Where to Find System Preferences on a MacBook (And What Replaced It)
If you've recently updated your MacBook or switched from an older Mac, you might be hunting for System Preferences and finding it's either missing or looks completely different. Here's what's going on — and exactly where to look depending on your macOS version.
System Preferences vs. System Settings: What Changed
Apple renamed and redesigned the central control panel for macOS with the release of macOS Ventura (13.0) in 2022. What had been called System Preferences for over two decades became System Settings — with a new layout that more closely resembles the Settings app on iPhone and iPad.
If your MacBook is running macOS Monterey (12) or earlier, you have System Preferences. If you're on macOS Ventura, Sonoma, or later, you have System Settings. The underlying purpose is the same — it's the place where you control everything from Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to displays, notifications, user accounts, and privacy.
Knowing which version of macOS you're running is the first step to finding the right thing in the right place.
How to Find Your macOS Version
Before anything else, check which system you're working with:
- Click the Apple menu (🍎) in the top-left corner of your screen
- Select About This Mac
- Look for the macOS name and version number
This tells you immediately whether you're looking for System Preferences or System Settings.
Where to Find System Preferences (macOS Monterey and Earlier)
On older versions of macOS, System Preferences can be found in several places:
Option 1 — Apple Menu Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner → select System Preferences from the dropdown menu.
Option 2 — Dock System Preferences typically lives in the Dock by default — it looks like a grey icon with interlocking gears. If it's not there, someone may have removed it manually.
Option 3 — Spotlight Search Press Command (⌘) + Space to open Spotlight, type "System Preferences," and press Return. This works regardless of whether the icon is in your Dock.
Option 4 — Applications Folder Open Finder → click Applications in the sidebar → scroll to find System Preferences in the list.
Where to Find System Settings (macOS Ventura, Sonoma, and Later)
Apple replaced the gear icon and renamed the app, but it lives in the same general places:
Option 1 — Apple Menu Click the Apple logo top-left → select System Settings. This is the most direct route.
Option 2 — Dock The new System Settings icon is a grey rectangle with a gear graphic inside it — similar to the iPhone Settings icon. It's usually pinned to the Dock by default.
Option 3 — Spotlight SearchCommand + Space, type "System Settings," press Return. Fast and reliable regardless of your Dock setup.
Option 4 — Applications Folder Finder → Applications → System Settings.
Navigating the New System Settings Layout
If you've upgraded from an older macOS and feel disoriented, you're not alone. The redesigned interface replaced the grid of icons with a left-side sidebar containing categories — similar to how iPhone Settings is organized.
| Old System Preferences | New System Settings Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Grid of preference pane icons | Sidebar with categorized sections |
| Network | Wi-Fi / Network (split into subsections) |
| Security & Privacy | Privacy & Security |
| Users & Groups | Users & Groups (same name, new location) |
| Displays | Displays |
| Software Update | General → Software Update |
Some settings moved into General, which now acts as a catch-all for system-level options like software updates, AirDrop, storage, and login items.
What If You Can't Find a Specific Setting?
Both System Preferences (old) and System Settings (new) include a search bar at the top. Type what you're looking for — "VPN," "wallpaper," "keyboard shortcuts" — and the app will highlight the relevant section. This is the fastest way to navigate either version without memorizing where Apple put everything.
On macOS Ventura and later, you can also use Spotlight (Command + Space) and type the name of a specific setting directly. macOS will often surface a shortcut straight to that section of System Settings.
Third-Party Panes and Legacy Preferences
Some third-party applications install their own preference panes into System Preferences — tools like antivirus software, virtualization apps, or certain peripherals. In macOS Ventura and later, these third-party panes moved to the bottom of the System Settings sidebar under a section sometimes labeled Third-Party or the app's own name. They don't always integrate as cleanly into the new interface, which can make them harder to spot.
The Version Factor Changes Everything 🖥️
What makes this question trickier than it appears is that the correct answer depends almost entirely on which macOS version your MacBook is running — and potentially whether your Dock has been customized, whether you're an admin or standard user, or whether third-party tools have modified your environment.
Someone running a 2019 MacBook still on macOS Monterey has a completely different experience than someone on a 2023 MacBook Pro running the latest macOS Sonoma. The same question — "where is System Preferences?" — lands in genuinely different places depending on your machine and update history. Your specific setup determines not just the name of the app, but its layout, what's inside it, and where the settings you need are actually located.