Select version:

Modifying this control will update this page automatically

Welcome
- MacBook Air
- MacBook Pro
- iMac
- Mac mini
- Mac Studio
- Mac Pro
What’s new in macOS Sequoia
- Work on the desktop
- What’s in the menu bar?
- Quickly change settings
- What’s in the Apple menu?
- Search with Spotlight
- Use Siri
- Get notifications
- Open apps from the Dock
- Organize your files in the Finder
- Connect to the internet
- Sign in to your Apple Account
- Set up iCloud
- 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
- Tile 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 picture
- 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
- Increase the size of what’s on your screen
- How to use Siri
- Customize Siri
- What are Siri Suggestions?
- Use Siri results
- Add Siri Shortcuts
- Get started with Apple Intelligence
- Use Writing Tools
- Use Apple Intelligence in Mail
- Use Apple Intelligence in Messages
- Use Apple Intelligence with Siri
- Get webpage summaries
- Summarize an audio recording
- Use Apple Intelligence in Photos
- Summarize notifications and reduce interruptions
- Apple Intelligence and privacy
- Set up a Focus to stay on task
- Block pop-ups in Safari
- Use Dictation
- Perform quick actions with hot corners
- Send emails
- Send text messages
- Make a FaceTime call
- Edit photos and videos
- Use Live Text to interact with text in a photo
- Start a Quick Note
- Get directions
- Intro to Continuity
- Use AirDrop to send items to nearby devices
- Hand off tasks between devices
- Control your iPhone from your Mac
- Copy and paste between devices
- Stream video and audio with AirPlay
- Make and receive calls and text messages on your Mac
- Use your iPhone internet connection with your Mac
- Share your Wi-Fi password with another device
- Use iPhone as a webcam
- Insert sketches, photos, and scans from iPhone or iPad
- Unlock your Mac with Apple Watch
- Use your iPad as a second display
- Use one keyboard and mouse to control Mac and iPad
- Sync music, books, and more between devices
- Manage Apple Account settings
- Set your Apple Account 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
- Get started with Screen Time
- Set up Screen Time for yourself
- Set up Screen Time for a child
- Track app and device usage
- Set time limits for apps and websites
- Set up content and privacy restrictions
- Set up Family Sharing
- Get Family Sharing recommendations
- Add family members to a Family Sharing group
- Remove family members from a Family Sharing group
- Manage sharing and parental settings
- Share a Photo Library
- Collaborate on projects
- Find content shared with you
- Find your family and friends
- Play music
- Watch and listen together with SharePlay
- Listen to podcasts
- Watch TV shows and movies
- Read and listen to books
- Read the news
- Track stocks and the market
- Play games with your friends
- Connect an external display
- Use the built-in camera
- Connect a wireless accessory
- Connect a printer to your Mac
- Connect AirPods to your Mac
- Optimize your Mac battery life
- Optimize storage space
- Burn CDs and DVDs
- Control accessories in your home
- Run Windows on your Mac
- Get started
- Vision
- Hearing
- Mobility
- Speech
- Control what you share
- Set up your Mac to be secure
- Allow apps to see the location of your Mac
- Use Private Browsing
- Keep your data safe
- Understand passwords
- Change weak or compromised passwords
- Keep your Apple Account secure
- Use Mail Privacy Protection
- Use Sign in with Apple for apps and websites
- Find a missing device
- Shut down or restart your Mac
- Start up your Mac in safe mode
- Keep your Mac up to date
- Reinstall macOS
- Erase your Mac
Resources for your Mac
Resources for your Apple devices
Copyright

Change Control Center settings on Mac

On your Mac, use Control Center settings to choose which items to include in Control Center and which items appear in the menu bar. Learn how to use Control Center.

To change these settings, choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Control Center in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)

Open Control Center settings for me

Control Center Modules

These items are always available in Control Center. You can choose when the corresponding status icons should also be shown in the menu bar.

Option	Description
Wi-Fi Bluetooth^® AirDrop Focus Stage Manager Screen Mirroring Display Sound Now Playing	Click the pop-up menu next to an item, then choose an option: Show in Menu Bar: Always show the status icon in the menu bar. Show When Active: Only show the status icon in the menu bar when the item is active. This option is available for Focus, Screen Mirroring, Display, Sound, and Now Playing. Don’t Show in Menu Bar: Never show the status icon in the menu bar.

