Wi-Fi, Bluetooth & Displays

Connect to networks, pair devices, and manage your screens

Mac User Guide  /  Lesson 7 of 10

1. Wi-Fi

Your Mac connects to Mercury's corporate Wi-Fi automatically once configured. The Wi-Fi icon lives in the menu bar (top-right corner). Click it to see available networks.

What the Wi-Fi dropdown looks like:

Wi-Fi
✓ Mercury-Corp ●●●●
Mercury-Guest ●●●○
MIG-Conference ●●○○
Network Preferences...

How to Connect

  1. Click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar (top-right).
  2. Select the network (e.g., Mercury-Corp).
  3. Enter the password if prompted and click Join.
  4. A checkmark appears next to the connected network.
Mercury Tip: Your Mac remembers networks it has joined. It will reconnect to Mercury-Corp automatically when you're in the office.
Try It Now -- Wi-Fi
Click the Wi-Fi icon in your menu bar (top-right corner) and confirm your current network.
Open System Settings > Wi-Fi and see your saved (known) networks listed at the bottom.

2. Bluetooth

Bluetooth connects wireless accessories like headphones, mice, and keyboards. Manage devices in System Settings > Bluetooth.

System Settings
◔
Wi-Fi
☾
Bluetooth
◉
Focus
☷
Displays
♫
Sound

Bluetooth

Now discoverable as "Steve's MacBook Pro"

My Devices

🎧
AirPods Pro
Connected
85%
⌨
Magic Keyboard
Connected
100%

Nearby Devices

Searching...

Pairing a New Device

  1. Put the device in pairing mode (check the device's manual -- usually hold the power button).
  2. Open System Settings > Bluetooth.
  3. The device appears under Nearby Devices.
  4. Click Connect next to the device name.
  5. Once paired, it moves to My Devices and reconnects automatically.
Try It Now -- Bluetooth
Open System Settings > Bluetooth and see what devices are listed under "My Devices."
If you have Bluetooth headphones, try connecting them. Put them in pairing mode and watch them appear.

3. Control Center

Control Center gives you one-click access to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, display brightness, volume, and more. Click the toggles icon (two sliders) in the top-right of your menu bar.

macOS Control Center:

◔
Wi-Fi
Mercury-Corp
☾
Bluetooth
On
⇄
AirDrop
Contacts Only
☽
Focus
Off
☼ Display
♪ Sound

Click any tile to toggle it on or off. Drag the sliders to adjust brightness and volume. You can also click a tile's label to expand it for more options.

Try It Now -- Control Center
Click the Control Center icon (two sliders) in your menu bar to open it.
Drag the Display brightness slider up and down and watch your screen change.

4. Displays

When you connect an external monitor, your Mac can either extend your desktop (two separate screens) or mirror it (same content on both). Most Mercury setups use extended mode for extra workspace.

Built-in Display
External
☰ ☰
Extend
☰ = ☰
Mirror
  1. Plug in the cable. Most Mercury monitors use USB-C or HDMI. You may need a USB-C to HDMI adapter.
  2. Your Mac should detect the display automatically. If not, go to System Settings > Displays and hold Option, then click Detect Displays.
  3. To rearrange screens, open System Settings > Displays > Arrangement and drag the display rectangles to match your physical setup.
  4. The white bar at the top of a rectangle indicates which screen has the menu bar. Drag it to your preferred display.
Tip: If your external display shows a blank screen, try unplugging and reconnecting the cable, or close and reopen the laptop lid.
Try It Now -- Displays
Press F1 and F2 to lower and raise your screen brightness.
Open System Settings > Displays to see your current resolution and refresh rate.

5. Sound

Your Mac routes audio to the built-in speakers by default. When you connect headphones or an external monitor with speakers, you can choose where sound goes.

Quick switch: If you Option-click the Sound icon and don't see it in the menu bar, enable it in System Settings > Control Center > Sound -- set it to "Always Show in Menu Bar."

6. Troubleshooting

These are the most common connectivity issues and how to solve them.

  1. Toggle Wi-Fi off and on. Click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar, turn it off, wait 10 seconds, turn it back on.
  2. Forget and rejoin the network. Go to System Settings > Wi-Fi, click the info (i) button next to the network, and click Forget This Network. Then rejoin and re-enter the password.
  3. Restart your Mac. This resets the network stack and fixes most issues.
  4. Check with IT if the problem persists -- it may be a network-wide issue.
  1. Toggle Bluetooth off and on in System Settings or Control Center.
  2. Remove and re-pair the device. In System Settings > Bluetooth, hover over the device and click the (x) to remove it. Then put the device back in pairing mode and reconnect.
  3. Check battery level. Low battery on the Bluetooth device causes disconnects. Charge it up.
  4. Restart Bluetooth entirely. Hold Shift + Option and click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar. Select Reset the Bluetooth module (if available), then restart your Mac.

Quick Fixes (Click to Reveal)

Wi-Fi keeps dropping?
  1. Open System Settings > Wi-Fi and forget all networks except Mercury-Corp.
  2. Turn off Ask to Join Networks (below the network list) to prevent your Mac from hopping to weaker networks.
  3. Move closer to the access point or away from microwaves and thick walls.
  4. If it still drops, contact IT -- your Mac's Wi-Fi card may need a driver update.
Audio going to the wrong device?
  1. Hold Option and click the Sound icon in the menu bar.
  2. Under Output Device, select the correct speaker or headphones.
  3. If the device doesn't appear, disconnect and reconnect it (unplug USB/HDMI or re-pair Bluetooth).
  4. For persistent issues, go to System Settings > Sound > Output and set your preferred device there.
External display not detected?
  1. Unplug the cable, wait 5 seconds, and plug it back in.
  2. Try a different port on your Mac (if available).
  3. Go to System Settings > Displays, hold Option, and click Detect Displays.
  4. Try a different cable or adapter -- faulty cables are a common cause.
  5. Restart your Mac with the monitor connected.