System Preferences, the application for Mac OS X that allows you to modify various system settings. The application is organized into different preference panes.
8
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2answers
689 views
Can user accounts be managed via the command line?
Is there any way to add, remove, or modify user accounts via the command line? I'm not talking about an account for a system process or daemon, I mean is there any way to add a user account, change, ...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
How do I move my menubar to an external monitor?
I just asked this question (Using External Monitor and Spaces. Want Mouse to move Up/Down, not Left/Right?) and @calavera gave me a great answer, thanks!
But now I have another question. It seems ...
7
votes
5answers
4k views
Spotlight in upper right screen corner in Mountain Lion
In the System Preferences panel for Spotlight in OS X 10.8, it claims "Spotlight is located at the top right corner of the screen". On my system, this no longer appears to be true; the Notification ...
6
votes
6answers
10k views
Is there a keyboard shortcut for launching Activity Monitor?
I can't seem to find a shortcut for launching the activity monitor. Does it have one?
6
votes
1answer
418 views
Always Asked to Configure Firewall for iTunes
Whenever I open iTunes, I get the standard OS X dialog, Do you want the application "iTunes.app" to accept incoming network connections?
Every time I click allow, but I am asked the same thing without ...
6
votes
2answers
182 views
Where does System Preferences store the name of the Time Machine Destination
I am trying to create a script to determine the destination of time machine on a number of computers I manage. It shows very clearly via Time Machine Settings in System Prefs. I need to be able to ...
5
votes
6answers
4k views
Issue with deleting user account
I want to delete a user account before selling my machine, so I chose the secure delete account option in System Preferences > Users & Groups. I think I saw a progress bar at first as it was ...
5
votes
1answer
2k views
Using External Monitor. Want Mouse to move Up/Down, not Left/Right?
I've got an external monitor and want to be able to use the monitor above the laptop.
It seems I'm supposed to use "Spaces" to support an external monitor which I have done and I've set up two ...
5
votes
2answers
883 views
Is there a fast way to change proxy setting?
On my laptop I usually have a ssh connection open and use the remote machine as a proxy server just so that all my network traffic is over ssh. I know that it's hopeless and we're all doomed, but it ...
5
votes
1answer
1k views
Find and Change system shortcut
As I know you can find a limit of shortcut in system preference > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcut
where you can find other shortcut and how must change it? for example if I change the cmd + O to enter ...
5
votes
1answer
2k views
Disable screensaver password requirement from command line
I am trying to enable and disable the screensaver password requirement from the command line.
defaults read com.apple.screensaver
shows a variable askForPassword set to either 0 or 1, depending on ...
5
votes
2answers
132 views
Is there a 3rd party program that can change the cursor size?
I've always used a larger mouse icon in Windows (made it easier to find when zipping around multiple screens :p). Recently switched to using OSX and discovered that the option to enlarge the mouse ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
Where is the date and time preference data saved on Mac?
I need to check programmatically whether Set Date and Time automatically is checked or not on a Mac System Preferences.
I didn't find any .plist file that contained this information, can anybody tell ...
4
votes
3answers
538 views
How to open a specific pane in system preferences from dock?
When I add the system preferences to the dock and click it, it opens in the common view.
How can I open a specific pane at once from the dock?
4
votes
1answer
109 views
Adobe Bridge Opening on Login
For some reason Adobe Bridge is opening on login, even though my Login Items shows that it is unchecked.
Without uninstalling Adobe Bridge, how can I stop it opening on login?
4
votes
1answer
470 views
How can I set the double-click speed in Lion with a multi-touch trackpad?
In Snow Leopard and earlier (or perhaps the difference was with the hardware; I don't know which as I updated my computer and OS simultaneously), there was a preference under Trackpad to change the ...
4
votes
3answers
2k views
MySQL does not start on startup
In the System Preferences panel, I have the MySQL there.
I chose it to start up every time my Mac starts up, however this doesn't work, I have restarted MySQL many times, but it will not start up ...
4
votes
1answer
115 views
How do I create a menu shortcut which involves the delete key?
