Mac Geek Gab — Apple Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting

Get answers to your Apple tech questions every week! Dave Hamilton, Adam Christianson, and Pilot Pete share tips, tricks, and troubleshooting advice for your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and more — all delivered in a fun, friendly way that helps geeks and everyday users alike. Don’t Get Caught without your tech working right!

Mac Geek Gab — Apple Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting is a technology podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 1,000 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Mac Geek Gab — Apple Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting, a technology show with 1,000 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #1156

  Maslow vs. The Finder

  Aug 24, 20261h 22m

  Ever fire off a text that never actually sent? You’ll learn how to clear those stale unsent iMessages out of the More menu, move your Dock between displays using nothing but your cursor, and set exactly how long you share your location with iOS 27 (anywhere from 15 minutes to 30 days), plus a quiet hide that doesn’t tip the other person off. You’ll also grab videos out of Messages with a simple click-and-drag, and build a TextExpander snippet that pastes as plain text into those maddening web forms that block Command-V in the name of “security.” Then it’s your questions. Why does the Passwords app crawl on one Mac while syncing fine on everything else? And how do you safely peek inside its SQLite database without breaking it? You’ll find out how to get your Recents folder to actually reflect recent, what’s really happening when an app disables TextExpander expansion, where to turn now that MacUpdater’s databases have gone stale, and what your options are when OneNote crashes on launch and holds years of research hostage. Stick around for all three of us on long-term storage: Synology, cloud archives, and the two-layer approach that keeps your irreplaceable stuff off-site. Adam’s the cautionary tale: a migration he was sure he’d finished, a Drobo powered off for a year, and files that aren’t where he swore he put them. Don’t get caught assuming your backup ran. Go check. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1156 for Monday, August 24th , 2026 August 24th: National Waffle Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a license to Yoink, Screenfloat, Transloader, or DeskMat from Eternal Storms Quick Tips 00:00:01 Clifton-QT-Delete Stale Unsent Messages 00:05:08 Jim-QT-Move the Dock between displays with your mouse Disable Click on Desktop to Expose 00:10:00 Pete-Customize Location Sharing in iOS 27 00:13:54 Aron-QT- 1149 -Save iMessage Videos with Click-and-drag 00:14:32 Bruce-QT- 1148 -Setup TextExpander Snippets for Pasting as Text Sponsors 00:19:13 SPONSOR: Gusto . Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at https://gusto.com/MGG 00:20:47 SPONSOR: Hims is changing men’s healthcare by providing convenient, quality care, 100% online. Start your free online visit today at https://Hims.com/MGG . Your Questions Answered – feedback@macgeekgab.com 00:22:29 Bruce-Troubleshooting a slow passwords database Base to open sqlite database SQLite Browser 00:35:03 Jim-How do I get my Recents folder to behave? 00:42:35 Harvey-How to deal with TextExpander stopping expansion 00:48:44 Eric-MacUpdater replacement options? Updatest CleanMyMac’s Application Updater 00:56:25 Heidi-How can I get OneNote to stop crashing without losing all my data? Obsidian 01:06:02 Roy-What are your long-term storage plans? Cloud Backups – BackBlaze , iDrive E2 , iCloud Local Storage – Drobo (RIP), Synology (Adam has DS423+) Hyper Backup and Arq Backup New SuperDuper 4 01:20:30 MGG 1156 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 feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

