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A Quick Guide to the System Settings App in macOS Ventura

By Tyler, 24 October, 2022

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team

In macOS Ventura, Apple replaced the familiar System Preferences app with a new app called System Settings. This app is fully accessible with VoiceOver, however the interface is quite different and many settings have been relocated, which may at first be disorienting to longtime Mac users. However, the new layout may feel familiar if you’ve used iOS or iPadOS, and you may eventually find that the increased parody between the two platforms makes the experience of locating and changing settings easier and more predictable on both of them.

Like System Preferences, the System Settings app can be accessed most conveniently from the Apple Menu, and can also be accessed via the Applications folder and various individual panels in the Control Center and Status menus. Once opened, you’ll be focused on a table of setting categories, many of which mirror the top level of the Settings app on iOS and iPadOS. The settings for each category are contained in a scroll area to the right of the table, and for added convenience, you can jump into the scroll area for a given category by focusing on it in the table and pressing VO-J. In addition, some setting categories are organized by heading, allowing you to select a category in the table and jump to a heading within the scroll area by pressing VO-Command-H.

The table below lists common settings, their locations in macOS Monterey, and their new locations in System Settings in macOS Ventura. Keep in mind that this table does not list every possible setting, but rather is intended as a quick reference for those looking for a common setting in a new environment.

Setting Description Location in macOS Monterey Location in macOS Ventura
Announce the time Uses System Speech to announce the time at regular intervals System Preferences > Dock & Menu Bar > Clock System Settings > Control Center > Clock options
AppleCare status Displays the AppleCare coverage status and support options available for your Mac Apple > About this Mac > Support System Settings > General > About
Default web browser Specifies the web browser that opens when clicking a link in another app to a webpage System Preferences > General System Settings > Desktop & Dock
Hot corners Specifies what of a series of quick actions will be performed when touching a corner of the trackpad. Particularly if you use VoiceOver’s Trackpad Commander, you may want to turn all of them off to prevent inadvertent activation when touching the trackpad. System Preferences > Mission Control > Hot Corners System Settings > Desktop & Dock > Hot Corners
Login items Specifies the items that open automatically when login in System Preferences > Users & Groups System Settings > General > Login items
Require password after sleep or screensaver Specifies the amount of time after sleep or screensaver begins before a password, Touch ID, or Apple Watch is required to unlock the Mac System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General System Settings > Lock Screen
Sleep time specifies the amount of time your Mac is inactive before it goes to sleep System Preferences > Battery System Settings > Lock Screen
Software update Checks for and installs updates to macOS and other software and firmware components for your Mac System Preferences > Software update System Settings > General > Software update
Startup disk Specifies the disk your Mac starts from by default when turning it on or restarting it, which you may want to change if you use BootCamp or have a second instance of macOS installed. System Preferences > Startup disk System Settings > General > Startup disk
Storage management Displays insights into the types of files taking the most storage space on your Mac and provides recommendations to save space Apple > About this Mac > Storage System Settings > General > Storage
Time Machine Automatically makes backups of your data at regular intervals to a location of your choosing System Preferences > Time Machine System Settings > General > Time Machine
Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys Overrides the default hardware-defined features of function keys in favor of software control. If you use VoiceOver, you may want to enable this setting so you won't need to hold down the Globe key when performing a command that involves a function key. System Preferences > Keyboard System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard shortcuts > Function keys
Use VoiceOver at login prompt Configures your Mac to automatically start VoiceOver at the login prompt System Preferences > Users & groups > Login options > Accessibility options System Settings > Lock screen > Accessibility options

If you have any questions or think of another setting that should be referenced here, sound off in the comments.

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The article on this page has generously been submitted by a member of the AppleVis community. As AppleVis is a community-powered website, we make no guarantee, either express or implied, of the accuracy or completeness of the information.

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Comments

Thanks, Tyler!

By PaulMartz

4 months 3 weeks ago

Member of the AppleVis Blog Team

Nice introduction to the new System Settings.

Thanks

By Cobbler

4 months 3 weeks ago

Thanks Tyler, this was really helpful with making the transition to Ventura.

Same Here

By Ekaj

4 months 3 weeks ago

Thank you Tyler. This new settings app is easy to use. I haven't yet found everything in there, but I'm sure that'll happen sooner or later.

Time Machine

By PaulMartz

4 months 2 weeks ago

Member of the AppleVis Blog Team

System Settings, General, Time Machine.

Re: Time Machine

By Tyler

4 months 2 weeks ago

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team

Thanks for the suggestion; it has now been added.

Bootcamp in SYstem Preferences

By ray h

4 months 1 week ago

Thanks for this excellent post.
I've been reluctant to upgrade to Ventura for one main reason. Someone told me that the startup option that existed in earlier OS versions had been completely removed. I used System Preferences, startup to switch to the Bootcam startup. I need to frequently restart in Windows because of some specific applications I use. As I'm totally blind, I don't want to have to use the option key feature at startup to choose whether I start in Mac or Windows. Seeing your table above, was my information incorrect that the choice was removed? It appears that it's just in a different place and it is still there. Any advice that can be provided is most appreciated.

Re: Bootcamp in System Preferences

By Tyler

4 months 1 week ago

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team

As far as I can tell, all the startup options previously located in System Preferences > Startup Disk are now present in System Settings > General > Startup disk.

I hate it

By Meow meow j

4 months 1 week ago

I hate the app, it is very confusing and buggy, also, who the hell decided to put Wi-Fi and Netwerk into different categories, there are a few positives, such as moving the color related options to the appearance tab, overall, though, I regret upgrading to Ventura, because of the stupid system settings app

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