Over the years, Mac users haven’t paid attention to customization as one of the strong suits of macOS. Most of them leave their MacBook devices looking the same way they were when they first purchased them.
But what if we told you macOS offers you several new ways to personalize its appearance? It doesn’t matter what MacBook device you’re using; Apple’s OS has plenty of hidden customization features to provide a fresh and exciting new look.
Whether you want to lock screen avatars or change the size and location of the Dock, macOS makes it easier for you. Read on to find the best macOS customization tips and tricks you should use to change your MacBook device’s dull look.
Do I Need to Personalize my Mac?
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Technology is fast evolving, and unlike before, you can now personalize and customize any device to suit your individual needs. While a preconfigured Mac can still serve your immediate needs, a custom option offers multiple unique benefits you may have missed.
By building a custom MacBook device, you get precisely what you want, tailored to match the tasks you undertake the most. Here are more reasons why personalizing your MacBook is not just a trend but a practical choice that can enhance your user experience.
Express yourself
Your MacBook is an extension of your identity. It travels with you to work, school, and adventures, making it an integral part of your daily routine. Personalizing it allows you to convey who you are right from the moment you open it.
Think of it as dressing up your digital persona. It could be a beloved image or a quirky sticker—these elements reflect your individuality, making your MacBook uniquely yours.
Enhanced productivity
Customization can go beyond aesthetics. You can use it as a means to streamline your workflow. For instance, why does my MacBook keep turning off, you may be asking yourself. While this is a common problem for MacBook devices, the solution is customizing your energy-saver settings.
You can also conserve your Mac’s battery to prevent it from abruptly shutting down by setting it to sleep as necessary. This saves time and makes your MacBook feel like a tailor-made productivity tool.
Enhanced creativity
MacBook devices enhance creativity in many different ways. They can help build your imagination, extend innovation, and fire up that creative spark in you. And one of the key catalysts of this creativity is personalization.
Each time you open your MacBook, you’re greeted by a design that inspires you. However, creativity is complicated, and it can entail a multifaceted process. Whether it’s a serene landscape or a piece of artwork, your customized MacBook can infuse your workspace with positivity.
Reflect changing tastes
As seasons change, so do our tastes and interests. Personalization allows you to keep your MacBook in sync with your evolving preferences. Swap out decals, wallpapers, or keyboard covers to match your style effortlessly.
It’s like having a wardrobe for your MacBook, ensuring it always looks fresh and in tune with your mood.
Tips to personalize your MacBook device
Personalizing your MacBook device enhances your user experience and makes it uniquely yours. If you dig deep into the device, you’ll find numerous customization options and tricks that you could leverage to change its look completely.
Let’s dive into some of the customization tips and tricks to navigate the exciting world of MacBook personalization:
1. Choose the right case
Your MacBook personalization journey starts with changing its overall outlook. You need to make the first makeover on the skins and cases, as they act as the first line of defense against scratches and minor damage.
You can find these in multiple materials and designs, ranging from sleek leather to vibrant vinyl skins. The most important thing is to opt for one that fits your style and can provide the level of protection you need.
Factors like durability, ease of installation, and compatibility are crucial when selecting a case for your Mac customization.
2. Customize your desktop wallpaper
A new desktop wallpaper that reflects your liking can make your Mac feel new again. Besides, choosing a wallpaper that resonates with you can significantly impact your daily experience with the device.
The best part is that you don’t have to work extra hard to get a wallpaper of your liking—Apple provides a selection of beautiful wallpapers. If you find none that doesn’t reflect your style, you can set your favorite photos from the gallery or artwork as your background.
To change your Wallpaper on Mac:
- Go to the System Settings from the Apple menu
- Select Wallpaperin the sidebar.
macOS will allow you to set dynamic wallpapers that change throughout the day, giving your desktop a fresh look.
3. Tweak your system preferences
Personalization goes beyond appearances; it’s about tailoring your MacBook to your preferences. Dive into the System Preferences to make your MacBook work how you want it to. You can adjust settings related to the trackpad, keyboard, sound, display, and much more.
For instance, you can customize keyboard shortcuts, fine-tune the color calibration of your display, and even enable Dark Mode for a sleek. Exploring these preferences allows you to optimize your MacBook’s performance and usability according to your needs.
4. Customize your Dock
The Dock is a central part of your MacBook’s user interface. It allows you quick access to your favorite apps and documents. You can personalize the Dock by adding or removing apps, changing its position (left, right, or bottom), and adjusting its size.
Here are simple steps to get you started:
- Go to the Apple Menu
- Click on System Settings
- Select Desktop & Dock.
From here, you can change all your options, such as altering how items appear in the Dock, adjusting the size, or even hiding them. Alternatively, use the hidden Terminal commands on Mac to customize the Dock.
5. Keyboard and Trackpad customization
Your MacBook’s keyboard and trackpad are where you interact with the digital world. Personalizing their behavior can significantly improve your experience.
Here is how to personalize them for a new experience from your MacBook device.
- Open the Apple menu
- Go to System Settings
- Choose a Keyboard or Trackpad from the sidebar to adjust their behaviors.
You can make several customization changes from this point, such as adjusting critical repeat speed and changing trackpad settings (Silent clicking or Tap to click). These personalization changes should match your typing and navigation style to make a noticeable difference in your daily workflow.
6. Create custom keyboard shortcuts
Your Mac keyboard is often helpful for writing, browsing the web, or searching for something. However, you can do so much more with it by employing a few tweaks. macOS lets you personalize your MacBook’s keyboard shortcuts to save time and streamline your workflow.
Follow these simple steps to create custom keyboard shortcuts:
- Go to System Preferences
- Click on Keyboard
- Select Shortcuts.
Here, you can customize existing shortcuts or create new ones for various system functions and apps. For example, you can set a custom shortcut to open your favorite application or trigger a specific action within an app.
7. Personalize your Safari experience
As a Mac user, there are numerous essential tips to help improve your browsing experience on Safari. However, Safari lets you personalize it further to improve this experience.
First, you can customize the toolbar by going to the Safari app and selecting View. This allows you to add, remove, and rearrange items in the toolbar by dragging them. To remove an item from the toolbar, press and hold the Cmd key, then drag the item out.
You can also customize the tab bar in the Safari app on your Mac by going to settings and clicking on Tabs. From here, you can choose where to put tabs, such as moving them up to the toolbar.
To customize Safari even more, choose Safari > Settings, then click on change options.
Final Thoughts
Personalizing your MacBook device can significantly affect how you use and enjoy it. Various customization options are available in macOS, so feel free to explore and experiment until you find the perfect setup that reflects your preferences and style.
Though it takes a while to perfect things, the journey is all worth it. The fun part is that MacBook devices are intuitive, and the settings are as easy as possible.
