Buzz
While modern Macs are sleek and stylish, there’s a certain charm in the retro design of older models. Skeuomorphism, the design approach where digital elements imitate real-world objects, has faded, but the nostalgia for that era remains strong. If you share this sentiment, this guide will help you recreate the perfect vintage Mac experience on your current device.
Give Music the Appearance of QuickTime Player
Apple Music users often rely on the Mac's Music app as their primary platform. For a vintage touch, consider QuickTune, a tool that mimics the interface of QuickTime 7 from Mac OS X Tiger while offering playback control for Apple Music. Key features include glossy window buttons, a metallic brushed theme, and specialized playback controls.
Mario Guzman, the same developer, also created Music MiniPlayer for macOS, designed to resemble the classic iTunes interface.
Incorporate a vintage terminal application
If you frequently use command line tools, the sleek design of the modern macOS Terminal app might feel overly refined. For a throwback to the era of CRT monitors and vintage command line interfaces, try Cool Retro Term. My colleague Justin Pot has crafted an excellent guide that delves into the features and setup of this nostalgic application.
Revive iTunes and iPhoto
iTunes and iPhoto were iconic applications that defined an era for Mac users. iTunes, widely recognized as the default music player, also served as a digital music store and a tool for managing iPhones. iPhoto, though less prominent, was the go-to photo management app before Photos took its place.
A nostalgic Mac setup isn’t complete without iTunes and iPhoto. Our comprehensive guide explains how to bring these classic apps back to your modern Mac. The Retroactive app is your key to installing both iPhoto and iTunes.
Customize your Mac's icons
To achieve a fully vintage aesthetic for your Mac, a collection of retro icons is essential. Designer Ben Vessey offers a solution with a set of 205 classic icons that perfectly transform your modern Mac into a retro-inspired machine. This icon pack is priced at £7.99 (approximately $10) and features icons for Apple’s native apps, as well as popular third-party applications like Adobe software, 1Password, and Spotify. It also includes icons for system folders and common file types, along with a free retro wallpaper.
Additionally, you’ll need to purchase the IconChamp app ($9) to customize your Mac’s icons. However, due to macOS limitations, certain system apps like Trash and Calendar cannot be altered.
Find a vintage Mac wallpaper
The last step in your retro makeover is updating your Mac’s wallpaper. YouTuber freddiemt has shared all the default wallpapers from various Mac operating system versions in this Google Photos album. Alternatively, you can search online for vintage Mac wallpapers to complete the perfect nostalgic look for your device.
Experience older macOS versions directly in your browser
If these changes don’t fully satisfy your nostalgia, you can explore classic Mac versions in your browser. The Infinite Mac website lets you experience Apple’s operating system from before it was even named Mac OS.
Still craving more nostalgia? Take a look at this retro PC designed to resemble the iconic 1984 Macintosh!
