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.
Comments
Thanks, Tyler!
Nice introduction to the new System Settings.
Same Here
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
System Settings, General, Time Machine.
Re: Time Machine
Thanks for the suggestion; it has now been added.
Bootcamp in SYstem Preferences
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
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
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
My Issue with System settings
The only issue I have is the complete removal of energy saver preferences. Specifically, it is no longer possible to schedule shut down, restart, etc. I set those things, and generally just let it do its thing, but sometimes I want to be able to modify those settings for specific periods of time. I've found it is still possible in terminal, but I recognize that not everybody is comfortable modifying settings via terminal commands.
Thanks
This helps me so much
Thanks
"View" is your friend
For those of you who absolutely love the new layout (see: Sarcasm), you can access the Settings like so:
1. Press VO + M to access menubar.
2. Click on Apple > System Settings.
3. Go back to menubar, and arrow over to the "View" menu.
4. Arrow down and enjoy a simple and beautiful alphabetized list of the Settings options.
5. Win!
HTH. 😎👍🏻
Works Like a Charm Here
Thank you Brian. I just tried this and it worked for me.
Cannot Read the Table on Mac
Just went back to your excellent reference using Safari on Mac OS 15.1. However, I was surprised to find that I could not read the table with Voiceover. When I interacted with the table, the VO cursor wouldn't move. I tried tables on other websites and they worked normally. I also could read the table on my iPhone running the latest IOS.
The table used to work fine. I haven't tried to read it with Chrome on my Mac.
@Wayne A
The table does work in Sonoma using Safari. I also tried in both Chrome and Firefox and it was also fine. So guess maybe something in Sequoia Safari has broken. I know this doesn't help you much but worth trying one of the other two browsers. If you don't have them installed then it's not a bad thing to have them available in case you run into trouble.
Just Tried Chrome
I just tried reading the table with Google Chrome and it worked fine. Very strange since I can read other tables with Safari.
That is interesting. I just…
That is interesting. I just tried viewing the table with Safari on macOS 15.1 and it worked as expected, allowing me to navigate with VO-left, right, up, and down arrow through it. Not sure if this matters, but this is with arrow-key Quick Nav off, single-key Quick Nav on, and standard grouping behavior.
Thanks
Just cleared my website data and the table worked correctly in Safari. However, when I logged into Applevis, I ran into the issue again where the keyboard cursor could not follow the VO cursor when the VO cursor was focussed on the table. I refreshed the page, and the table started working correctly. Not sure what is happening but my issue seems to be sporadic.
Thanks for your comments.