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  Episode #1155

  When Your Group Chat Tells You to Fork Off

  Aug 17, 20261h 26m

  Command+Comma jumps you straight into any well-coded Mac app’s settings, no menu-hunting required, and Option+Return reveals the formula in any Numbers cell (Command+Return puts the result back). If your cross-platform Logitech keyboard has its Command and Option keys backwards, hold Fn+Shift+O for three seconds to flip the firmware into Mac mode — Fn+Shift+P sends it back to PC. While you’re at it, download the PDF manual for every new piece of gear today and stash it in Books so it syncs everywhere, because that manual won’t be on the manufacturer’s site three years from now. You’ll also hear why Siri AI in the iOS 27 betas is genuinely iterative: you can follow up, edit, and append without starting over. Plus the best quick tip anyone’s sent in: go listen to the old episodes. Then you’re into your questions. Skipping Tahoe on your way to Golden Gate? You pay the re-indexing tax either way, so make the one jump instead of two. You’ll get the cable-bag answer (mesh zipper pouches you can see through, plus a slim organizer case that slides in next to your laptop), the 4K travel monitor that earns its space, and how one listener had Claude Cowork build an exhaustive Mac migration checklist. You’ll hear why consolidating into a single password manager makes your next nuke-and-pave dramatically less painful, and whether an app that vets every link before you click it could actually exist, because knowing where a link really goes is how you Don’t Get Caught. Plus: build and sideload your own single-use iOS apps for free with your Xcode personal team (AltStore and Sideloadly make it stick), why Messages keeps splitting your family group thread and what actually works, and a long-overdue robot mower update covering stereo vision versus LiDAR, all-wheel drive, and what your yard size really costs you. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1155 for Monday, August 17th , 2026 August 17th: Black Cat Appreciation Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a license to Yoink, Screenfloat, Transloader, or DeskMat from Eternal Storms The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Christopher-QT-Command+Comma gets to App Settings NOW! 00:03:50 Wayne-QT- 1151 -Option+Return in Numbers shows Formula for current cell 00:05:21 Jimmy-QT-Use Fn+O to switch a Logitech Keyboard into Mac mode Bonus Quick Tip: System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts… > Modifier Bonus Bonus QT: Download PDFs of your user manuals and save them in Books (which syncs!) 00:11:26 Paul-Siri AI is transformative and iterative, even with local apps 00:15:16 Pilot Pete-If you’re on the iOS 27 Betas: Settings > Siri > Try Siri AI Beta 00:21:47 Joe-QT-The Best Quick Tip Ever…Listen to old episodes! Sponsors 00:24:09 SPONSOR: Helix Sleep makes premium mattresses and bedding that are customized to fit your personal needs, and conveniently shipped to your door. Go to https://helixsleep.com/MGG for 27% Off Sitewide. 00:25:50 SPONSOR: Shopify . If you’re ready to stop putting off your business and start selling, sign up for your free trial and start selling today at https://Shopify.com/MGG Your Questions Answered – feedback@macgeekgab.com 00:27:18 Harvey-Long Jump to Golden Gate or Tahoe First? 00:30:48 Rod-Which cable organizer bags do you use? Mesh Zipper Pouches Cable organizer travel case ViewSonic VX1655-4K 00:40:15 Alexander-Using Claude Cowork to build a Mac migration checklist 00:42:58 Patrick-QT- 1154 -Using a password manager makes Nuke-and-Pave simpler 00:48:14 Clif-What about an app that checks every link I click? 00:53:57 Joe-Can I create my own single-use iOS apps without paying for a developer account? 00:58:59 Kim-Why Messages is Splitting Groups and What to do about it? Cool Stuff Found 01:05:48 ATC-Altstore or Sideloadly AltStore Sideloadly 01:09:24 Robot Mowers Revisited eufy Robot Mower e15 – $1,199.99 Segway Navimow i215 LiDAR Robot Mower – $1,599 Mammotion LUBA mini 2 AWD – $1,799.00 Navimow X4 Robotic Lawn Mower – $2,499.00 01:24:26 MGG 1155 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 feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

