Skip to main content
Tech Radar TechRadar the technology experts
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
RSS
Asia
flag of Singapore
Singapore
Europe
flag of Danmark
Danmark
flag of Suomi
Suomi
flag of Norge
Norge
flag of Sverige
Sverige
flag of UK
UK
flag of Italia
Italia
flag of Nederland
Nederland
flag of België (Nederlands)
België (Nederlands)
flag of France
France
flag of Deutschland
Deutschland
flag of España
España
North America
flag of US (English)
US (English)
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of México
México
Australasia
flag of Australia
Australia
flag of New Zealand
New Zealand
  • Phones
  • Computing
  • TVs
  • AI
  • Streaming
  • Health
  • Audio
  • VPN
  • More
    • Cameras
    • Home
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Opinion
    • How to
    • Versus
    • Deals
    • Coupons
    • Best
Tech Radar Pro
Tech Radar Gaming
Trending
  • Amazon Prime Day
  • Back to school
  • Nintendo Switch 2
  • Best VPN
  • ChatGPT
  • NYT Wordle today
  • Best laptop
  • Best web hosting
Recommended reading
Apple's Craig Federighi introduces the Liquid Glass redesign at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2025.
macOS Ignore the haters – Apple’s Liquid Glass theme is one of my favorite parts of macOS Tahoe
The Liquid Glass interface in macOS Tahoe.
Computing WWDC’s best announcement was something Windows did 15 years ago—here's why it's awesome
macOS Tahoe pink desktop on iMac
macOS macOS Tahoe 26 is official: here’s everything we know about the release date, compatibility and all the new features
Apple WWDC
macOS macOS Tahoe 26 announced at WWDC 2025 with a new look and new numbering scheme: these are the best features for your new Mac or MacBook
A screenshot of WWDC 2025 showing the redesigned iPhone homepage in-hand
iPhone Apple's new Liquid Glass design puts the spotlight on skeuomorphism for the first time since iOS 6 – and I'm all for it
Liquid Glass interface on an orange background
iOS Ooh, shiny! I hate myself for being so excited about Liquid Glass in iOS 26
Three iPhones on a blue background showing iOS 26 features
Phones 5 unsung iOS 26 features that look way more useful than Liquid Glass
  1. Computing
  2. Desktop PCs
  3. Macs

How to change the look of your Mac

How-to
By Alan Stonebridge published 7 June 2016

Give your Mac a facelift

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Alter your Mac's looks

Alter your Mac's looks

Since the arrival of OS X well over a decade ago, Apple has had a tendency to lock down its operating system's visual appearance in order to ensure as much consistency for its users as possible.

By contrast, it was possible to customize the appearance of older versions of the OS to a far greater degree. Options for "reskinning" OS X have been few in number and have quickly fallen out of favor.

This is mostly because making major changes has become an increasingly complex matter, meaning it risks system instability. You might want a Mac to look like something from your favorite sci-fi film, but that's not such a joy when your computer becomes less reliable as a consequence.

  • Check out our Mac help and support guides for more Mac tips and tricks

That's why previously popular programs such as ShapeShifter, which enabled you to make sweeping changes to the whole look of the desktop, were never even updated to Leopard (OS X 10.5), let alone El Capitan.

Nevertheless, Apple realizes you need at least a few easy customization options, if only to personalize your Mac a bit. Accordingly, you can change your Mac's desktop background and screensaver; it's also possible to make minor changes to various global appearance settings, including muting system-wide colors.

If you're really brave, or very experienced, and you don't mind messing about without a friendly interface to guide you, you could always try GeekTool. As the name implies, this utility is aimed at the more knowledgeable user and is meant for more than decorative ends, but it does enable you to create cool customizations.

Page 1 of 9
Page 1 of 9
1. Gray interface

1. Gray interface

Launch System Preferences and select General in the top group. In the Appearance menu you can choose from Blue or Graphite.

The first of those is the default; select Graphite and various interface elements turn gray.

Page 2 of 9
Page 2 of 9
2. Update highlights

2. Update highlights

Highlighted text is shown in blue in the foreground and gray in the background.

Use the Highlight Color option to amend the foreground color, such as making it Graphite (or silver) when using the Graphite option.

Page 3 of 9
Page 3 of 9
3. Scrolling, icon size

3. Scrolling, icon size

A number of settings here determine the visibility of scrollbars. They're set to Automatic by default, but you can force them on by selecting Show Scroll Bars: Always.

You can also alter the size of icons in the sidebar of windows.

Page 4 of 9
Page 4 of 9
4. Fewer Recent Items

4. Fewer Recent Items

The Recent Items menu shows 10 items each for applications, documents and servers by default, but you can choose from 50 right down to none.

This affects the Apple > Recent Items menu; choose None to remove the menu item.