Option

Description

Wi-Fi
Bluetooth^®
AirDrop
Focus
Stage Manager
Screen Mirroring
Display
Sound
Now Playing

Click the pop-up menu next to an item, then choose an option:

Show in Menu Bar: Always show the status icon in the menu bar.
Show When Active: Only show the status icon in the menu bar when the item is active. This option is available for Focus, Screen Mirroring, Display, Sound, and Now Playing.
Don’t Show in Menu Bar: Never show the status icon in the menu bar.

Other Modules

These items can be added to Control Center and the menu bar.

Option	Description
Accessibility Shortcuts Battery Music Recognition Hearing Fast User Switching Keyboard Brightness	These options are available for each item: Show in Menu Bar: Always show the status icon in the menu bar. Show in Control Center: Include the item in Control Center. Some items have additional options available. Battery: If you’re using a Mac laptop and choose to show the Battery status icon in the menu bar, you can also show the percentage of battery charge (the percentage is always shown when Battery is in Control Center). Fast User Switching: Click the pop-up menu next to Show in Menu Bar, then choose an option: Don’t Show: Don’t Show Fast User Switching in the menu bar. Full Name: Show the full name of the user in the menu bar. Account Name: Show the name of the user account in the menu bar. Icon: Show the Fast User Switching icon in the menu bar.

Option

Description

Accessibility Shortcuts
Battery
Music Recognition
Hearing
Fast User Switching
Keyboard Brightness

These options are available for each item:

Show in Menu Bar: Always show the status icon in the menu bar.
Show in Control Center: Include the item in Control Center.

Some items have additional options available.

Battery: If you’re using a Mac laptop and choose to show the Battery status icon in the menu bar, you can also show the percentage of battery charge (the percentage is always shown when Battery is in Control Center).

Fast User Switching: Click the pop-up menu next to Show in Menu Bar, then choose an option:

Don’t Show: Don’t Show Fast User Switching in the menu bar.
Full Name: Show the full name of the user in the menu bar.
Account Name: Show the name of the user account in the menu bar.
Icon: Show the Fast User Switching icon in the menu bar.

Menu Bar Only

These items can appear only in the menu bar.

Option	Description
Clock	The clock is always shown in the menu bar. Click Clock Options, then choose how you want the date and time displayed in the menu bar clock. See Change the menu bar clock format.
Spotlight Siri Time Machine VPN	Click the pop-up menu next to an item, then choose an option: Show in Menu Bar: Always show the status icon in the menu bar. Don’t Show in Menu Bar: Never show the status icon in the menu bar.

Option

Description

Clock

The clock is always shown in the menu bar.

Click Clock Options, then choose how you want the date and time displayed in the menu bar clock.

See Change the menu bar clock format.

Spotlight
Siri
Time Machine
VPN

Click the pop-up menu next to an item, then choose an option:

Show in Menu Bar: Always show the status icon in the menu bar.
Don’t Show in Menu Bar: Never show the status icon in the menu bar.

Other options

Option	Description
Automatically hide and show the menu bar	Choose when to hide and show the menu bar: Always: Always hide and show the menu bar. On Desktop Only: Hide and show the menu bar when not using an app in full screen. In Full Screen Only: Hide and show the menu bar when using an app in full screen. Never: Never hide the menu bar. Move the pointer to the top of the screen to show the menu bar when it’s hidden.
Recent documents, applications, and servers	Choose how many items to show in the Recent Items menu command. Items you’ve used recently are listed in the Apple menu , so that you can easily open the items from there. This setting also determines how many recent items appear in app menus, such as the Open Recent option in the File menu in TextEdit.

Option

Description

Automatically hide and show the menu bar

Choose when to hide and show the menu bar:

Always: Always hide and show the menu bar.
On Desktop Only: Hide and show the menu bar when not using an app in full screen.
In Full Screen Only: Hide and show the menu bar when using an app in full screen.
Never: Never hide the menu bar.

Move the pointer to the top of the screen to show the menu bar when it’s hidden.

Recent documents, applications, and servers

Choose how many items to show in the Recent Items menu command. Items you’ve used recently are listed in the Apple menu , so that you can easily open the items from there.

This setting also determines how many recent items appear in app menus, such as the Open Recent option in the File menu in TextEdit.

Helpful?

Mac User Guide

Change Control Center settings on Mac

Control Center Modules

Other Modules

Menu Bar Only

Other options