How to open every macOS System Settings Section (macOS 13+)

Here is a complete list of System Settings Sections (as of macOS Sonoma 14.2) and how to open them with a bash command.

macOS Ventura and newer operating systems use a new extension framework but still support some older prefpane calls. Who knows how long those will continue to work, but I've listed them here alongside their more modern counterparts to help identify calls that might work across both Monterey and newer versions of macOS if you have a mixed fleet. Those items are noted by the legacy tag.

You can find the macOS Monterey version of this list here.

More info can be found on the blog.

Note

While running these commands as-is should work most of the time, there are some instances and contexts where the commands will fail when running as root via MDM. To avoid this, you can run these commands as the currently logged in user. Armin Briegel has a handy function that you can incorporate into your scripts. If you put his runAsUser function in your scripts, you run the open commands as the currently logged in user like this: runAsUser open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preferences"

Apple ID | Family Sharing
Wi-Fi | Bluetooth | Network | VPN
Notifications | Sound | Focus | Screen Time
General | Appearance | Accessibility | Control Center | Siri & Spotlight | Privacy & Security
Desktop & Dock | Displays | Wallpaper | Screen Saver | Battery | Energy Saver
Lock Screen | Touch ID & Password | Users & Groups
Passwords | Internet Accounts | Game Center | Wallet & Apple Pay
Headphone | Keyboard | Trackpad | Mouse | Game Controller | CDs & DVDs | Printers & Scanners

How To

How to find settings yourself
Troubleshooting

System Settings

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preferences

Apple ID

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.systempreferences.AppleIDSettings

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preferences.AppleIDPrefPane (legacy)

iCloud Section: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preferences.AppleIDPrefPane?iCloud" (legacy)

Family

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Family-Settings.extension

open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preferences.FamilySharingPrefPane" (legacy)

Wi-Fi

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.wifi-settings-extension

Bluetooth

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.BluetoothSettings

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preferences.Bluetooth (legacy)

Network

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Network-Settings.extension

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.network (legacy)

VPN

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.NetworkExtensionSettingsUI.NESettingsUIExtension

Notifications

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Notifications-Settings.extension

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.notifications (legacy)

Sound

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Sound-Settings.extension

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.sound (legacy)

Focus

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Focus-Settings.extension

Screen Time

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Screen-Time-Settings.extension

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.screentime (legacy)

General

Primary section: open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.systempreferences.GeneralSettings

About: open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.SystemProfiler.AboutExtension
Software Update: open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Software-Update-Settings.extension
Storage: open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.settings.Storage
AirDrop & Handoff: open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.AirDrop-Handoff-Settings.extension
Login Items: open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.LoginItems-Settings.extension
AppleCare & Warranty: open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Coverage-Settings.extension (macOS14 Sonoma)
Language & Region: open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Localization-Settings.extension
Date & Time: open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Date-Time-Settings.extension
Sharing: open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Sharing-Settings.extension
Time Machine: open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Time-Machine-Settings.extension
Transfer or Reset: open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Transfer-Reset-Settings.extension
Startup Disk:
- open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Startup-Disk-Settings.extension or
- open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.startupdisk

Appearance

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Appearance-Settings.extension

Accessibility

Primary section:

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Accessibility-Settings.extension

open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess" (legacy)

Voice Over: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?Seeing_VoiceOver"
Zoom: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?Zoom"
Display: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?Seeing_Display"
Spoken Content: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?SpokenContent"
Descriptions: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?Descriptions"
Hearing Devices: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?Hearing" (macOS14 Sonoma)
Audio: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?Audio"
RTT: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?RTT" (macOS 14 Sonoma)
Captions: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?Captions"
Live Captions: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?LiveCaptions"
Voice Control: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?VoiceControl"
Keyboard: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?Keyboard"
Pointer Control: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?Mouse"
Switch Control: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?Switch"
Live Speech: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?LiveSpeech"
Personal Voice: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?PersonalVoice" (macOS14 Sonoma)
Siri: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?Siri"
Shortcut: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?Shortcut"

Control Center

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.ControlCenter-Settings.extension

Siri & Spotlight

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Siri-Settings.extension

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Spotlight-Settings.extension

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.speech (legacy)

Privacy & Security

Primary section:

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.settings.PrivacySecurity.extension

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security (legacy)

Location Services:
- open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_LocationServices" or
- open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_SystemServices"
Contacts: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Contacts"
Calendars: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Calendars"
Reminders:
- open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Reminders" or
- open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_RemindersPrivacy"
Photos: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Photos"
Bluetooth: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Bluetooth"
Microphone: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Microphone"
Camera: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Camera"
Motion & Fitness: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Motion" (macOS14 Sonoma)
HomeKit: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_HomeKit"
Speech Recognition: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_SpeechRecognition"
Media & Apple Music: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Media"
Files and Folders: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_FilesAndFolders"
Full Disk Access: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_AllFiles"
Focus: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Focus"
Accessibility: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Accessibility"
Input Monitoring: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_ListenEvent"
Screen Recording: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_ScreenCapture"(called Screen & System Audio Recording in macOS14 Sonoma)
Passkeys Access for Web Browsers: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_PasskeyAccess"
Automation: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Automation"
App Management: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_AppBundles"
Developer Tools: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_DevTools"
Sensitive Content Warning: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_NudityDetection" (macOS14 Sonoma)
Analytics & Improvements: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Analytics"
Apple Advertising: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Advertising"
FileVault: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?FileVault" (macOS14 Sonoma)
Lockdown Mode: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?LockdownMode" (macOS14 Sonoma)
Extensions: open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.ExtensionsPreferences
Profiles:
- open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Profiles-Settings.extension
- open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preferences.configurationprofiles (legacy)
Advanced button: open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Advanced"

Desktop & Dock

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Desktop-Settings.extension

Displays

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Displays-Settings.extension

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.displays (legacy)

Wallpaper

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Wallpaper-Settings.extension

Screen Saver

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.ScreenSaver-Settings.extension

Battery

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Battery-Settings.extension

open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.battery" (legacy)

Energy Saver

open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preferences.EnergySaverPrefPane"

Lock Screen

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Lock-Screen-Settings.extension

Touch ID & Password

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Touch-ID-Settings.extension

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preferences.password (legacy)

(Note: This section will be called Login Password on non-touch capable devices)

Users & Groups

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Users-Groups-Settings.extension

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preferences.users (legacy)

Passwords

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Passwords-Settings.extension

open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Passwords" (legacy)

Internet Accounts

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Internet-Accounts-Settings.extension

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preferences.internetaccounts (legacy)

Game Center

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Game-Center-Settings.extension

Wallet & Apple Pay

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.WalletSettingsExtension

open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preferences.wallet" (legacy)

Headphone

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.HeadphoneSettings

Keyboard

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Keyboard-Settings.extension

Trackpad

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Trackpad-Settings.extension

Mouse

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Mouse-Settings.extension

CDs & DVDs

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.CD-DVD-Settings.extension

Game Controller

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Game-Controller-Settings.extension

Printers & Scanners

open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Print-Scan-Settings.extension

Finding Settings Sections

Apple has made discovering the proper URLScheme extensions for different sections of the app much easier in Ventura, thanks to the unification of settings that the new System Settings app brings. In fact, most of them are stored right inside of the System Settings application itself (/System/Applications/System Settings.app/Contents/Resources/Sidebar.plist You can combine the values in that plist with the open x-apple-systempreferences: command we all know and love and you're off to the races! If any new sections are added in the future, that plist is where you'll want to look.

There are a few deeper settings beyond the sidebar that won't be in that plist. To uncover those you can leverage a line of shell script to pull a list of strings out of System Settings to identify any additional sections that you might have missed. for pref in $(strings "/System/Applications/System Settings.app/Contents/MacOS/System Settings" | awk '/^com.apple./ {print $1 }'); do echo "$pref"; done (hat tip to @bradtchapman in MacAdmin Slack for this one)

Troubleshooting

If the command does not open the window to the foreground, this was a bug that was resolved in macOS 13.0.1
This documentation is for macOS Ventura and newer. System Settings saw a drastic change to how macOS preferences are organized in this version of macOS, so don't expect any of these commands to be backwards compatible with previous versions of macOS. If you're looking for commands for Monterey's System Preferences, I've documented those here

Files

macos_preferencepanes-Ventura.md

Latest commit

History