macOS Sonoma 14
macOS Ventura 13
macOS Monterey 12
macOS Big Sur 11.0
Modifying this control will update this page automatically
Table of Contents
macOS User Guide
- Welcome
-
- What’s in the menu bar?
- Work on the desktop
- Search with Spotlight
- Quickly change settings
- Use Siri
- Get notifications
- Open apps from the Dock
- Organize your files in the Finder
-
- Connect to the internet
- Browse the web
- Preview a file
- Take a screenshot
- Change your display’s brightness
- Adjust the volume
- Use trackpad and mouse gestures
- Use Touch ID
- Print documents
- Keyboard shortcuts
-
- Apps on your Mac
- Open apps
- Work with app windows
- Use apps in full screen
- Use apps in Split View
- Use Stage Manager
- Get apps from the App Store
- Install and reinstall apps from the App Store
- Install and uninstall other apps
-
- Create and work with documents
- Open documents
- Mark up files
- Combine files into a PDF
- Organize files on your desktop
- Organize files with folders
- Tag files and folders
- Back up files
- Restore files
-
- Change System Settings
- Choose your desktop wallpaper
- Add and customize widgets
- Use a screen saver
- Add a user or group
- Add your email and other accounts
- Automate tasks with Shortcuts
- Create Memoji
- Change your login picture
- Change the system language
- Make text and other items on the screen bigger
-
- Set up a Focus to stay on task
- Set up Screen Time for yourself
- Use Dictation
- Send emails
- Send text messages
- Make a FaceTime video call
- Edit photos and videos
- Use Live Text to interact with text in a photo
- Start a Quick Note
- Get directions
-
- Work across devices using Continuity
- Use iPhone as a webcam
- Use iPhone with Desk View
- Stream audio and video with AirPlay
- Use one keyboard and mouse to control Mac and iPad
- Hand off between devices
- Unlock your Mac with Apple Watch
- Make and receive phone calls on your Mac
- Sync music, books, and more between devices
-
- Manage Apple ID settings
- Set your Apple ID picture
- What is iCloud?
- What is iCloud+?
- Store files in iCloud Drive
- Share and collaborate on files and folders
- Manage iCloud storage
- Use iCloud Photos
-
- What is Family Sharing?
- Set up Family Sharing
- Set up Screen Time for a child
- Share purchases with your family
- Watch and listen together with SharePlay
- Share a Photo Library
- Collaborate on projects
- Find content shared with you
- Find your family and friends
- Play games with your friends
-
- Play music
- Listen to podcasts
- Watch TV shows and movies
- Read and listen to books
- Read the news
- Track stocks and the market
-
- Apple Music
- Apple TV+
- Apple Arcade
- Apple News+
- Podcast shows and channels
- Manage subscriptions in the App Store
- View Apple family subscriptions
-
- Guard your privacy
- Use Mail Privacy Protection
- Control access to your camera
- Use Sign in with Apple for apps and websites
- Set up your Mac to be secure
- Keep your data safe
- Create a passkey
- Understand passwords
- Keep your Apple ID secure
- Find a missing device
-
- Get started with accessibility features
- Vision
- Hearing
- Mobility
- Speech
- General
-
- Connect an external display
- Use the built-in camera
- Connect a Bluetooth device
- Use AirPods with your Mac
- Optimize your Mac battery life
- Optimize storage space
- Burn CDs and DVDs
- Control accessories in your home
- Use Windows on your Mac
- Resources for your Mac
- Resources for your Apple devices
- Copyright
Control Center on Mac gives you quick access to key macOS settings—such as AirDrop, Wi-Fi, or Focus. You can customize Control Center to add other items, such as accessibility shortcuts, battery status, or fast user switching.
Privacy indicators, which can be dots or arrows, are located to the right of Control Center. An orange dot 
next to the Control Center icon 
in the menu bar indicates the microphone on your Mac is in use; a green dot 
indicates a camera is in use; a purple dot 
indicates the system audio is being recorded; and an arrow 
indicates your location is in use. Only one privacy indicator dot is shown at a time. For example, if both the microphone and a camera are in use, you only see a green dot. When you open Control Center, the top of the window may contain a field that shows which apps are using your microphone, location, camera, or system audio. You can click that field to open the Privacy window, which may have additional information (macOS 13.3 or later).
Use Control Center
On your Mac, click Control Center
in the menu bar.Do any of the following with items in Control Center:
Drag a slider to increase or decrease a setting—for example, drag the Sound slider to adjust the volume on your Mac.
Click an icon to turn a feature on or off—for example, click AirDrop or Bluetooth® to turn it on or off.
Click an item (or its arrow
) to show more options—for example, click Focus to show your Focus list and turn a Focus on or off, or click Screen Mirroring to choose a target display.
) Tip: If you often use an item, you can drag it from Control Center to the menu bar, to keep it handy there. To remove the item from the menu bar, press and hold the Command key while you drag the item out of the menu bar.
Customize Control Center
On your Mac, choose Apple menu
Choose settings for the items in these sections on the right.
Control Center Modules: The items in this section are always shown in Control Center; you can’t remove them. You can choose to also show them in the menu bar. Click the pop-up menu next to an item, then choose an option.
Other Modules: You can add the items in this section to Control Center and the menu bar. Turn each option below an item on or off. Some items may have additional settings available.
Menu Bar Only: You can choose options for the menu bar clock, and add other items (such as Spotlight, Siri, Time Machine, and VPN status) to the menu bar.
For more information about the individual options, see Change Control Center settings.
See alsoTurn a Focus on or off on MacWhat’s in the menu bar on Mac?Allow apps to detect the location of your MacControl access to screen and system audio recording on Mac
Thanks for your feedback.
