World Executives Digest | Mac Customization: How to Customize Your Mac Desktop | Apple has created a reputation for having a minimalist aesthetic over the years. For the most part, this aesthetic works, but there are still some areas that Mac users may want to customize or change.
Although Macs don’t offer the number of customization options that PCs do, there are still a number of ways you can change things around to create a more enjoyable experience.
Keep reading to learn about some of the different Mac customization options.
Set Your Wallpaper to Change
Most Mac users know that you can change your Desktop’s wallpaper. To do so, head to System Preferences, then click the Desktop section. You can then choose between stock photos or your own.
But did you know that you can also set the wallpaper so that it changes by itself? To do so, check the box that says Change Picture. You can then use the drop-down menu to select how often you want it to switch. Choose from different periods of minutes, every hour, or every day.
To make sure there are no surprises, create a folder in iPhoto, then select the pictures to come from what you have in there. If you add more photos to the folder, the Desktop & Screen Saver tab will update to include them in your slideshow.
Get Colorful
If you have MacOS Mojave or later, you’re able to adjust the color of certain display elements. This helps keep things feeling fresh if you’ve been using your Mac for a long period of time.
To change some of the colors you see, head to System Preferences, then go to General. From there, you’ll be able to change highlight colors, as well as certain accent colors. After you make a selection, you’ll see the effect it has on the different elements right away.
Decide Between Light or Dark Mode
For years, Apple users have been asking for a dark mode option. If you’re unfamiliar with what it is, dark mode is an aesthetic option that switches the design scheme to dark, as opposed to light.
Dark mode is popular as it requires less energy than brighter alternatives. It also reduces the strain on your eyes since you aren’t looking at as bright of a screen. Dark mode may also help you sleep better, as staring at bright blue lights prevents your body from producing the melatonin needed for sleep.
To switch to dark mode, head to System Preferences, then go to General. You’ll see options for light, dark, and auto. By default, your Mac uses light mode. Consider switching it to dark, or to auto. Auto will set it to light mode during the day, and dark mode at night. This will give your eyes the break they need.
Customize the Dock
The Mac dock is one of the most iconic parts of an Apple computer. Customizing your Mac dock will help it feel more personalized.
To play around with the different settings available, head to System Preferences, then Dock. Once there, you’ll see a number of options that you can tweak.
If you want to make the dock bigger or smaller, you can do that. You can also set it so that when you hover your mouse over the different apps in the dock, you magnify them, causing them to get larger. You can also change the dock’s position, putting it at the bottom or the sides of your computer screen.
By default, when you close out of an application, you see an effect as the app minimizes down. This is called Genie Effect. Although it’s aesthetically pleasing, consider switching it to Scale Effect in the Dock settings. This will change things up, and require your computer to use less processing power.
To completely switch the dock up, consider using a third-party program, such as uBar. Learn more about uBar here: https://setapp.com/apps/ubar.
Be Specific With the Time
Are you a precise person that likes knowing exactly what time it is? If you are, you can customize your settings to be more specific.
To change things up, click the current date and time in the top right corner of your screen. Then click Open Date & Time Preferences. Head to the clock section, where you’ll see some customization options available.
Choose between showing a digital or analog clock. Although the analog clock may be harder to read, it can complement the look you want. On the other hand, if you select digital clock, you can choose to make it more precise, showing the seconds in addition to the minutes.
You can also choose between a 12-hour and 24-hour clock, to show the date, and to show which day of the week it is.
Change App Icons
If you want to try some more advanced customization options, you can also change the icons used by each app.
Download a .icns file from the internet, or use one that is on your computer. Once you have it, find the app you want, select it, and choose Get Info. You can also use the keyboard shortcut, Command + I.
Click the icon in the top left of the window. You can then paste your new icon in, replacing the old one.
Enjoy the Mac Customization Options Available to You
If you’re a Mac user, it may seem like customizing your Mac is hard to do. Yet by following this guide and trying out some of these Mac customization options, you’ll be able to finetune your computer so that it works for you.
Do you have any other suggestions for Mac Desktop customization? Let us know in a comment below!
If you found this article handy, don’t forget to check out some of our other blog posts for more guides and tips.
