System Preferences have been available in macOS since the day one, allowing Mac owners to customize their Mac to their liking. With System Preferences, you can adjust the size and location of the Dock, add or remove user accounts, or change your desktop background.
Accessing System Preferences is pretty simple on a Mac, but it may be unknown to many newcomers. In reality, there are many ways you can head to System Preferences pane on your Mac and we are going to help you discover how.
In this guide, we have created a list of five ways to access System Preferences on a Mac. Before we begin, make sure you now have a modern version of macOS installed on your device. To update a Mac, open the App Store app > Updates and install any available updates.
Tips to find System Preferences faster in macOS High Sierra
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Spotlight
Spotlight serves as one of the fastest ways to launch System Preferences on a Mac. All you need to do is to hit the magnifying glass icon in the top right corner of the screen and then type in System Preferences from the input field. Once you are done, just simply hit an option under the System Preferences section.
If you do not see the System Preferences section in Spotlight, there’s a good chance that you have already disabled it. To turn it back on, click on Apple menu, then select System Preferences from the drop-down menu and hit Spotlight. When you are in, select Search Results and check the box for System Preferences.
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Dock
The Dock has been around for years, serving as a gathering place for your favorite apps and documents. When you finish setting up your Mac, you should notice that the Dock sits at the bottom of your screen. The Dock offers a quick access to many of the apps that come pre-installed in macOS or outside the Mac App Store.
You can quickly access your settings panes from the Dock. To do this, you simply need to right-click the System Preferences icon and you should see a list of all settings panes. Now just simply select the pane you wish access.
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Search box
The System Preferences window includes the Search box at the top right corner, allowing Mac owners to access individual settings on your Mac. This comes in handy, especially for new Mac owners. To access Search box, you first need to open System Preferences on your Mac. Once the System Preferences pane shows up, click the Search box in the upper right corner and type in your settings pane.
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Menu bar
Menu Bar serves as a perfect place for your app icons. The coolest part is that you can quickly access System Preferences from the Menu Bar. All you need to do is to click on any system icon from the Menu Bar and select System Preferences from the drop-down menu Note that following this method, you can only access the System Preference pane that corresponds to apps or system icons you select.
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Keyboard shortcuts
Using keyboard shortcuts is among the best ways to master your computer. In this case, you can navigate system preferences with your keyboard shortcuts. To hide the System Preferences window, you simply need to hit Command (⌘) – H. Once you are within your Mac System Preferences, press the Command (⌘) – F combination to enter the Search box.
Also read: Just got a new MacBook? Here are 5 settings to change on your laptop
These are five tips that help you find your Mac System Preferences faster. If you have a favorite, let us know in the comments below.
