5 ways to access System Settings on Mac

System Settings is where users go to customize their Mac, from setting wallpaper to managing iCloud accounts. As a Mac user, you will often find yourself needing System Settings for one reason or another. But how to get here?

Here are all the ways to open the System Settings app on your Mac!

1. Search with Spotlight

Spotlight is a hidden tool in macOS, simple but can do a lot of things. You can get the most out of Spotlight on your Mac by learning about its capabilities, such as launching System Settings.

Press Command + Space or use the dedicated Spotlight function key on your keyboard to display Spotlight. You can also click the Spotlight icon on your Mac's menu bar. Add the Spotlight icon to the menu bar if it's not there.

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When Spotlight opens, type SystemSettings and press the Return key to open System Settings. Very quick and easy.

2. Use Launchpad

Launchpad is one of the easiest ways to launch apps on your Mac. To use Launchpad to access System Settings, do the following:

1. Click Launchpad in your Mac's Dock.
2. In Launchpad, find and click SystemSettings. You can also search for it using the search bar at the top.

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Besides accessing System Settings, Launchpad can be used to do more things on your Mac, like creating folders and deleting apps.

3. Apple menu

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The Apple Menu is located in the upper left side of your Mac's menu bar. It can be accessed by clicking on the Apple icon. From the drop-down menu, sign out of your user account, restart, shut down your Mac or put it to sleep, and access System Settings. However, to access System Settings, click the Apple menu and select SystemSettings from the drop-down list.

4. Dock

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Your Mac's Dock is where your open apps and apps you add are located. By default, System Settings is in the Dock, so accessing it can be as simple as clicking the System Settings icon in your Mac's Dock.

However, if you have removed the System Settings application icon from the Dock, you should consider adding it back for quick and easy access from the desktop.

5. Finder

Accessing System Settings through Finder is probably the most difficult of all the methods, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. Here's how:

1. Open Finder on your Mac, then click Go from the menu bar.
2. Click Computer , then select your Mac hard drive, Macintosh HD .
3. Open the System folder , then click Library .
4. Scroll down until you see the PreferencePanes folder and open it.
5. In the PreferencePanes folder , you will see a list of files with the .prefPane extension. Click any file to open it, such as Keyboard.prefPane. It will take you to the System Settings menu for keyboard settings. You can also drag and drop any item from the PreferencePanes window to the desktop or Dock.
6. Navigate System Settings, as usual, using the sidebar.

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It doesn't matter which item in the PreferencePanes window you click on. You will still come to System Settings.

Lesley Montoya

Update 07 May 2024