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Here are some System Preferences tricks that Mac users should know, along with some hidden features of System Preferences, helping you maximize and utilize the app to its full potential on Mac.
Furthermore, Mytour will also provide you with some MacBook shortcuts to accurately access the options in System Preferences that you need and how to customize System Preferences windows for better app functionality, including rarely used hidden options, and even uninstalling settings entirely.
Unlocking System Preferences Tricks for Mac Users
Shortcuts for Displaying System Preferences Windows
Typically, whenever you need to access a particular item in System Preferences, the first step is to click on the Apple icon in the Mac toolbar, then launch the System Preferences app and select the item you want to interact with, such as Keyboard, Sound, or Security & Privacy.
However, clicking through each item in the System Preferences window can be time-consuming and prone to errors. Not to worry, there are still ways to directly access the options you want to interact with in System Preferences.
The first shortcut is to click and hold the System Preferences icon on the Dock. After a few moments, a System Preferences menu will appear on the screen containing various items. Select any item you want to interact with to directly open its window.
Another shortcut is to search for a specific Preference window through the Spotlight search bar. Open Spotlight by clicking on the small magnifying glass icon in the Mac toolbar or using the Command + Space shortcut. Then, type the name of the item you want to access into the Spotlight search bar to directly open that item.
Finally, you can use built-in shortcuts on macOS to open windows for Displays, Mission Control, Keyboard, or Sound:
- Displays: Option + F1 or F2.
- Mission Control: Option + F3.
- Keyboard: Option + F5 or F6.
- Sound: Option + F10, F11 or F12.
Easier Navigation
Create custom shortcuts
In the above section, Mytour introduced some shortcuts to open specific items in System Preferences. However, macOS does not provide dedicated shortcuts for opening the System Preferences application. Nevertheless, you can still create a shortcut for the System Preferences application. Below are the steps to create a System Preferences shortcut:
- Navigate to System preferences… =>Keyboard.
- Here, you click on the Shortcuts tab.
Navigate to the menu on the left-hand side and select App Shortcuts.
Next, click on the icon marked with “+”.
Access the Application menu, then choose System Preferences.
In the Menu Title box, input System Preferences.
- Left-click on the Keyboard Shortcut frame, then input the key you wish to assign as a shortcut. Be mindful not to use shortcuts already assigned to certain tasks.
- Establish a shortcut by selecting Add.
Search Bar within System Preferences
If you pay close attention, you'll notice a Search bar within the System Preferences window, albeit seldom utilized. Searching for items within System Preferences might seem redundant since the items are readily displayed on the window.
However, the Search bar within System Preferences harbors a hidden feature: users can utilize this Search bar to find a specific item within System Preferences without needing to input the full name of that item.
Encountering a bit of trouble due to forgetting the names of items you wish to interact with, simply input a few words describing the task you want to perform, and macOS will highlight relevant items within System Preferences, facilitating your search for the desired item. For instance, typing 'increase volume' into the Search bar will prompt macOS to highlight the Sound and App Store items within the Download program section.
Customizing Items in the System Preferences Window
The System Preferences application encompasses various options, including third-party applications that users add to the main System Preferences window. Knowing these Mac System Preferences tricks will aid you in customizing items within the System Preferences window.
With such an abundance of options, undoubtedly there will be items and settings you rarely use. Furthermore, these items and options clutter the System Preferences window, sometimes causing you to spend considerable time searching for the ones you need. Therefore, you might consider customization to hide certain items in System Preferences.
Note that hiding items, options, or applications in System Preferences differs from uninstalling or deactivating them. You can still access hidden items in System Preferences by selecting View in the System Preferences toolbar or searching for items through Spotlight.
Hiding items in System Preferences proves quite useful if you share your Mac, allowing other users to utilize your Mac while preventing them from modifying specific settings, while you retain access to these hidden items.
To hide one or more items in System Preferences, in the toolbar, choose View =>Customize… . A new window will appear containing the items in the System Preferences window. To hide a particular item, simply check the box next to it.
Once selected, click Done to save your changes.
If you wish to display the items you've hidden, click View =>Customize… on the System Preferences toolbar. Locate the item you want to show again, check the box next to it, then click Done to complete.
Arranging Item Positions in the System Preferences Window
By default, System Preferences icons are categorized, but if you prefer, you can arrange these icons alphabetically by selecting View =>Organize Alphabetically on the toolbar.
Arranging icons alphabetically proves particularly useful if you frequently seek out specific items within the System Preferences window.
Additionally, when arranging icons alphabetically, certain items you've hidden in System Preferences won't take up space, resulting in a smaller System Preferences window.
To revert the item positions to their original state, select View =>Organize byCategories on the toolbar.
Completely Removing Unwanted Items from the System Preferences Window
You can add third-party applications to the System Preferences window, but sometimes it can clutter your view, making it hard to find other items. Even after uninstalling these applications, their items may still linger in System Preferences.
To remove items from third-party applications, press Control while clicking on the item, then select Remove… .
If the above method is unavailable, try following these steps:
- Open a Finder window.
- On the Mac toolbar, select Go =>Go to folder.
- Enter /Library into the search box, then click Go.
- Open the PreferencesPanes folder.
Here, you'll find files representing items from third-party applications in the System Preferences window. Locate the file of the application you want to remove, then drag it to the Trash.
Technically, you can employ these two methods to remove third-party application items you've installed, even if the applications remain installed on your Mac. However, Mytour doesn't recommend this action as deleting third-party application items in System Preferences can lead to related issues with the applications. In severe cases, you might even need to reinstall the applications.
One crucial point to note is that you can only delete items from third-party applications, not default System Preference items. If using the method of holding Control + click on an item, but the Remove… option doesn't appear, or you can't find the files of the items in the /Library/PreferencesPanes folder, double-click on the item to verify if you're inadvertently deleting default System Preference items.
These are some System Preferences tricks that Mac users should be aware of. If you're using a Mac, you can apply these tricks to efficiently utilize and maximize the potential of System Preferences, thereby enhancing the speed and convenience of your Mac usage for personal tasks.
