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MAC OS QA

Latest macOS 15 Sequoia
The latest macOS version is macOS 15 Sequoia (released September 16, 2024). Apple releases a new macOS version every year, before October. Major macOS releases are announced at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June.

macOS Sequoia 15.2 Released - What's New? (Apple Intelligence)

Basic macOS Questions

1. What is macOS?

  • macOS is Apple’s Unix-based operating system for Mac computers.

2. How do you check the macOS version?

  • Apple Menu > About This Mac or run sw_vers in Terminal.

3. What is Spotlight?

  • A search utility for finding files, apps, and performing quick calculations (Command + Space).

4. What is Finder in macOS?

  • Finder is the file manager used to browse and manage files, folders, and devices.

5. What is the current file system in macOS?

  • APFS (Apple File System), optimized for SSDs and flash storage.

6. How do you show hidden files in Finder?

  • Press Command + Shift + . (period) or run the Terminal command:
    defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE; killall Finder

7. How do you force quit an application?

  • Use Command + Option + Esc to open the Force Quit menu.

8. What is the role of the Dock?

  • The Dock provides quick access to frequently used applications, files, and folders.

9. How do you access System Preferences?

  • Click the Apple Menu > System Preferences.

10. How do you rename a file or folder?

  • Right-click on the file or folder, select Rename, or press Return after selecting it.

Intermediate macOS Questions

11. What is System Integrity Protection (SIP)?

  • SIP restricts root-level access to critical system files for security.

12. How do you reset NVRAM/PRAM?

  • Hold Command + Option + P + R during boot until the chime sounds twice.

13. How do you reset the SMC?

  • For Intel Macs:
    • Shut down the Mac, hold Shift + Control + Option + Power for 10 seconds, then release and turn it on.

14. What is Time Machine?

  • A built-in backup solution that creates incremental backups.

15. How do you enable SSH on macOS?

  • Go to System Preferences > Sharing and enable Remote Login.

16. What is FileVault?

  • Full-disk encryption to protect user data.

17. How do you repair a disk in macOS?

  • Use Disk Utility > First Aid.

18. What is Gatekeeper?

  • A security feature that restricts app installation to verified sources.

19. How do you manage startup applications?

  • System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items.

20. How do you uninstall an application?

  • Drag the app to the Trash or use Terminal:
    sudo rm -rf /Applications/<AppName>.app

Advanced macOS Questions

21. What is Rosetta 2?

  • A translation layer that enables Intel-based apps to run on Apple Silicon Macs.

22. How do you create a bootable macOS USB installer?

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ <version>.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/<USBDriveName>

23. What is a Configuration Profile?

  • A file used to configure system settings like VPN, Wi-Fi, and restrictions.

24. How do you reset the Keychain?

  • Open Keychain Access > Preferences > Reset My Default Keychain.

25. How do you check logs in macOS?

  • Use the Console app or run:
    log show

26. How do you flush DNS in macOS?

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

27. How do you check disk usage in macOS?

  • Use the df -h command in Terminal.

28. How do you find the macOS serial number?

system_profiler SPHardwareDataType | grep "Serial Number"

29. What is the difference between a .DMG and .PKG file?

  • DMG: Disk image for installation.
  • PKG: Installer package for deployment.

30. How do you disable SIP?

  • Boot into Recovery Mode, open Terminal, and run:
    csrutil disable

Scenario-Based Questions

31. A Mac won’t boot. What steps do you take?

  • Boot into Safe Mode, use Disk Utility in Recovery Mode, reset NVRAM, and check hardware diagnostics.

32. A user is unable to connect to Wi-Fi. How do you troubleshoot?

  • Forget and reconnect to the network, reset the network interface, or test with another network.

33. A macOS app keeps crashing. How do you fix it?

  • Update the app, check logs in Console, and reinstall if needed.

34. How do you troubleshoot kernel panics?

  • Check hardware, update macOS, remove conflicting drivers, or review logs.

35. A user forgot their password. How do you recover it?

  • Use Recovery Mode to reset the password or reset it using Apple ID.

