System Preferences is in your Apple menu, top left of the screen

Open the Apple menu by clicking the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen. The first item in the dropdown menu is System Preferences (on older Macs) or System Settings (on newer Macs running Ventura or later). Click it and the settings window opens when ready.

If you cannot find it there, your Mac may have moved it. Newer versions of macOS renamed System Preferences to System Settings and reorganized where some controls live. Both names open the same place — your Mac's central control panel where you adjust everything from display brightness to network connections.

You can also reach it faster using Spotlight. Press Command+Space, type "system preferences" or "system settings", and press Enter. This works on any Mac regardless of age or macOS version.

Key Takeaways

  • System Preferences (or System Settings on newer Macs) opens from the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.
  • Spotlight search — Command+Space, then type the name — is the fastest way to open it without clicking through menus.
  • The location and name changed in recent macOS versions, but the function remains the same: all your Mac's settings in one place.
  • Once open, use the search box at the top of the window to find a specific setting instead of scrolling through categories.
  • Bookmarking or pinning frequently used settings to your Dock saves you time on adjustments you make regularly.

What changed between older and newer Mac versions

Apple renamed System Preferences to System Settings starting with macOS Ventura (released in 2022). The window looks different and the categories are organized differently, but it is the same place. If you have an older Mac, you will see "System Preferences" in the Apple menu. If you have a newer Mac, you will see "System Settings".

The older version used a grid of icons — Network, Sound, Displays, and so on. The newer version uses a sidebar on the left with categories like General, Appearance, and Privacy & Security. Both versions contain the same controls; they are just arranged differently. If you follow instructions written for the old layout and your Mac looks different, you are likely on a newer version.

Using the search box to find a specific setting

Once System Preferences or System Settings is open, look for a search box near the top of the window. Click it and type what you are looking for — "brightness", "network", "sound", "battery", or any setting name. The window filters when ready to show only matching sections.

This is faster than clicking through categories, especially on newer Macs where settings are spread across many sections. For example, if you want to adjust your display brightness, you could click Display in the sidebar, or you could search "brightness" and jump straight there. The search works even if you do not know the exact name of the setting.

Finding settings in the sidebar or icon grid

On newer Macs (System Settings), the left sidebar lists categories: General, Appearance, Accessibility, Privacy & Security, and others. Click any category to see its settings on the right side of the window. Scroll down within a category to see all available options.

On older Macs (System Preferences), you see a grid of icons instead. Double-click the icon for what you want to change — for example, double-click the Displays icon to adjust brightness or resolution. Some icons open a separate window; others show settings in the main window. The principle is the same: find the category that matches what you want to change, then adjust the controls inside.

Pinning frequently used settings to your Dock

If you change the same setting often — like brightness, volume, or Wi-Fi — you can add it directly to your Dock for one-click access. In System Settings (newer Macs), look for a pin icon next to the setting name. Click it and that setting appears in your Dock as its own icon.

This is useful if you adjust brightness throughout the day or toggle Wi-Fi on and off regularly. Instead of opening System Settings each time, you click the Dock icon and the setting opens when ready. Not all settings support pinning, but the most commonly adjusted ones do.

Restarting your Mac after changing settings

Most settings take effect when ready — you change the volume and hear it right away, you change the brightness and see it when ready. Some settings, particularly those related to network, security, or system behavior, require a restart before they fully take effect.

If you change a setting and it does not seem to work, close System Settings and restart your Mac. Shut down completely, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on. After the restart, the setting should be active. If it still is not working, the setting may require additional steps — for example, some network settings require you to disconnect and reconnect to Wi-Fi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Mac look different from the instructions I found online?

Your Mac is likely running a different version of macOS. Apple changed the name and layout of System Preferences to System Settings in 2022. Older instructions refer to the grid layout; newer ones refer to the sidebar layout. Both contain the same settings — they are just organized differently. Check your macOS version in System Settings under General > About to confirm which version you have.

Can I undo a change I made in System Settings?

Yes. Go back to the same setting and change it to what it was before. System Settings does not have an undo button, but most settings let you revert them by adjusting the control again. If you are unsure what the original value was, restart your Mac — some settings revert to defaults on restart if you do not save them properly, though most do save automatically.

What if I cannot find the setting I am looking for?

Use the search box at the top of System Settings and type a keyword related to what you want to change. Search works across all categories and finds settings by name or description. If search does not find it, the setting may be in a different location than you expect, or it may not exist on your Mac model or macOS version.

Is it safe to change settings in System Preferences?

Most settings are safe to change — brightness, sound, display resolution, and network settings are designed to be adjusted by users. Avoid changing settings in Privacy & Security or System sections unless you know what they do. If you change something and your Mac behaves oddly, you can usually change it back the same way.