Mac desktops appear the same, but you can tweak a few settings to personalize their appearance and how it functions. Then, you can genuinely make your Mac system feel like your own.
Here are some compelling reasons if you’re wondering why you want to customize your computer’s settings.
- Customizing computer settings means transforming it to behave how you want it to. The computer will function according to your style and preferences.
- It will help to enhance your ease of use and productivity because you will know where the files are kept and how you can quickly access them.
- Personalizing computer settings will improve its accessibility.
- The appearance will be augmented, and you can make it appear the way you want. It will stand out from the rest.
Now that you know the why, focus on how you can customize your Mac and improve your ease of use and accessibility.
. Personalize the Menu Bar
The menu bar is one of the great features of Mac systems. It is easy to tap into on the fly and displays critical information in real-time. However, it can quickly appear cluttered and disorganized. Luckily, you can edit menu bar Mac to remove and rearrange the displayed icons.
If your system runs on macOS Big Sur or later, you can personalize the menu bar with Control Center. Open the Control Center > drag and drop any Control Center settings on the menu bar > go back to the Control Center to remove any setting. Alternatively, you can make more changes through System Preferences.
. Change the Wallpaper and Screen saver
Users can make the most impactful and noticeable visual decisions by changing the macOS wallpaper through System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver. Users can choose from dynamic wallpapers that can be set to change throughout the day or Apple’s included wallpapers. Additionally, you can select from the Photos library to use your vacation pictures or any image of your choice as the desktop wallpaper.
Do you still use a screen saver? If so, you can change that too through System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver.
. Use a custom user icon
The user icon is what you see when your Mac first starts. Hence, it is essential to make it personal. Change what is displayed by going to System Preferences > Users menu. Ensure your user account is selected, and then click on the current user icon to change it. You can select from animated memoji in different poses, a monogram of your initials, static emoji, a picture taken with your webcam, etc. Also, you can click and drag any picture of your choice into the circle in the lower-left corner of your screen.
. Personalize Finder
Finder’s sidebar consists of favorites that enable users to jump to different locations quickly, like Downloads and Documents. You can remove redundant locations by right-clicking and choosing the Remove from Sidebar option. Alternatively, you can launch a Finder window, click Finder > Preferences, and go to the Sidebar tab to uncheck or check the items of interest.
You can also change the display of the Finder window, tag labels and the default search behavior. You can add other folders you frequently use by clicking and dragging them into the Finder sidebar.
. Customization of the Dock
One of the most valuable aspects of Mac systems is the Dock. Therefore, you must not forget to customize it. Start by removing the icons you don’t require anymore by clicking them and dragging them out of the Dock. You can release them when the Remove label appears on the screen.
If you want to add items to the Dock, you must click and drag them from the folder like Utilities or Applications. You can also right-click on the currently open applications and select Options > Keep in Dock from the context menu.
If you want to change the placement of the Dock, you can do so by heading to System Preferences > Dock & Menu Bar. The available vertical screen space will be maximized if you place the Dock on the screen’s left-hand side. This is particularly useful if you have a Mac system with a smaller screen.
The Recent Applications section can also be removed from the Dock if you do not find it relevant to return to the applications you have recently used. Furthermore, there are settings to enable magnification, auto-hide the Dock and change the animation styles used when maximizing and minimizing windows.
. Add widgets to the Notification Center
While widgets are not groundbreaking, a glance world clock or month-view calendar can be helpful to you. The Notification Center can be accessed using two fingers on the trackpad, and you can Edit Widgets to add or remove widgets from the list.
The Bottom Line
Make your Mac system personal by following the customization tips mentioned above. Your Mac desktop’s appearance to how the system behaves can be fashioned according to your style and preferences. So, do not waste any more time and get started.