Where to Find System Preferences on a Mac (And What Replaced It)

If you've just switched to a Mac — or returned after a long break — hunting for System Preferences can feel surprisingly confusing. Apple renamed and redesigned it, so depending on which version of macOS you're running, the name, icon, and layout may look completely different from what you expected.

Here's a clear breakdown of where to find it, what changed, and why it matters for how you manage your Mac.

System Preferences vs. System Settings: What Apple Changed

For decades, Mac users managed everything from Wi-Fi to displays to user accounts through an app called System Preferences. It had a grid of icons — familiar, if a little cluttered.

With the release of macOS Ventura (2022), Apple replaced System Preferences entirely with a redesigned app called System Settings. The change wasn't just cosmetic. The layout shifted to a sidebar-based design, closely resembling the Settings app on iPhone and iPad.

So if someone tells you to "open System Preferences" and you're running macOS Ventura or later, they mean System Settings — same destination, different name.

How to Open System Preferences or System Settings 🖥️

Regardless of which macOS version you're on, there are several reliable ways to get there:

Method 1: The Apple Menu

Click the Apple logo (🍎) in the top-left corner of your screen. You'll see either System Preferences or System Settings near the top of the dropdown menu. This works on every version of macOS.

Method 2: The Dock

Apple typically keeps System Preferences or System Settings pinned in the Dock — the row of icons along the bottom of your screen. Look for a grey icon with two overlapping gear wheels (older macOS) or a gear icon with a more stylized appearance (Ventura and later). If it's not visible, it may have been removed from your Dock by a previous user.

Method 3: Spotlight Search

Press Command (⌘) + Spacebar to open Spotlight, then type "System Preferences" or "System Settings." Spotlight is smart enough to surface the correct app even if you type the old name on a newer system.

Method 4: Finder

Open a Finder window, navigate to the Applications folder, and scroll to find System Preferences or System Settings. It lives there like any other app and can be launched directly.

Method 5: Siri

Ask Siri to "Open System Settings" or "Open System Preferences" — Siri will launch it immediately without you needing to navigate anywhere.

What You Can Control Inside System Preferences or System Settings

Both versions of the app are the central control panel for your Mac. Key areas include:

• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth — manage network connections and paired devices
• Display — resolution, brightness, Night Shift, and arrangement for multiple monitors
• Privacy & Security — app permissions, FileVault encryption, and security settings
• Software Update — check for and install macOS updates
• Users & Groups — manage accounts on the machine
• Accessibility — display, motor, hearing, and cognitive assistance features
• Notifications — control which apps can alert you and how
• Apple ID — manage iCloud, subscriptions, and connected devices

In the sidebar layout of System Settings, these categories appear as a scrollable list on the left, which some users find easier to navigate and others find less intuitive than the old grid.

Why You Might Not Find It Where You Expect

A few situations cause confusion:

You're on a newer Mac but following older instructions. A lot of online guides — including Apple's own support articles — were written before Ventura launched. References to "open System Preferences" now mean "open System Settings" if you're on macOS Ventura, Sonoma, or later.

The Dock icon was removed. Anyone with admin access can remove apps from the Dock. If it's gone from yours, Spotlight is the fastest way back in.

You're looking for a setting that moved. Apple reorganized several settings categories when it redesigned the app. Options that were grouped together under older macOS may now live under different sections in System Settings.

You're using a managed Mac. If your device is administered by a school or employer, certain settings panels may be restricted or hidden entirely. What you see in System Settings on a managed Mac may not match what a standard user sees.

The Variables That Change Your Experience

How System Preferences or System Settings looks and behaves depends on several factors:

• macOS version — the most significant variable. Ventura drew a hard line between the old and new experience.
• Whether the Mac is managed — MDM (Mobile Device Management) profiles can hide or lock entire sections.
• User account type — standard users see fewer options than admin users; some settings require admin authentication to change.
• Connected hardware — external displays, printers, or input devices may add new settings panels that don't appear for other users.
• Installed third-party apps — some apps add preference panes to System Preferences (in older macOS) that won't appear on a clean install.

What a first-time Mac user sees when they open System Settings on a brand-new MacBook running the latest macOS will look noticeably different from what someone sees on a mid-2017 iMac still running Monterey — and both will differ from a work-managed MacBook Pro with restricted access.

Knowing which version of macOS you're running is the first thing worth checking before following any Mac settings guide.