System Settings is where Mac users go to customize their Mac, from setting a wallpaper to managing their iCloud account. As a Mac user, you'll often find yourself in System Settings for one reason or another. But how do you get there?

You probably have a specific method of getting to System Settings, but did you know there are other ways to access it? Below, we'll discuss multiple ways to open the System Settings app on your Mac.

1. Search With Spotlight

Spotlight is a hidden gem of a tool in macOS. It's simple, but there's a lot you can do with it. You can make the most out of Spotlight on your Mac by learning about what it's capable of, such as launching System Settings.

Press Command + Space or use your keyboard's dedicated Spotlight function key to bring up Spotlight. You can also click the Spotlight icon in your Mac's menu bar. You can always add the Spotlight icon to your menu bar if it isn't there.

System Settings using Spotlight

Once Spotlight is open, enter System Settings and press the Return key to open System Settings. It's as quick and easy as that.

2. Use Launchpad

Launchpad is one of the easiest ways to launch apps on your Mac. To use it to access System Settings, do the following:

  1. Click Launchpad in your Mac's Dock.
  2. In Launchpad, find and click System Settings. You can also search for it using the search bar at the top.
System Settings in Launchpad-1

Besides accessing System Settings, you can use Launchpad to do more on your Mac, like creating app folders and deleting apps.

3. The Apple Menu

System Settings in Apple Menu

The Apple menu sits in the top-left of your Mac's menu bar. You can access it by clicking on the Apple logo. From the dropdown menu, you can log out of a user account, restart, shut down your Mac, or put it to sleep, and access System Settings. However, to access System Settings, click the Apple menu and select System Settings from the dropdown.

4. The Dock

System Settings in Dock

Your Mac's Dock is where your open apps go, as do the apps you add to it. By default, System Settings is in the Dock, so accessing it can be as simple as clicking on the System Settings icon in your Mac's Dock.

However, if you've removed the System Settings app icon from the Dock, you should consider adding it back for quick and easy access from your desktop.

5. Finder

Accessing System Settings through Finder is probably the trickiest of all the methods, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. Here's how to do it:

  1. Open Finder on your Mac, then click Go from the menu bar.
  2. Click Computer, then select your Mac's hard drive, Macintosh HD.
  3. Open the System folder, then click on Library.
  4. Scroll down until you see the PreferencePanes folder and open it.
  5. In the PreferencePanes folder, you'll see a list of files ending in .prefPane. Click on any of the files to open it, like Keyboard.prefPane, for example. It should take you to the System Settings menu for Keyboard settings. You can also drag and drop any item from the PreferencePanes window to your desktop or the Dock.
  6. Navigate System Settings, as usual, using the sidebar.
System Settings in Finder

And there it is. It doesn't matter what item you click in the PreferencePanes window. You'll still end up in System Settings. By the way, if you're using macOS Monterey or older and looking to switch to macOS Ventura, we've got a guide to System Settings in macOS Ventura that you should check out.

It Doesn't Matter How You Get to System Settings

You may not use more than one of these methods, but knowing you have options is nice. Plus, you can always impress friends with your knowledge of multiple ways to access System Settings on a Mac.

Ultimately, your method of getting to System Settings doesn't matter. The important thing is that you get to System Settings. So, whether it's the somewhat tricky Finder method or the single-click Dock method, keep using the method that works best for you.