With macOS Ventura, Apple decided to rename and redesign macOS System Preferences. It looks similar to iOS, but Apple hasn’t made the two user interfaces completely identical.
The Mac and iPhone have different screens and usage dynamics, so Apple has created interfaces that take advantage of the platform while achieving a sense of consistency. That’s what you can expect to see in Ventura.
macOS Ventura: System Preferences is now System Settings
Apple renamed System Preferences in macOS Ventura to System Settings to match the Settings app in iOS. It’s still in the Apple menu under About This Mac.
Why System Settings and not just Settings, as they are called in iOS? To clarify, these settings are macOS settings and there are no settings for Mac apps in this section.
Mac application settings are always called Preferences and are always found in the Preferences menu of each application. On iOS, the Settings app contains both system and app settings, hence the name Systemless Settings.
macOS Ventura: new look
Here’s what System Preferences look like in macOS Monterey and the new System Settings look like in macOS Ventura. Drag the slider to see how different the two apps are.
The icon grid is gone, replaced by a list in the left column. In the old UI, clicking an icon opened the parameter window. In the new interface, the clicked parameter opens in the main part of the window. This new layout makes changing settings more efficient.
Apple has also changed the controls for each setting. They’re similar to those used before, but Apple has made some tweaks to make the controls more intuitive and easier to use. The overall look is much cleaner, making it easier to find settings and controls.
macOS Ventura: settings moved
The new look is easy to adapt, but what will confuse some users is that Apple has also moved many settings from their previous location. For example, the General panel now has different settings; some of the settings it had before, like Appearance, are now their own separate settings panel, while others are now in a different or new setting.
It’s going to take a bit of getting used to. However, the settings you make frequently are most likely in Control Center or the menu bar, so you won’t have to search for them. However, Apple didn’t remove the search box, so you can use it to find what you need.
For more information, read all about macOS Ventura’s best features and how Ventura compares to Monterey.
Original article published in English on our sister site igamesnews.com.