file sharing, screen sharing, and remote administration.

Before choosing a method, consider your specific requirements, such as the level of control needed, the number of devices involved, and your technical proficiency. Additionally, ensure that your devices meet the necessary hardware requirements and that you have a stable internet connection.

How to create a hyperlink in Office for Mac

To create a hyperlink in Office for Mac, follow these steps:

• Open Microsoft Word: This can be done by clicking on the "W" icon, which is typically found on the dock at the bottom of your screen. If it's not there, you can use Spotlight Search by pressing Command + Space and typing "Word".
• Select the text or image: Choose the text or image in your document that you want to turn into a hyperlink. You can turn any text or image into a link.
• Open the Insert Hyperlink window: On your keyboard, press ⌘ Command + K simultaneously. This will open the Insert Hyperlink window, where you can create your link. Alternatively, you can click on the "Insert" tab at the top of the screen and then click on the "Link" button in the toolbar.
• Choose the link type: In the Insert Hyperlink window, you will see different options on the left panel, such as "Existing File or Web Page," "Create New Document," "Place in This Document," and "E-mail Address." Select the appropriate option based on what you want to link to.
• Enter the link details: Depending on the type of link you chose, enter the relevant details. For example, if you selected "Existing File or Web Page," enter the URL of the webpage or browse for the file on your computer. If you chose "E-mail Address," enter the email address and subject.
• Customise the ScreenTip (optional): By default, the ScreenTip—the text that appears when you hover over the hyperlink—will be the website address or file path. If you want to change this, click on the "ScreenTip" button in the top-right corner of the Insert Hyperlink window and enter your desired text.
• Save your link: Once you have entered all the necessary details, click "OK" to save your link. To open the link within the Word document, hold Command and click the link.

Remember, you can always edit or remove hyperlinks after creating them. Simply right-click on the hyperlink and select "Edit Hyperlink" or "Remove Hyperlink" from the menu.

How to activate Office for Mac

To activate Office for Mac, you need to ensure that you have redeemed and installed the Office software. If you have done this, you can follow the steps below:

• Click on any Office app (Microsoft Word, Excel, etc.) to start the activation process.
• The "What's New" window will pop open. Click "Get Started" and proceed to sign in.
• Enter the email address associated with your Microsoft 365 for Mac account and click "Next".
• Enter the password associated with the email address and click "Sign In".
• The system will check if you have a valid license, then activate your product.
• Once your product has been activated, click "Start Using" to begin.

If you have multiple licenses, follow the steps in the "Activate with multiple licenses" section.

If you haven't redeemed your product key for Microsoft 365 for Mac, you'll need to do this before trying to activate:

• Go to https://www.office.com/setup.
• Sign in with your Microsoft account, or create one if you don't have one.
• Enter your Office product key, without hyphens.
• Follow the prompts to finish the redemption process.

How to sync files with OneDrive on macOS

Syncing files with OneDrive on macOS is a straightforward process. Firstly, you need to ensure you have a Microsoft account. If you are using OneDrive for personal use, you can create an account for free on the Microsoft OneDrive page, which will give you 5GB of cloud storage. For business use, use your existing work email login.

Once you have an account, download the OneDrive app for Mac from the Mac App Store or the OneDrive download page. If you are an administrator, you can deploy the OneDrive sync app to Mac users in your organisation by downloading the installer package file to your local network and using software distribution tools.

After installing the software, open the app and enter your account email address. Click 'Sign In' and follow the setup assistant, answering questions about your account. You can change the default location of your OneDrive sync folder during setup if needed.

Once set up, you can start using OneDrive to sync your files. Any files added, changed, or deleted in your OneDrive folder will be added, changed, or deleted on the OneDrive website and vice versa. You can also use the Finder feature to rename and delete files, create new folders, and move files around in your OneDrive folder.

OneDrive also offers in-app purchases and the option to upgrade to a Microsoft 365 subscription to access 1 TB of storage and premium Office apps.

How to download, install and activate Microsoft Office 2021 Home and Business for Mac

To download, install and activate Microsoft Office 2021 Home and Business for Mac, follow these steps:

Download:

• Go to Microsoft's website: setup.office.com.
• Create a new Microsoft account or sign in to your existing one.
• Enter the product key provided to you.
• Initiate the download.

Install:

• Once the download is complete, go to Downloads on your Mac and double-click the Microsoft Office installer.pkg file (the name may vary slightly).
• In the next step, read the software license agreement and then click "Continue".
• Select how you want to install Microsoft Office for Mac, review the disk space requirements (change the installation location if necessary), and then click "Install".
• You may also be prompted to enter your Mac login password – this is standard procedure.
• Note: If you want to install only specific Microsoft Office 2021 Home and Business applications and not the entire package, click "Customize" and uncheck the programs you don't want. Office applications include Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, among others.

Activate:

• In the top menu bar, select Finder > Applications and scroll down to the Microsoft Office apps.
• Open any Office app, like Microsoft Word, and in the What's New box that opens, select Get Started.
• On the Sign in to activate Office screen, select Sign in.
• Enter the email address associated with Microsoft 365 for Mac and click Next.
• Enter the password associated with the email address you entered, and click Sign in.
• The system will check if you have a valid license and then will activate the product.
• Note: If you have multiple licenses, follow the steps in the "Activate with multiple licenses" section on the Microsoft Support page.

And that's it! You're now ready to start using Microsoft Office 2021 Home and Business for Mac.

How to remotely access and control a Mac

There are several ways to remotely access and control a Mac from another device. Here are some methods to achieve this:

• Remote Login: This method uses a Secure Shell (SSH) connection, allowing remote access to your Mac from another computer. To set up Remote Login, go to "System Preferences > Sharing" and select "Remote Login." Choose the users who will have remote access and control. You will need your username and computer IP address to remotely log in.
• Apple Remote Desktop: This feature is available on macOS and can be set up by going to "Menu > System Preferences > Sharing" and selecting "Remote Management." You can choose which users have remote desktop access, including the option for "All Users" on your network.
• Screen Sharing: This enables you to control another Mac remotely. You can open, close, and manage files, folders, and apps as if you were using the remote Mac directly. To set up Screen Sharing, open the Screen Sharing app and enter the Apple ID of the person whose screen you want to access. They will receive a notification and can choose to allow you to control their screen or just observe.
• Cloud Drive: You can use iCloud Drive to access your files from any device by storing them in iCloud. Go to "System Preferences > iCloud > iCloud Drive" and ensure that "Desktop & Documents" is selected. This will automatically store your Desktop and Documents folders in iCloud, making them accessible from any device logged in with your Apple ID.
• Google Chrome Remote Desktop: This method uses a Google account and the Chrome web browser. Install the Chrome Remote Desktop extension from the Chrome Web Store and log in to the corresponding Remote app on your iPad or another Mac. This will allow you to remotely access your Mac from any device running Chrome.
• Back to My Mac: If you are using a macOS version prior to Mojave, you can use the "Back to My Mac" feature. Ensure that both Macs are logged into the same iCloud account and have "Back to My Mac" activated in the iCloud pane of System Preferences. Enable File Sharing and/or Screen Sharing in the Sharing pane, and you will be able to access the remote Mac by selecting it in the Shared section of the Finder Preferences.
• Third-Party Apps: There are also third-party apps available for remote access, such as Jump Desktop, Remote Mouse, Screens 4, and Chrome Remote Desktop for iOS devices. These apps offer varying features and pricing plans, so you can choose one that suits your needs.

Remember to always prioritize security when enabling remote access. Consider using a VPN to protect your data, especially when connected to public Wi-Fi networks.

Frequently asked questions