System Preferences is an application that provides access to numerous settings and features, some affect all users of the computer, others are specific to your user account.
For example, use System Preferences to add a printer, change your desktop background picture, or switch on accessibility features for visually, physically, or hearing impaired users.
The settings on offer are wide ranging and too numerous to list here! So do have a look around for yourself.
How to access System Preferences
To access System Preferences, choose System Preferences from the Apple menu.
![Apple menu, System Preferences](http://howtouseamac.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/apple-menu-system-preferences.png)
Groups of settings are categorised and organised into System Preference panes. The most commonly required will be covered later.
![System Preferences](http://howtouseamac.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/system-preferences-1024x1024.png)
For now, here are a few examples as to why you might look to System Preferences.
General
![System Preferences->General](http://howtouseamac.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/system-preferences-general-1.png)
Change the colours, and general appearance of Finder. Change your preferred or, default web browser from Safari to Chrome.
Desktop & Screensaver
![System Preferences->~Desktop & Screensaver](http://howtouseamac.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/system-preferences-desktop-screensaver.png)
Change your desktop wallpaper, and the time the computer must be idle before the screensaver is activated.
Notifications
![System Preferences->Notifications](http://howtouseamac.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/system-preferences-notifications.png)
Applications can display Notifications in the top right of the screen. Mail, for example, can display a Notification when new mail is received. The Notifications preference pane allows control over which apps can display notifications, and how those notifications are delivered.
Users & Groups
![](http://howtouseamac.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/sys-prefs-users-groups-1024x640.png)
Change the password for your User account, and create new user accounts for colleagues or family members.
Software Update
![System Preferences->Software Update](http://howtouseamac.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/system-preferences-software-update.png)
Check for, and install any available macOS (operating system) updates.
Printers & Scanners
![System Preferences->Printers & Scanners.](http://howtouseamac.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/system-preferences-printers-scanners.png)
If you have a printer on your ‘local’ network, or connected directly to your computer, you’ll need to add it in the Printers & Scanners preference pane first before it’s available for use. Once you’ve chosen the printer, your Mac will automatically try to find and add any required software to use it.
Trackpad / Mouse
![System Preferences->Trackpad, Mouse.](http://howtouseamac.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/system-preferences-trackpad-mouse.png)
These preference panes allow you to view and customise the settings of your mouse or trackpad. Apple’s mouses (mice?) and trackpads are highly ‘tactile’, and are responsive to the number of fingers we use to tap, or swipe.
The most important feature to enable (in my opinion) is the ‘secondary click’ (also known as a ‘right-click’), but there’s also lots of other useful features that can be discovered here.
Time Machine
![System Preferences->Time Machine](http://howtouseamac.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/system-preferences-time-machine-1024x1024.png)
All computers fail eventually, and will need repair to get them running again. In order to prevent loss of data, backup your computer to a separate, external hard drive!
Time Machine is Apple’s preinstalled backup utility. Once it’s set up, it will backup the entire computer to a hard drive that’s either connected to the computer, or available on your ‘local’ network. It will continue to backup any new or modified files every hour.
Conclusion
The above examples only scratch the surface as to what’s available in System Preferences. Most settings are not relevant to the average user, but the best way to become familiar is, over time, by taking a look at each pane.
Previous lesson: | Next lesson: |
The Info window | Your User account |