Upgrading to macOS Big Sur is a big change for Macs. We have a new look and lots of cool new features including A control center in true iOS style.
The macOS Control Center
Big Sur’s control center is one of those things that we don’t know how it couldn’t be in macOS before, a very welcome new thing and one that we’re going to teaches you how to get the most out of.
What is macOS Control Center?
the The first control center launched by Apple dates back to 2013. Came with IOS 7, one of the most important updates in the history of iOS. In this control center, we had direct access to some settings such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, music, airplane mode or other shortcuts.
Control Center for iOS 7 and macOS
Now that very essence comes to macOS seven years later, and in a manner similar to the current iOS Control Center. From the macOS control center, we can access connections like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, the music or podcast we’re listening to, the brightness and other interesting settings.
How to use macOS Control Center
On iOS, Control Center is activated by swiping the screen, but on macOS, it isn’t. macOS is a system used with a mouse or trackpad, therefore Apple implemented a button in the top area in the menu bar.
In the right area of the bar you will see an icon with two switches, right next to the Siri icon. When you tap this icon, macOS Control Center appears just below.
It is an interactive control center, that is to say by pressing the different buttons we will activate or deactivate the functions. Clicking on the round Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirDrop, or Do Not Disturb icons will turn these options on or off. If they are in blue, it means they are active.
MacOS control center button
If we click outside the circle but on the icon, we will access the advanced functions. For example, we can connect to different Wi-Fi or Bluetooth networks, or choose who can send files to us by AirDrop and enable screen mirroring options.
On MacBooks we also have an icon for the backlit keyboard brightness. Just below we have two sliders, one is screen brightness and the other is Mac volume. By pressing the brightness button, we access another menu to activate dark mode or Night Shift. In addition to the volume, we also have the AirPlay icon to send the sound to a wireless speaker.
MacOS Control Center displays and sound settings
Finally we have a preview of what we playWhether it’s a movie, song, or podcast. We can skip the song or pause the playback from these buttons, as well as see a small preview. Press to open a little player.
MacOS Control Center Mini Reader
If any of these options are very important to you, you can drag any of these settings to the menu bar. So that we have direct access to Wi-Fi, screens, do not disturb mode or reading.
How to customize macOS Control Center
The macOS Control Center is somewhat customizable. There are some options we can include, and all of this can be managed from system preferences.
It was to do it just enter System Preferences> Dock and Menu Bar, and on the left you’ll see the Control Center section. From there, you can set various settings and activate two more buttons in the control center:
Accessibility: when activated, we will see a quick accessibility features such as VoiceOver, Zoom or Filters in the Control Center.
User change: If several users use the Mac, when activating this function, we can easily change from the Control Center.
Accessibility and user buttons in macOS Control Center
Know more: The 10 best tips for macOS Big Sur
These are all tips to know about the new macOS Control Center. One of the functions you will use the most every day.
