Where are the settings on Mac

You can find most of the system settings on your Mac in System Preferences. By managing these settings, you can make your working process more convenient and efficient. In this article, we will explain where the Settings on a Mac are located and how to adjust them in System Preferences.

Contents:

1. What are system settings on Mac?
2. Where are the settings on Mac?
3. How to change the default settings on a Mac.
4. How to customize Mac System Preferences.
5. How to change Finder’s settings.
6. Where to find application settings on Mac.
7. Mac settings that you might not need.

What are system settings on Mac?

Every operating system has a control panel where the users can configure the appearance or actions of applications and system processes. These are usually called “preferences,” “settings,” or “options.” While on Windows the settings are located in Control Panels, on macOS, you can find most settings in System Preferences. Also, some settings can be changed in the Preferences windows of default or third-party applications.

In Mac System Preferences, you can set up your screen appearance, configure bluetooth, Internet, printer/scanner connections, make changes in security and privacy settings, and more.

Note, that on macOS Ventura System Preferences are renamed to System Settings and they have a new design look.

Where are the settings on Mac?

To manage the settings on your Mac, you must first open the System Preferences app. You can access System Preferences right from the Apple menu.

Here is how to get to settings on your Mac:

1. Click on the Apple icon in the top menu on your screen.
2. Select System Preferences.
3. In the window that appears, you can manage settings of different options on your Mac.

Another way to get to Mac settings is to go to the Applications folder in Finder or to the Launchpad. From there, click to open System Preferences. Also, you can find System Preferences using the Spotlight.

If you often need to access System Preferences, you can add its icon to the Dock bar for quick access.

The System Preferences icon looks like a set of interlinked cogs. Once you add Mac System Preferences to your Dock panel, you can right-click on its icon and quickly choose the proper category of settings you wish to review.

How to change the default settings on a Mac

You can change your Mac’s default settings in System Preferences. Once you launch System Preferences, you will see a window with different categories of options.
Mac System Preferences panel contains many various icons, each of which will lead you to a specific group of settings. Here you can manage your Apple ID, check for new software updates, change the Dock panel and Menu bar appearance, select a new desktop wallpaper, control language preferences, check the battery level, take control of extensions, change startup programs, and so on. You simply need to go into the proper category and adjust the settings as you wish.

System Preferences on macOS Monterey (or earlier versions)

The System Preferences options are divided into three parts. On the top, you can see your user account name and the Apple ID and Family sharing sections. Below that, in the central part of the window, you will see system settings connected with your personal usage of the device. The bottom part of the window represents the settings that will help you manage interaction with the hardware. In the General category, you can manage the basic settings of your Mac. Here, you can modify the screen appearance, select light or dark themes, adjust sidebar icon size, and view scrolling options. Also in the General settings section, you can change the default browser and tabs and windows preferences. By default, when you click to open a link on your Mac, the system opens it in Safari. However, you can change this if you want. Just select any installed web browser on your Mac that you want to use as the default.

System Preferences on macOS Ventura

On macOS Ventura, the System Settings window has an absolutely new look. The main categories are located in the left sidebar. Some categories of settings changed their locations. But you can still use the searh to find settings you want to change.

How to find options in System Preferences

If you cannot find an appropriate settings option in System Preferences, you can use its search option. This allows you to find necessary settings even if they are not mentioned in the icons’ names. To do this, type what you are searching for in the search field, and you will see a highlighted section where you can find those settings. The search panel in the System Settings app on macOS Ventura is located on the top-left corner of the window.

How to customize the System Preferences window

You can customize System Preferences, for example, by organizing the icons alphabetically or by categories. You can even remove unneeded icons from the System Preferences window, for example if you don’t use a specific option and don’t want to be confused by the large variety of settings categories in it.

1. Open System Preferences.
2. Click on View in the menu bar.
3. Select Customise.
   
4. Uncheck any unused categories.

Note, that on macOS Ventura, you can’t customize the System Settings app.

How to customize Dock & Menu bar

One more setting you can change in System Preferences is the appearance of the Dock panel. For this, on macOS Monterey, do the following:

1. Open System Preferences.
2. Go to the Dock & Menu bar section.
3. Here, you can change the Dock panel size and its position on your screen, enable magnification, manage whether or not to show recent applications, and more.

To customize the Dock panel on macOS Ventura, do the following:

1. Open the System Settings app.
2. Click Desktop & Dock in the sidebar.
3. Here you can configure different option to customize the Dock panel.