In Addressbook I want to create a keyboard shortcut for the Menu entry Delete Group using the key combination option-command-delete.
So I went to System Preferences --> Keyboard --> Keyboard ...
4
votes
1answer
461 views
Secondary click in Lion with two fingers OR bottom-right corner click
I just did a clean install of Lion on my 2010 MBP. It seems as though in the system preferences for the built-in trackpad, I have the option of setting the secondary click gesture to "Click or tap ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
Is there a GUI for OS X LaunchAgents?
I'm a web developer by day and a lot of the software I install on my computer (namely databases and web servers) come with an optional LaunchAgent to automate starting/stopping processes on boot. I'm ...
4
votes
1answer
141 views
Remove app from Location Services?
I've used App Cleaner which clears preference and associated files, but I can't clear it from Location Services permissions list in System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy.
Any idea how ...
3
votes
3answers
2k views
How to stop screen from dimming when watching video?
After a while being inactive with the mouse or keyboard, the macbook will dim my screen to save battery. I know I can expand the delay before it will dim in the system preferences, but are there any ...
3
votes
2answers
838 views
Can't unlock preferences - no password dialog
In system preferences, if I click the "lock" icon to allow me to make changes as the administrator, no dialog opens. The message "Authenticating..." appears momentarily, then disappears, and the lock ...
3
votes
2answers
546 views
How can I export text substitutions from Lion for import into Mountain Lion
I am trying to migrate to a brand new install of Mountain Lion. I am trying to migrate select data from my old Lion install. Does anybody know where the text replacement definitions in System ...
3
votes
1answer
195 views
Is it possible to access a Mac via SSH without administrator access?
I want to be able to SSH into my Mac, but it's disabled in System Preferences (Sharing --> Remote Connections, I believe). The administrator disabled this, and I'm looking for a way to re-enable it ...
3
votes
5answers
331 views
icon for iTunes 10.7/music missing from System Preferences in Snow Leopard
My music/iTunes icon:
is present in the Dock
has gone from some panes of System Preferences.
This first screenshot is from the Spotlight pane, the icon is expected to the left of Music:
The ...
3
votes
2answers
441 views
Why does this applescript not actually set the input volume to zero?
I have this command that builds a script to mute the input volume. The input volume is not fully muted, though. It seems to be closer to 10% than 0%.
osacompile -x -e 'tell application "System ...
3
votes
1answer
503 views
Facebook notification sound in OSX: cannot switch off
In OSX Mountain Lion I'm getting beeps every time a facebook notification comes in. In System Preferences > Notifications > Facebook i have set my alert style to None. In the list on the left, the ...
3
votes
1answer
326 views
No sound and volume icon
I have a Mac mini and the sound has disappeared. I have also lost the sound icon off the toolbar. I went to preferences for the sound and see that mute is checked. I can't un-check it because it is ...
3
votes
1answer
283 views
Need location of image for preference pane “PREF” icon
I have a stack in my Dock with aliases to my most-used preference panes. In the past, the icons that appear in the grid when I click on the stack have been the large descriptive icons shown in Finder. ...
3
votes
2answers
288 views
keyboard preferences ignores modifier key settings
I'm using a Windows-type Logitech keyboard with my OS X 10.6.8 iMac. I've always just used the "Modifier Keys" setting in the Keyboard pane of System Preferences to reverse the Option and Command keys ...
3
votes
1answer
177 views
AppleScript/Automator Workflow to restore OS X to “mint” condition
Under Mountain Lion, I wanted to create an AppleScript that would essentially restore my OS X install to "mint" condition, if possible even to the point of showing you the ML welcome screen asking you ...
2
votes
1answer
108 views
Why do some applications in System Preferences say “To use the “xxx” preferences pane, System Preferences must quit and reopen.”
When I open my MIDI driver in System Preferences I get the following message:
"To use the “YAMAHA USB-MIDI Control Panel” preferences pane, System Preferences must quit and reopen."
Then when I ...