Page 5 of 9
Page 5 of 9
5. Hide the menu bar

5. Hide the menu bar

You've long been able to hide the Dock in OS X. In El Capitan, the menu bar can similarly be hidden. In General, check "Automatically hide and show the menu bar."

The menu bar disappears. Move the cursor to the top of the screen to show it.

  • How to customize your Dock
Page 6 of 9
Page 6 of 9
6. Change the desktop

6. Change the desktop

In the Desktop & Screen Saver pane, select a sidebar group and then an image. For a slideshow, click "Change picture:" and configure options to taste.

Custom folders from Finder can be dragged to the pane.

Page 7 of 9
Page 7 of 9
7. Change screensaver

7. Change screensaver

Click the Screen Saver tab. Select an option in the left pane, and set how soon it kicks in. Click the pic in the right pane to preview it.

Click Hot Corners… to choose how to manually start the screensaver if you want to.

Page 8 of 9
Page 8 of 9
8. Transparency

8. Transparency

Desktops show through the menu bar. If your picture is detailed, this can make the menu bar hard to read. Go to the Accessibility pane, choose Display, then check Reduce Transparency. This removes transparency all over OS X.

  • 62 OS X El Capitan tips and tricks
Page 9 of 9
Page 9 of 9
TOPICS
Apple
Alan Stonebridge
See more Computing How Tos
Read more
Apple's Craig Federighi introduces the Liquid Glass redesign at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2025.
Ignore the haters – Apple’s Liquid Glass theme is one of my favorite parts of macOS Tahoe
The Liquid Glass interface in macOS Tahoe.
WWDC’s best announcement was something Windows did 15 years ago—here's why it's awesome
macOS Tahoe pink desktop on iMac
macOS Tahoe 26 is official: here’s everything we know about the release date, compatibility and all the new features
Apple WWDC
macOS Tahoe 26 announced at WWDC 2025 with a new look and new numbering scheme: these are the best features for your new Mac or MacBook
A screenshot of WWDC 2025 showing the redesigned iPhone homepage in-hand
Apple's new Liquid Glass design puts the spotlight on skeuomorphism for the first time since iOS 6 – and I'm all for it
Liquid Glass interface on an orange background
Ooh, shiny! I hate myself for being so excited about Liquid Glass in iOS 26
Latest in Macs
A person putting a MacBook Air M4 in a bag
Apple could use a nifty iPhone trick for Macs - updating them to the latest version of macOS while still boxed
Apple iMac M4 and Apple peripherals against a blue TechRadar deals background
Apple's M4 iMac is the best all-in-one computer out there, and it's $150 off in every color for Prime Day
Apple Mac Mini M4
Quick! The tiny but mighty Mac mini is cheaper than ever before, thanks to a fresh discount on Amazon
Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition on a 16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pro
I just experienced super-smooth Cyberpunk 2077 at Ultra settings on a Mac, but the developers say there’s more to ‘squeeze out’ of Apple Silicon
Apple's new dedicated gaming app on macOS Tahoe
Apple just leveled up Mac gaming with these two new features – and it's about time
Several Apple devices showing a generic skateboarding game.
Apple's WWDC 2025 has a lot to offer - but forget Apple Intelligence, what about the games?
Latest in How Tos
Amanda Anisimova of the United States celebrates her victory with her nephew Jackson after her victory against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the Quarter-Finals of the Ladies' Singles Competition
How to watch Wimbledon women's final on BBC iPlayer (it's FREE) today
Owen Farrell in training for British & Irish Lions.
AUNZ Invitational vs Lions FREE streams: How to watch British & Irish Lions tour live online from anywhere
Three members of staff wave towards a red helicopter in Billion Dollar Playground
How to watch Billion Dollar Playground season 1 for free online from anywhere
Jofra Archer in practice for England cricket.
How to watch England vs India 3rd Test: Live stream cricket online – scores level on 387 after both first innings
The girls have a serious chat in Love Island USA season 7
How to watch Love Island USA 2025 Finale for FREE
The Amazing Race Canada presenter standing in front of the season 11 cast in an American Football stadium.
How to watch The Amazing Race Canada season 11 online FREE from anywhere
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. 1
    What a claim! This KVM docking station switch can handle two 8K monitors - yes, you heard it right, that's 66 million pixels (or 32 Full HD displays)
  2. 2
    Want a quad-socket server with 768 cores? Sure, Intel's 192-core Diamond Rapids Xeon CPU will deliver that in 2026 — but I wonder whether it will be too little, too late
  3. 3
    Good news, movie fans! Sony's gone deals-crazy with its soundbars, and I'd rate these 5 as the best affordable home theater upgrades
  4. 4
    7 Amazon-beating appliance deals at Walmart and Best Buy knock up to $200 off air fryers, coffee makers, and more
  5. 5
    Apple deals still running! These 15 huge deals on AirPods, Apple Watch, MacBooks and more didn't end with Prime Day – don't miss out!

TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Web notifications
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...