System Preferences is an important component of Mac OS X – much like the control panel in Windows. The icons that you see when you open it represent Preference Panes. Most of these Preference Pane icons are viewable by default, but some are added when you install an application (ie. Flash Player, Xmarks for Safari).
If there are some items that you don’t use or just don’t want to be visible, here’s how you can hide Preference Pane icons in Mac OS X.
1. Open System Preferences using your favorite method (Apple menu, Spotlight, Dock, etc).
2. From the menu bar, go to the “View” menu and click on “Customize…”
3. Now, you should see checkmarks next to each Preference Pane icon; simply uncheck the ones that you want to be hidden.
4. Click on “Done” at the top left corner of System Preferences when done.
To add a Preference Pane back, you’d follow the same steps and instead re-check the ones you want to be displayed again. This is a great way to clean up System Preferences, and it makes it easier to find the Preference Panes that you use regularly.
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Charnita Fance
Charnita has been a Freelance Writer & Professional Blogger since 2008. As an early adopter she loves trying out new apps and services. As a Windows, Mac, Linux and iOS user, she has a great love for bleeding edge technology. You can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and LinkedIn.
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