2
votes
3answers
3k views
Where are System Preferences settings stored? Trying to script equal brightness settings for two monitors
I was wondering if anyone know where the System Preferences settings are stored on Mac OS X Lion? I presume there's some .plist with them somewhere.
I think that they might be stored in multiple ...
2
votes
1answer
329 views
Time Machine - Is it backing up system files, preferences, etc?
Problem
My iMac is one which falls under a hard disk replacement program due to a possibly faulty disk made by Seagate in 2010. Because of that I will be soon sending it off to Apple for the disk to ...
2
votes
2answers
662 views
Where is the “Computer Name” screensaver stored in Mac OS X?
I've looked in:
System/Library/Screen Savers
Library/Screen Savers
~/Library/Screen Savers
I wish to explore the package contents for a personal project I'm working on. I've done iOS apps in the ...
2
votes
3answers
798 views
Permanently swapping option and command keys on a non-Apple keyboard
Whenever I plug my Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard into my MacBook Pro, I have to swap the Command and Option modifier keys. How can I prevent these keys from reverting to their default settings ...
2
votes
1answer
99 views
Do three finger navigation gestures work in System Preferences?
I've been playing around with a lot of different settings, and I'm not sure if one of the changes I made causes three finger gestures to not work in the System Preferences application, or if they ...
2
votes
1answer
296 views
Issue with deleting a Mac account through system preferences
I have a desktop mac with multiple users and I would like to erase just one user from the computer but when I open system preferences and click on the accounts area, the minus sign to delete the ...
2
votes
2answers
726 views
Automatic network location in Lion
I'm looking for a Lion compatible application similar to AirportLocation that will automatically change the Network Location based on my current location.
It's becoming a bigger and bigger pain to ...
2
votes
1answer
166 views
Force a change to a program's key bindings
Is it possible to force a change to a program's keybindings? E.g., instead of an menu action being invoked by Cmd-J it's Cmd-K?
The reason I ask is that Cmd-Q in Firefox drives me nuts. I ...
2
votes
1answer
230 views
Where does OS X store mouse preferences?
I couldn't figure out where the settings I change with the "Mouse" system preferences are stored. Neither plist ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple..plist nor /Library/Preferences/com.apple..plist changes ...
2
votes
1answer
125 views
Unable to remove login item from Users & Groups startup list
I have an item in my "Login Items" list (System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items) that refuses to be removed. When highlighted, the minus button grays out. The "hide" toggle is ...
2
votes
1answer
254 views
How to configure OS X for exhibitions
I need to configure a Mac Mini and OS X for use in exhibitions so that it:
boots when power switches on (or wake on LAN)
starts Safari in full-screen mode
suppresses closing Safari and/or showing ...
2
votes
1answer
513 views
How to change account name and full name to one, consistent name?
I have created an administrator account on a Mac OSX 10.5.8. At first, the user name and account name were called "kaleb". However, I later changed the name (is this account or user?) via System ...
2
votes
1answer
515 views
No Keys Repeating on New MacBook Pro After Changing Key Repeat Speed
I just opened my new Retina Display MacBook Pro and everything worked fine, but when I tried to go into System Preferences to make the key repeat speed faster, none of the keys repeated, not even ...
2
votes
1answer
256 views
Hide/Block System Preference Panes?
I have just discovered that System Preference panes such as Mouse and Keyboard cannot be locked, this is a problem as one user could log in change the strings and then another user would log in and ...
2
votes
1answer
250 views
How can I find out how much toner is left in my printer, which is connected to an Airport Express via USB?
My Samsung ML-2850D printer is connected via USB to an Airport Express. I print to it from my Mac over WiFi. I want to check how much toner is left, so I know if I need to purchase a new cartridge ...
2
votes
2answers
777 views
Default Settings in Mac OS X
How can I reset all settings for the system preferences in Mac OS X? I'm using lion.
2
votes
3answers
703 views
System preferences crashes when press accounts
I'm trying to help someone else with their computer, every time I try to access the "Accounts" settings in system preferences, system preferences hangs and then crashes, any idea what's up? The ...
