Since macOS Ventura the former System Preferences is called System Settings, and it is laid out differently: a sidebar on the left, with the settings on the right, like on an iPhone. If you were used to the old screen, it takes some searching. This article explains how to find what you are looking for quickly, and where the most important settings for your MacBook are.
Blue Apple repairs MacBooks in Amsterdam. Many of our other articles refer to System Settings; with this overview you find them faster.
Opening System Settings
- Click the Apple logo top left and choose System Settings.
- Or press Command + Space bar and type "system".
The fastest way: search
At the top left of System Settings there is a search field. Type what you are looking for, such as "battery", "keyboard" or "wallpaper", and click the result. That is usually faster than searching the sidebar yourself.
The main sections
- Your name (at the top): your Apple Account, iCloud, Find My Mac and your devices.
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: networks and pairing devices.
- General: About (model, serial number, coverage), Software Update, Storage, Login Items, Transfer or Reset, AirDrop & Handoff, Time Machine.
- Battery: battery health, energy saving and Optimised Battery Charging. See checking battery health.
- Displays: resolution, brightness, external screens and Night Shift.
- Desktop & Dock: the Dock, widgets, Mission Control and Hot Corners.
- Keyboard: input sources, shortcuts, text replacement and the Globe key.
- Trackpad and Mouse: clicking, scrolling and gestures.
- Privacy & Security: which apps can access camera, microphone, screen recording and files.
- Accessibility: zoom, text size, transparency and contrast. See zooming in and enlarging the screen.
- Touch ID & Password: fingerprints and your password.
- Users & Groups: adding or managing accounts.
Settings of apps themselves
System Settings is about your Mac as a whole. An app's own settings, such as Safari, Mail or Word, are in that app: click the app's name in the menu bar and choose Settings, or press Command + comma. There you set, for example, your home page, signature or default font.
Where did ... go?
- Energy Saver is now under Battery.
- Startup Disk is under General.
- Sharing (file sharing, screen sharing) is under General.
- Language & Region is under General.
- Date & Time is under General.
Control Centre: settings you need often
For things you change often you do not have to open System Settings every time. Click Control Centre (the two sliders) top right in the menu bar. There you quickly control Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirDrop, brightness, sound, Do Not Disturb and screen mirroring. In System Settings, Control Centre, you choose which items appear there, and which you also want to see separately in the menu bar, such as the battery percentage.
A setting does not work or jumps back
- Restart the Mac; sometimes a change only applies then.
- On a work or school Mac settings may be locked by the administrator.
- If there is a padlock next to a setting, click it and enter your password.
- If System Settings does not respond, force quit it with Command + Option + Esc and open it again.
Handy settings for a MacBook
- Under Battery, turn on Optimised Battery Charging.
- Under Software Update, turn on automatic security updates.
- Under your name, iCloud, turn on Find My Mac.
- Set up Time Machine for your backups. See backing up.
What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam
If a setting does not solve your problem and you suspect the hardware, such as a battery that drains fast, a faltering keyboard or a flickering screen, we test your MacBook. More on our page about MacBook repair in Amsterdam.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get the old System Preferences back?
No. On older macOS versions it is still called System Preferences.
Why do I see different sections?
Some sections only appear on certain Macs, such as Touch ID or Battery.
Can I reset settings to default?
Not all at once. Per section you often see a button to restore defaults.
