Most MacBook users believe that the macOS desktops look the same. That’s the partial truth. There are several ways you can make your MacBook screens look more attractive, compelling, and your very own.
Your desktop displays your personality, so it’s important to give it a unique look. But make sure not to overdo things, as it will snatch away the actual feel of using the MacBook. If you’re unsure what features you need to add, and how to do it right, this article is for you.
Here, we enlist everything you need to know, from changing the appearance of the screen to modifying the way the operating system behaves. So, keep reading to learn more.
Change the Wallpaper
First things first, changing the wallpaper will do most of the work, and your MacBook will never look the same. Replacing the default wallpaper is the most impactful change you can make. But how would you do that?
Go to System Preferences and tap Desktop & Screen Saver. Apple gives you access to dozens of dynamic wallpapers that keep changing throughout the day. The library also includes wallpapers based on light and dark themes.
Give Desktop A Makeover
The desktop is the one thing that you mostly see when you are or aren’t working on your MacBook. It has to be attractive. Add a widget, customize the Dock, or try other visual elements to enhance the outlook and appearance of your Mac desktop.
To edit or add the widgets, you will need to navigate to the Notification Center. Widgets make your desktop dynamic while making you more efficient. After playing around with the widgets, learn how to merge desktops on Mac to be more productive while working.
Customize the Menu Bar
The Menu Bar on your MacBook is the sleek strip of system preferences that you see on the top of the screen. On the left, it displays the Apple menu along with app-specific options, while the right side displays the icons of the apps currently in action.
You can customize the menu bar to let more dynamic features display. based on your preferences, you can add icons of frequently used features like BlueTooth, WiFi, Siri, and AirDrop. Additionally, you can select to auto-hide the menu bar when not in use.
Change App Icons
Try modifying the icons of the built-in apps to add a personal touch to your MacBook. For dark theme overs, there are a lot of options to play around with to make the icons more visible on the desktop. Other than changing the app icons, consider changing the fonts and colors.
In addition, get a new skin for the Terminal app by navigating to Settings and selecting Profiles. From the sidebar, select one of the themes and click the Default button displayed at the bottom to make changes. Restart the Terminal to apply changes.
Select A Custom User Icon
Your user icon is the small image that displays with your name when you boot your MacBook. Personalize this icon as per your specific likings and preferences. To personalize your user account icon, go to System Preferences or System Settings.
Under the System Preferences window, select the Users menu and check if your user account is selected on the left pane. Click on the current user icon to modify it. You can replace it with your photo, an animated emoji, a static emoji, or any image you like.
Customize the Dock
The Dock is something that gives an exclusive look to the Mac, customizing it to enhance that look. First of all, remove the icons of apps that you no longer use and add programs that you need to access for completing your upcoming project.
To remove items from the Dock, drag and drop them outside the Dock and wait for the Remove button to appear. To add new items to the Dock, go to the Applications folder or Utilities, right-click on the app, tap Options, and select Keep in Dock.
Add Custom Sounds
After personalizing the desktop, customizing the Dock, and changing your user account icon, changing to the default sound settings is something that will make a big change. So, your MacBook personalization effort must go beyond the basics.
To add custom sounds, navigate to System Settings, click Accessibility, tap Spoken Content, and then select System Voice. Next, to customize the alert sound, go to System Settings, click on Sound, and then tap Sound Effects.
The Conclusion
So, these are some of the customization features that allow you to change the appearance, feel, theme, color, and function of your desktop. Make sure you understand the outcome of each method before implementing the same. Sometimes, reverting back seems challenging.
Also, when you back up your app icons, pay extra attention to prevent apps from deleting permanently. This may lead to data loss. Back up your data before trying customization methods that apply to files and apps.