---
title: System preferences
description: Dock, keyboard, trackpad, mouse, screenshots and the computer's name, one line each.
---

What you'd otherwise click through in System Settings is a line in
`config/`:

```sh
# config/dock.conf
dock visibility hidden

# config/trackpad.conf
trackpad tap-to-click true
trackpad three-finger-drag true
```

| Setting                        | Values                                                     |
|--------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|
| `dock visibility`              | `always`, `autohide`, `hidden`                             |
| `keyboard repeat-rate`         | a number; lower is faster (System Settings stops at 2)     |
| `keyboard repeat-delay`        | a number; lower is shorter (System Settings stops at 15)   |
| `keyboard press-and-hold`      | `true`: holding a letter shows its accents; `false`: it repeats |
| `trackpad speed`               | `0.0`–`3.0`                                                |
| `trackpad tap-to-click`        | `true`, `false`                                            |
| `trackpad three-finger-drag`   | `true`, `false`; moves three-finger swipes to four fingers |
| `mouse speed`                  | `0.0`–`3.0`                                                |
| `mouse secondary-click`        | `right`, `left`, `off`                                     |
| `mouse natural-scrolling`      | `true`, `false`; macOS applies it to the trackpad too      |
| `screenshot save-to`           | `clipboard`, `desktop` (macOS's default), `preview`        |
| `system hostname`              | letters, digits and hyphens; from `$hostname` in `dot.toml` |

`dot explain <topic>` prints each one with its values, and the
[settings reference](/docs/reference/settings) has them all.

## Good to know

- **Some changes need a new session.** Keyboard and trackpad changes take
  effect after you log out and back in; `apply` says so when it applies one.
- **Some need your password.** `system hostname` sets all three of macOS's
  names for the computer, which needs `sudo`; `check` shows it as
  `(sudo)` and `apply` asks.
- **Accents on a US keyboard.** With `keyboard press-and-hold true`, holding
  a letter shows its accents. In any app, including the terminal, `⌥` `e` then
  a vowel gives `á é í ó ú`, and `⌥` `n` then `n` gives `ñ`.

## A preference dot doesn't have

Add it as a setting of your own: [Add a setting](/docs/extend/add-a-setting).