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Questions tagged [system-prefs]

System Preferences, the application for OS X that allows you to modify various system settings. The application is organized into different preference panes.

System Preferences is the application for OS X that allows you to modify various system settings. Located in /Applications, the application is organized into different preference panes.

System Preferences will access preference panes in three default locations:

  • /System/Library/PreferencePanes — default OS X preference panes
  • /Library/PreferencePanes — user-installed preference panes installed globally
  • ~/Library/PreferencePanes — user-installed preference panes just for a single user
488 questions
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How to separate "mouse" and "trackpad" settings?

In System Preferences > Mouse there's a setting "Scroll direction: natural", which I don't like, so I unset. The problem is that this also unsets the setting for Trackpad, which I do like. How can you have different settings for mouse and…
iconoclast
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How can I disable the red Software Update notification bubble on the System Preferences app in MacOS Mojave (not App Store)?

I keep the "System Preferences" app icon in my dock in Mojave. I recently checked for updates, and found one, but I'm not ready to install it just yet and the red notification dot over the settings app is really bothering my obsessive-compulsive…
Wyatt Ward
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How do I get F11 and F12 to behave like normal function keys?

I have a 2013 MacBook Pro Retina 15" and I'm trying to set the function keys to perform as normal function keys. So I want the behaviour to be inverted from the standard behaviour where I need to press Fn to get the keys to work normally. I've…
conorgriffin
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How do I sync the Visual Studio Code (vscode) theme to use my OS light/dark color scheme?

MacOS now supports both "Light" and "Dark" mode (found in "System Preferences", "General", "Appearance"). How can I make VS Code automatically change it's theme to be light or dark, when I change my MacOS "Appearance"?
JBallin
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What is AEServer and why is it requesting macOS Accessibility permissions?

What is AEServer in the macOS Accessibility permissions panel? System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Accessibility > AEServer Why is AEServer requesting to control my computer via accessibility APIs? Should Accessibility permission be…
pkamb
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Toggle "Use all F1, F2 as standard keys" via script

I toggle the "Use all F1, F2 as standard keys" setting very often and would like to automate it via a script (or a keyboard shortcut). Is it possible? I've tried to Google the right arguments for defaults write ... but unsuccessfully. Update: I…
Jakub Roztocil
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Tilde (~) and plus-minus (±) in wrong place on keyboard

I'm using a MacBook Pro with a Swedish physical keyboard, but with U.S. layout defined in System Prefs. However the tilde (~) and plus-minus (±) keys seem switched. The following key combination should produce a ~: Because the mapping in System…
Conor Taylor
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Remove an app from Notification Center preference pane

My girlfriend added Facebook to my Notification Center. I tried to set the alert style to none, and you can see the check mark to show items in Notification Center is deselected. I want it completely gone but don't know how else to configure…
Marcus McLean
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Is there a GUI for OS X LaunchAgents?

I'm a web developer by day and a lot of the software I install on my computer (namely databases and web servers) come with an optional LaunchAgent to automate starting/stopping processes on boot. I'm wondering if there's a GUI for these types of…
bloudermilk
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Is there a fast way to switch System time zone from the command line?

I usually do it through the System Preference panel for Date & Time, but I'd like a quicker way to do this if there is one.
dan
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Add a Google account to macOS 10.14.6 running Safari 13.0?

Starting on September 20, 2019, my macOS 10.14.6-equipped iMac began asking me to enter the password for two Google accounts I've long had connected to the machine. I clicked the notification bubble and it took me to the Internet Accounts area of…
Ian C.
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Allow button not working in system preferences

I am trying to install some software, (at this particular moment I want to install VirtualBox, although this issue has happened with other software), and I have to click "Allow" in System Preferences, in the Security & Privacy -> General window.…
Abraham
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Is it possible to hide or remove system preference panes?

I have a number of System Preference panes I'd like to get rid of. My preference is to make them inactive so nothing loads, but not to delete them in case I ever want them back. What are my options? How do I do this?
user242397
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macOS detects location but doesn't Set Time Zone Automatically

Recently my automatic timezone update stopped working. (i.e. it used to work but now it doesn't) The Troubling thing is that my Mac detects the correct location (e.g. Golden, CO), but it doesn't use this to update the timezone despite Set my…
Bryan P
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Is there a keyboard shortcut for launching Activity Monitor?

I can't seem to find a shortcut for launching the activity monitor. Does it have one?
Casebash
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