Source: Apple Inc. Canonical content at https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/settings. This file is a structured index of that content, snapshot 2025-02-02. Apple HIG text and imagery are © Apple Inc.; this repository provides organization and cross-referencing for AI agent consumption only.
Settings
Best practices
Aim to provide default settings that give the best experience to the largest number of people.
Minimize the number of settings you offer.
Make settings available in ways people expect.
Avoid using settings to ask for setup information you can get in other ways.
Respect people’s systemwide settings and avoid including redundant versions of them in your custom settings area.
General settings
Put general, infrequently changed settings in your custom settings area.
Task-specific options
When possible, prefer letting people modify task-specific options without going to your settings area.
System settings
Add only the most rarely changed options to the system-provided Settings app.
Platform considerations
macOS
Include a settings item in theApp menu.
Dim a settings window’s minimize and maximize buttons.
In your settings window, use a noncustomizable toolbar that remains visible and always indicates the active toolbar button.
Update the window’s title to reflect the currently visible pane.
Restore the most recently viewed pane.
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For the complete guidance, including worked examples and illustrations, see the canonical page: https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/settings