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  Episode #1154

  Don't Start Half Fresh

  Aug 10, 20261h 21m

  You’ll start with a travel charger that swallows 200-plus countries into one brick, then find out that macOS Tahoe 26.6 is quietly rebuilding your Spotlight index to get ready for macOS 27…and hear the theory on why Apple wants that churn finished before you upgrade. You’ll get talked into finally looking at Raycast (with a nostalgia lap through Quicksilver, LaunchBar, and Alfred), meet Brett Terpstra’s TerminalWidget as the GeekTool replacement you’ve been waiting a decade for, and learn how Paperless-ngx in Docker can run your entire paperless workflow off a Mac or a Synology. There’s Type Switch for anyone living in two keyboard layouts, LibraryThing for the book hoarders, Nixbook for putting an operating system with guardrails on an old Mac, wallet tracker cards that double as digital business cards, and Tailscale Grants so the family you added to your tailnet can’t go wandering your whole network. You’ll also stop fighting the Sonos app and just AirPlay to your speakers, and pick up the Siri fix that ends the “did you mean” death spiral: answer “the first one,” not by repeating yourself. Then it gets real. You’ll sit in on the question every geek eventually faces: Migration Assistant or nuke and pave? You’ll hear why a half-fresh install is the worst of both worlds, how keeping the old machine alive on your network turns a scary afternoon into a safe one, and where to log in and reclaim those third-party licenses when you hit your device limit. You’ll learn what those “free credit monitoring after a breach” offers are actually worth, why freezing your credit at all three bureaus costs nothing by law no matter how hard they upsell you, and the surprise bonus that a credit lock also blocks buy-now-pay-later signups. And when your Synology Assistant app goes Intel-only, finds.synology.com finds your NAS from the browser. Five new things, minimum, so whatever this week throws at you, don’t get caught. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1154 for Monday, August 10th , 2026 August 10th: National Spoil Your Dog Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a license to Yoink, Screenfloat, Transloader, or DeskMat from Eternal Storms Cool Stuff Found 00:00:01 John-CSF- Anker Nano Travel Plug Adapter for over 200 Countries 00:02:27 Hey there, Pilot Pete! 00:03:28 Allen-CSF- Raycast is the best app launcher, and it’s free! Alfred QuickSilver 00:07:11 macOS Tahoe 26.6 optimizes the Spotlight index to prepare for macOS 27 00:12:26 Jessi-CSF- TerminalWidget to replace GeekTool 00:14:58 Max-CSM- Type Switch for people who regularly type in more than one language 00:16:15 Paul-CSF- Paperless-NGX runs in a docker container 00:18:43 Mike-CSF- Pause Take9 00:19:57 Also…beware of recurring in-app purchases from scammy apps. 00:22:58 KingKelson-CSF-1130- LibraryThing for organizing books (and Kevin, too) 00:23:53 Don’t sleep on Sonos with AirPlay 00:28:02 Does Siri on HomePod get smarter with Apple Intelligence? 00:30:22 You can tell Siri AI “the first one” or “the third one” when it gives you an audible list of options for its (potential) translation of your commands 00:33:33 Siri AI is still misgendering people despite the update to their Contact record 00:35:42 Joel-CSF- Ridge Wallet Tracker Card Rolling Square AirCard 00:38:44 CSF- TOS 7.0 for TNAS — Full Native AI NAS OS (leveraging OpenClaw) 00:44:36 WillRun4Fun-CSF- Nixbook for putting linux on older Macs 00:47:04 Jonathan- Tailscale Grants allows you to control what your family can do Sponsor 00:50:13 SPONSOR: CleanMyMac . Get Tidy Today! Try 7 days free and use our code MACGEEK for 20% off at https://clnmy.com/MACGEEK Your Questions Answered – feedback@macgeekgab.com 00:52:29 Mark-Nuke and Pave vs. Partial Migration? 01:06:46 Andy-Should I take the credit monitoring service offers? PIlot Pete says: freeze your credit bureau accounts TransUnion Freeze Equifax Freeze Experian Freeze 01:13:21 Joe-How do I find my Synology server? 01:17:40 MacPaw and Liquid AI bring On-Device AI to Millions of Mac Users 01:18:48 iNET App for local scanning 01:19:47 MGG 1154 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 feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

