Editing System Settings

{{Short description|MacOS application}}
{{For-multi|the generic "settings" facility provided with most types of operating system|Computer configuration |the EP by Rioux|System Preferences (EP){{!}}''System Preferences'' (EP)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2013}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox software
| name = System Settings
| logo = System Preferences icon.png
| screenshot = 
| screenshot_alt = MacOS System Settings Screenshot on macOS Sequoia Version 15.0 Beta
| screenshot_size = 300px
| caption = System Settings application in [[macOS Sequoia]]
| operating system = [[macOS]]
| genre = [[Control panel (software)|Control panel]]
}}

'''System Settings''' (known as '''System Preferences''' prior to [[macOS Ventura]]) is an [[Application software|application]] included with [[macOS]]. It allows users to modify various system settings, which are divided into separate [[Preference Pane]]s. The System Settings application was introduced in the first version of [[Mac OS X]] to replace the control panels found in [[Classic Mac OS|earlier versions of the Mac operating system]].

== History ==
=== Control Panels (Classic Mac OS) ===
Before the release of Mac OS X in 2001, users modified system settings using control panels.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About the Control Panels Folder |url=https://udcf.gla.ac.uk/~gwm1h/system7.5.3/About_Control_Panels.html |access-date=2021-05-05 |website=udcf.gla.ac.uk}}</ref> Control panels, like the preference panes found in System Preferences, were separate resources (cdevs) that were accessed through the [[Apple menu]]'s Control Panel.

A rudimentary form of system preferences dates back to 1983 with the Apple Lisa Preferences menu item. This included a subset of configurable settings called "convenience settings" as well as other settings that adapted according to the programs and devices installed on the Lisa Office System. The original control panels in the earliest versions of the [[classic Mac OS]] were all combined into one small [[Desk Accessory]]. [[Susan Kare]] designed the [[User interface|interface]] for the original control panel and tried to make it as user-friendly as possible. This design was used until System 3 when separate control panel files ("cdev"s) were added, accessible solely through the control panel.

With the debut of [[System 7]] the control panels were separated into individual small application-like processes accessible from the Finder, and by a sub-menu in the Apple menu provided by Apple Menu Options. [[Mac OS 9]], the last release of the Mac OS before Mac OS X, included 32 control panels. By [[Mac OS 9]], many control panels had been rewritten as true applications.

The control panels included with [[Mac OS 9]] are:<ref>{{cite web|title = Mac OS X 10.0: Using Mac OS 9 Control Panels in Classic Environment|url = http://support.apple.com/kb/TA22222|website = support.apple.com|access-date = 2015-01-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = GUIdebook > Screenshots > Settings menu|url = http://www.guidebookgallery.org/screenshots/menu|website = www.guidebookgallery.org|access-date = 2015-01-06}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* Appearance
* [[Apple Menu]] Options
* [[AppleTalk]]
* [[ColorSync]]
* [[Control Strip]]
* Date & Time
* DialAssist
* Energy Saver
* [[Extension (Mac OS)|Extensions Manager]]
* File Exchange
* File Sharing
* File Synchronization
* General Controls
* Internet
* Keyboard
* Keychain Access
* Launcher
* Location Manager
* Memory
* Modem
* Monitors
* Mouse
* Multiple Users
* Numbers
* [[QuickTime]] Settings
* Remote Access
* [[Apple Software Update|Software Update]]
* Sound
* Speech
* Startup Disk
* TCP/IP
* Text
* Web Sharing
{{div col end}}

=== System Preferences (Mac OS X) ===
{{Expand section|Add a screenshot, and use Ars Technica's Mac OS X reviews for each successive Mac OS X release to cover each change comprehensively.|date=January 2023}}

When Mac OS X was released, preference panes replaced control panels. Preference panes are not applications but loadable [[bundle (OS X)|bundles]] for the System Preferences application, similar to the arrangement used under System 6. By default, System Preferences organizes preference panes into several categories. As of [[Mac OS X v10.7]], these categories are "Personal", "Hardware", "Internet & Wireless", and "System". A fifth category, "Other", appears when third-party preference panes are installed. Users can also choose to sort preference panes alphabetically. System Preferences originally included a customizable [[toolbar]] into which frequently used preference pane icons could be dragged, but this was removed in [[Mac OS X v10.4]] and replaced with a static toolbar that featured back and forward navigation buttons and a search field.