Command-Line Focused Questions

36. How do you list all mounted disks?

diskutil list

37. How do you check macOS uptime?

uptime

38. How do you kill a process in macOS?

kill <PID>

39. How do you monitor CPU usage in Terminal?

top

40. How do you check connected USB devices?

system_profiler SPUSBDataType

Security Questions

41. What is the macOS Keychain?

  • A tool for securely storing passwords and sensitive information.

42. How do you encrypt an external drive?

  • Right-click the drive in Finder and select Encrypt.

43. What are macOS system extensions?

  • Modern alternatives to kernel extensions, running in user space.

44. How do you manage updates in macOS?

softwareupdate --list
softwareupdate --install <update>

45. How do you enable a firewall in macOS?

  • Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Firewall.

Miscellaneous

46. How do you create a symbolic link in macOS?

ln -s <target> <link>

47. What is the role of .plist files?

  • They store configuration settings for apps and the system.

48. How do you run macOS in verbose mode?

  • Hold Command + V during boot.

49. How do you troubleshoot a slow Mac?

  • Use Activity Monitor, clear caches, reduce startup items, and reset NVRAM/SMC.

50. How do you enable Remote Desktop?

  • System Preferences > Sharing > Remote Management.

Additional Questions

51. What is Handoff in macOS?

  • A feature that allows seamless activity continuation between Apple devices.

52. How do you access Recovery Mode?

  • Hold Command + R during boot.

53. How do you monitor network activity?

  • Use the Network Utility or Activity Monitor’s Network tab.

54. How do you take a screenshot in macOS?

  • Use Command + Shift + 3 (full screen) or Command + Shift + 4 (selected area).

55. What is Migration Assistant?

  • A tool to transfer files and settings from another Mac or PC.

Some Important Commands for MAC OS

General System Commands

  1. Check macOS version:

    sw_vers

  2. Check system uptime:

    uptime

  3. Restart Finder:

    killall Finder

  4. View running processes:

    ps aux

  5. Force quit an application:

    killall <application_name>

Disk and File System

  1. Check and repair disk permissions (macOS pre-Catalina):

    diskutil repairPermissions /

  2. Check disk status:

    diskutil list

  3. Repair a disk:

    diskutil repairDisk /dev/diskX

  4. Check disk space:

    df -h

  5. Search for large files:

    sudo find / -size +500M

Network Troubleshooting

  1. View network configuration:

    ifconfig

  2. Ping a website:

    ping -c 4 <hostname>

  3. Test DNS resolution:

    nslookup <hostname>

  4. View open network connections:

    netstat -an

  5. Flush DNS cache:

    sudo dscacheutil -flushcache
sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

System Logs and Activity

  1. View system logs:

    log show

  2. Real-time log monitoring:

    log stream

  3. Launch Activity Monitor from the terminal:

    open -a "Activity Monitor"

  4. Check kernel logs:

    dmesg

Startup and Boot Issues

  1. Boot into Safe Mode:

    • Restart the Mac and hold down Shift until you see the Apple logo.

  2. Reset NVRAM/PRAM:

    • Restart the Mac and hold down Option + Command + P + R for about 20 seconds.

  3. Reset SMC (System Management Controller):

    • Follow Apple’s specific steps for your Mac model (guide here).

System and Process Information

  1. List all installed applications:

    ls /Applications

  2. List all loaded kernel extensions:

    kextstat

  3. View CPU usage:

    top -o cpu

  4. List startup items:

    ls /Library/StartupItems
ls ~/Library/LaunchAgents

  5. Rebuild Spotlight index:

    sudo mdutil -E /

Package Management (Homebrew)

  1. Update Homebrew:

    brew update

  2. Search for a package:

    brew search <package_name>

  3. Uninstall a package:

    brew uninstall <package_name>

User Management

  1. Create a new user account:

    sudo dscl . -create /Users/<username>
sudo dscl . -create /Users/<username> UserShell /bin/bash
sudo dscl . -create /Users/<username> RealName "User Name"
sudo dscl . -passwd /Users/<username> <password>
sudo dscl . -append /Groups/admin GroupMembership <username>

  2. List all user accounts:

    dscl . list /Users

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