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  Episode #1153

  Take a Photo to Find Your Photos

  Aug 3, 20261h 28m

  Your quick tips run deep this week. Learn why snapping a throwaway photo is the fastest route to every picture you’ve ever taken at that spot, then rediscover Libby for free ebooks and audiobooks from your public library. You’ll find the hidden Attachments Browser in Notes (Command-3) that filters your notes by scans, documents, maps, and websites — plus a reminder that tagging still beats foldering. Drag the items in the Messages plus menu into the order you actually use them, right-click your Activity Monitor column headers to surface the data you’re missing, and open two windows on the same Excel or FileMaker document so building formulas stops feeling like guesswork. Scott explains why he left Mint Mobile for US Mobile and put his two lines on two different networks, and Ron shows you how VoiceOver can read the date the moment your iPhone wakes. Don’t Get Caught assuming your QR scans are saved: the Code Scanner app throws away your link history when you close it, so use the Camera app or tap through to Safari. Then things get interesting. Dave walks through migrating to a new M4 mini without Migration Assistant, using Homebrew casks to reinstall apps cleanly instead of dragging years of cruft along. Adam reports from the iOS 27 public beta where the new Siri is finally delivering — except it keeps misgendering his kids based on their first names, and the fix might live in your contact records. Paul shares first impressions of the Golden Gate beta, and Ron’s question sparks a real conversation about whether a VPN or iCloud Private Relay deserves the spot on your device (spoiler: they don’t play nicely together). You’ll get honest advice on whether to buy the next iPhone or wait, plus clarity on encrypted drives, exFAT, and why moving to APFS is the safer bet: back up first, because you will lose data. Cool Stuff Found closes it out with Nib for fully on-device transcription and apfel, which gives you command-line access to the LLM already sitting on your Mac. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1153 for Monday, August 3rd , 2026 August 3rd: Big Forehead Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a license to Yoink, Screenfloat, Transloader, or DeskMat from Eternal Storms The MGG Merch Store is Live! MGG Monthly Giveaway Quick Tips 00:00:01 Todd-QT- 1150 -Take a Photo to easily find past photos at the same location 00:05:13 Deborah-QT- 1148 -Don’t forget about Libby for free book rentals Dungeon Crawler Carl 00:09:10 Adam-QT-Notes, View > Show Attachments Browser for a filtered look at your Notes data And also don’t forget about #tagging your notes 00:11:48 Managing notes and tags and lists and reminders 00:14:54 Ron-QT-Rearrange iPhone Messages + menu 00:17:22 Ben-QT- 1149 -Right-Click Activity Monitor Headers to add columns 00:19:25 Todd-QT-Use Multiple Windows for the same document in Excel, FileMaker, and more 00:21:35 Scott-QT- 1151 -The reason I switched from Mint Mobile to US Mobile 00:25:09 Ron-QT-Setup your iPhone and iPad to read the date upon wake 00:26:19 Todd-DGC- 1152 -Code Scanner app doesn’t save link history Sponsors 00:29:00 SPONSOR: OneSkin . Born from over a decade of longevity research, OneSkin’s OS-01 Peptide is proven to target the visible signs of aging. Get 15% off OneSkin with the code MGG at https://www.oneskin.co/MGG #oneskinpod #ad 00:30:30 SPONSOR: Gusto . Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at https://gusto.com/MGG 00:31:55 SPONSOR: Hims is changing men’s healthcare by providing convenient, quality care, 100% online. Start your free online visit today at https://Hims.com/MacGeekGab . Migrating without Migration Assistant 00:33:15 Dave-Migrating to a new M4 Mini: The benefits of installing your apps with homebrew Updatest Beta Thoughts 00:36:54 ATC-On the Public iOS 27 beta…with an issue? Siri AI is beginning to live up to (at least some of!) the hype Except (at least in the public beta) Siri keeps misgendering people based upon their first names 00:50:27 Paul-Initial thoughts on the Golden Gate beta 00:55:26 iOS 27 Liquid Glass Enhancements Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:56:39 Ron-Should I use A VPN or Apple’s iCloud Private Relay? PIAVPN.com/MGG 01:05:39 Wi-Fi incompatible with iCloud Private Relay 01:07:17 James-Seeking Advice and Opinions for Upcoming iPhone Upgrade 01:15:43 Galen-?-Clarification on HFS+ Encryption Support Dropping in 2027 Lexar 2TB Armor 700 SSD Cool Stuff Found 01:20:55 Yuki-CSM- Nib – transcribe audio locally on your Mac 01:23:16 Todd-CSF- apfel uses your Mac’s free, local LLM 01:26:38 MGG 1153 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 feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

