System preferences to all users

[Savage]

Is it possible to force the admin's system preferences to all user accounts? I have a second account on my MacBook for testing and such and I'd like it to have the same system preferences as my main account. Some are already the same, but others don't seem to be copying over. Is this possible or does it need to be done manually?

 

[mikzn]

You should be able to make the other user an Admin in the Preferences "Users and Groups"

have you tried enabling - "Allow user to administer this computer" ?

 

[Savage]

You should be able to make the other user an Admin in the Preferences "Users and Groups"

have you tried enabling - "Allow user to administer this computer" ?

If I made the other user an admin, it would automatically apply all the same settings to that user that I use on my main account?

For example, on my main account I have "natural scrolling" turned off. On the new account, it was turned on. A bunch of settings like that are very different from my main account. So I'm wondering if I can automatically fix all of that or if I should just go through them all manually.

 

[mikzn]

ah ok - I don't think there is a way to copy all the settings - i am not sure - but at least setting the other user to Admin will not "limit and restrict" the preferences and settings.

That being said, There is an iCloud setting in system preferences (mojave and catalina) that may help in that area - but I have never enabled it and I don't know exactly what it syncronizes? - perhaps someone else here may know if that might help what you are looking for ? Might be worth some research?

here is a screen shot - not sure what macOS you are using - screen shot is from Mojave

 

[Savage]

ah ok - not I don't think there is a way to copy all the settings - i am not sure - but at least setting the other user to Admin will not "limit and restrict" the preferences and settings.

That being said, There is an iCloud setting in system preferences (mojave and catalina) that may help in that area - but I have never enabled it and I don't know exactly what it syncronizes? - perhaps someone else here may know if that might help what you are looking for ? Might be worth some research?

here is a screen shot - not sure what macOS you are using - screen shot is from Mojave

View attachment 942658

I'll check this out and if I don't have that option I'll just set it up manually, no big deal. Thank you for the info.

 

[0128672]

I can't vouch for this method, but there's a long series of steps using a recent Time Machine backup that allows you to duplicate a user, renaming it in the process:

How to duplicate an OS X user account

Over the years, I’ve written a lot about OS X user accounts. The first time was likely a 2002 Macworld article (no longer available online) explaining how to move your user folder to a different dr…

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