Apple has added new preference panes when major features are added to the operating system and occasionally merges multiple panes into one. When [[Exposé (macOS)|Exposé]] was introduced with [[Mac OS X v10.3]], a corresponding preference pane was added to System Preferences. This was replaced by a single "Dashboard & Exposé" pane in Mac OS X v10.4, which introduced [[Dashboard (Mac OS)|Dashboard]]. When the [[.Mac]] service was replaced by [[MobileMe]], the corresponding preference pane was also renamed.

In OS X Mountain Lion, the "Universal Access" pane is changed to "Accessibility" and "Speech" is changed to "Dictation & Speech".

In [[OS X Yosemite]], the user interface was redesigned to be in standard with other system applications,
being less detailed and more minimalist than in prior versions.

=== System Settings (macOS Ventura<!-- and later -->) ===
{{Expand section|Expand based on Ars Technica's in-depth macOS Ventura review. There are numerous other sources talking about the changes, including many critical articles|date=January 2023}}

In [[macOS Ventura]], System Preferences was renamed to System Settings. In addition to  a new side bar that contains all preference panes on a sidebar to the left of the window,  and most icons are squared, minimalist, and smaller, instead of the original big, more detailed, varied preference panes that were used in prior versions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Andrew |date=2022-10-26 |title=macOS 13 Ventura: The Ars Technica review |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/10/macos-13-ventura-the-ars-technica-review/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref>  Because of this nature, they can no longer be organized, but can in turn now be searched and organized alphabetically. This design looks somewhat similar to that of the [[Settings (Windows)#Third generation|Windows 11's Settings]]<ref>{{Citation |last=Nobel |first=Martin |title=Windows 11 vs macOS Ventura 13! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfZcP4QP6G4 |work=Nobel Tech |date=June 12, 2022 |access-date=2023-04-10 |at=2:21 |language=en}}</ref> (which has also added a persistent navigation sidebar.) and the [[IPadOS]] version of the [[Settings (Apple)|Settings]] app.  If [[AirPods]] are connected, a menu for the AirPods will appear at the top of System Settings.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=macOS Ventura – New Features |url=https://www.apple.com/macos/ventura/features/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=Apple |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Preference Panes ==
In System Preferences, preferences are organized by theme into Preference Panes (abbreviated profane), which are special [[Dynamic loading|dynamically loaded]] [[Plug-in (computing)|plugins]]. Introduced in [[Mac OS X 10.0]], the purpose of a Preference Pane is to allow the user to set preferences for a specific application or the system by means of a [[graphical user interface]]. Preference Panes are the macOS replacement for [[Control panel (Mac OS)|control panels]] in the [[classic Mac OS]]. Prior to [[Mac OS X v10.4]], collections of Preference Panes featured a "Show All" button to show all the panes in the collection and a customizable toolbar to which frequently-used preference panes could be dragged. In [[Mac OS X Panther|Mac OS X 10.3 Panther]], the currently-active pane would also be highlighted in the toolbar when it was selected. With [[Mac OS X Tiger|Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger]], the toolbar was removed in favor of a plain Show All button and back/forward history arrows. With the release of [[MacOS Ventura]], they were resigned to look like the ones used in iOS.

== See also ==

* [[Settings (Apple)|Settings]] (iOS)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://support.apple.com/HT201726 Mac Basics: Set your preferences], [[Apple Support]]
* [https://arun.is/blog/system-preferences/ The untold history of macOS System Preferences]

{{macOS}}
{{Mac OS}}

[[Category:Computer configuration]]
[[Category:MacOS]]
[[Category:Macintosh operating systems]]
[[Category:Macintosh operating systems user interface]]
[[Category:MacOS-only software made by Apple Inc.]]