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• 

  Episode #1152

  A Wonderful Opportunity to Get Super Confused

  Jul 27, 20261h 21m

  Your Quick Tip arsenal gets a serious upgrade this week: use the Live Text button to make scanning QR codes easier, resurrect Apple Mail’s Predicted Mailbox when it mysteriously grays out, and run softwareupdate –history in Terminal to see every macOS update your Mac has ever installed. You’ll also hear how one listener’s Shortcuts automation fixes AirPods auto-play, why BBEdit is your secret weapon for editing Excel formulas and tailing log files, and how Safari’s Show Reader option strips the junk from cluttered pages — plus a bonus riff on the real trade-offs between convenience, privacy, and the content you actually want. And yes, Siri AI in the iOS 27 betas is finally impressing people, with real-world examples to prove it. Then Dave Hamilton and Adam Christianson dig into your questions: why Safari drops website connections (and how ping helps you diagnose it), whether those archive drives sitting in your drawer need regular care (spoiler: don’t get caught trusting a single backup you never spin up), and the smartest path for migrating your custom email domain from Google Workspace to iCloud. You’ll also get the scoop on replacing the aging Paperless app before Rosetta vanishes with macOS 28, and a challenge worth taking: get your AI out of the chat window and into doing actual work for you. Press play, take notes, and Don’t Get Caught. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1152 for Monday, July 27th , 2026 July 27th: Gary Gygax Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a license to Mole Quick Tips 00:00:01 Todd-QT-Use the Live Text button to make QR codes easier 00:06:43 Steve-QT-Using Apple Mail’s Predicted Mailbox Bonus QT: Connect your inbox to your favorite LLM (via an MCP Connector?) and ask it “please tell me the ten most important emails requiring my action today.” 00:09:55 Stephen-Some of Siri AI’s improvements in the iOS 27 betas 00:17:54 Mike-QT- 1151 -Solve AirPods auto-play issues with Shortcuts 00:19:15 Craig-QT-Use ‘softwareupdate –history’ to see every macOS update your Mac’s ever done. Adam’s Safe Download Version for XProtect 00:22:41 Mike-QT-You can still buy StyleWriter II cartridges at Staples! 00:24:11 Todd-QT- 1151 -Edit Excel Formulas in BBEdit 00:25:47 Kiwi Graham-QT-View log tails with BBEdit 00:29:01 Andy-QT-Use Safari’s “Show Reader” option to force reader view And a bonus conversation about the balance between convenience, privacy, and the entertainment we want Sponsors 00:38:18 SPONSOR: Private Internet Access VPN – Save 83% off your VPN service PLUS four free months with a two-year plan at https://PIAVPN.com/mgg . 00:39:32 SPONSOR: Decagon . Ready to transform your customer support? Decagon helps companies create personalized, concierge-style customer experiences with AI agents across chat, email, voice, and SMS. Go to https://decagon.ai/MGG to get a personalized demo and see what Decagon can do for your team. 00:40:59 SPONSOR: BBEdit , the power tool for text from Bare Bones Software; now with integrated Notebooks and extended language support. https://www.barebones.com/products/bbedit/ Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:42:17 David-Why does Safari drop website connections? ping -t 5 website.com 00:51:44 Using location to help deliver content 00:54:15 GW-Do I need to care for my archive drives? 01:02:30 Jonathan-How do I migrate my email domain from GSuite to iCloud? 01:09:45 Kim-Which Paperless replacement and migration path are you using? macOS loses Rosetta in 2027 with macOS 28 softwareupdate –install-rosetta 01:16:03 Get out of Chat with your AI 01:18:51 MGG 1152 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 feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

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