# systemPreferences > Get system preferences. Process: [Main](../glossary.md#main-process) ```javascript const { systemPreferences } = require('electron') console.log(systemPreferences.isDarkMode()) ``` ## Events The `systemPreferences` object emits the following events: ### Event: 'accent-color-changed' _Windows_ Returns: * `event` Event * `newColor` string - The new RGBA color the user assigned to be their system accent color. ### Event: 'color-changed' _Windows_ Returns: * `event` Event ### Event: 'inverted-color-scheme-changed' _Windows_ _Deprecated_ Returns: * `event` Event * `invertedColorScheme` boolean - `true` if an inverted color scheme (a high contrast color scheme with light text and dark backgrounds) is being used, `false` otherwise. **Deprecated:** Should use the new [`updated`](native-theme.md#event-updated) event on the `nativeTheme` module. ### Event: 'high-contrast-color-scheme-changed' _Windows_ _Deprecated_ Returns: * `event` Event * `highContrastColorScheme` boolean - `true` if a high contrast theme is being used, `false` otherwise. **Deprecated:** Should use the new [`updated`](native-theme.md#event-updated) event on the `nativeTheme` module. ## Methods ### `systemPreferences.isDarkMode()` _macOS_ _Windows_ _Deprecated_ Returns `boolean` - Whether the system is in Dark Mode. **Deprecated:** Should use the new [`nativeTheme.shouldUseDarkColors`](native-theme.md#nativethemeshouldusedarkcolors-readonly) API. ### `systemPreferences.isSwipeTrackingFromScrollEventsEnabled()` _macOS_ Returns `boolean` - Whether the Swipe between pages setting is on. ### `systemPreferences.postNotification(event, userInfo[, deliverImmediately])` _macOS_ * `event` string * `userInfo` Record * `deliverImmediately` boolean (optional) - `true` to post notifications immediately even when the subscribing app is inactive. Posts `event` as native notifications of macOS. The `userInfo` is an Object that contains the user information dictionary sent along with the notification. ### `systemPreferences.postLocalNotification(event, userInfo)` _macOS_ * `event` string * `userInfo` Record Posts `event` as native notifications of macOS. The `userInfo` is an Object that contains the user information dictionary sent along with the notification. ### `systemPreferences.postWorkspaceNotification(event, userInfo)` _macOS_ * `event` string * `userInfo` Record Posts `event` as native notifications of macOS. The `userInfo` is an Object that contains the user information dictionary sent along with the notification. ### `systemPreferences.subscribeNotification(event, callback)` _macOS_ * `event` string | null * `callback` Function * `event` string * `userInfo` Record * `object` string Returns `number` - The ID of this subscription Subscribes to native notifications of macOS, `callback` will be called with `callback(event, userInfo)` when the corresponding `event` happens. The `userInfo` is an Object that contains the user information dictionary sent along with the notification. The `object` is the sender of the notification, and only supports `NSString` values for now. The `id` of the subscriber is returned, which can be used to unsubscribe the `event`. Under the hood this API subscribes to `NSDistributedNotificationCenter`, example values of `event` are: * `AppleInterfaceThemeChangedNotification` * `AppleAquaColorVariantChanged` * `AppleColorPreferencesChangedNotification` * `AppleShowScrollBarsSettingChanged` If `event` is null, the `NSDistributedNotificationCenter` doesn’t use it as criteria for delivery to the observer. See [docs](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/foundation/nsnotificationcenter/1411723-addobserverforname?language=objc) for more information. ### `systemPreferences.subscribeLocalNotification(event, callback)` _macOS_ * `event` string | null * `callback` Function * `event` string * `userInfo` Record * `object` string Returns `number` - The ID of this subscription Same as `subscribeNotification`, but uses `NSNotificationCenter` for local defaults. This is necessary for events such as `NSUserDefaultsDidChangeNotification`. If `event` is null, the `NSNotificationCenter` doesn’t use it as criteria for delivery to the observer. See [docs](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/foundation/nsnotificationcenter/1411723-addobserverforname?language=objc) for more information. ### `systemPreferences.subscribeWorkspaceNotification(event, callback)` _macOS_ * `event` string | null * `callback` Function * `event` string * `userInfo` Record * `object` string Returns `number` - The ID of this subscription Same as `subscribeNotification`, but uses `NSWorkspace.sharedWorkspace.notificationCenter`. This is necessary for events such as `NSWorkspaceDidActivateApplicationNotification`. If `event` is null, the `NSWorkspaceNotificationCenter` doesn’t use it as criteria for delivery to the observer. See [docs](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/foundation/nsnotificationcenter/1411723-addobserverforname?language=objc) for more information. ### `systemPreferences.unsubscribeNotification(id)` _macOS_ * `id` Integer Removes the subscriber with `id`. ### `systemPreferences.unsubscribeLocalNotification(id)` _macOS_ * `id` Integer Same as `unsubscribeNotification`, but removes the subscriber from `NSNotificationCenter`. ### `systemPreferences.unsubscribeWorkspaceNotification(id)` _macOS_ * `id` Integer Same as `unsubscribeNotification`, but removes the subscriber from `NSWorkspace.sharedWorkspace.notificationCenter`. ### `systemPreferences.registerDefaults(defaults)` _macOS_ * `defaults` Record - a dictionary of (`key: value`) user defaults Add the specified defaults to your application's `NSUserDefaults`. ### `systemPreferences.getUserDefault(key, type)` _macOS_ * `key` string * `type` Type - Can be `string`, `boolean`, `integer`, `float`, `double`, `url`, `array` or `dictionary`. Returns [`UserDefaultTypes[Type]`](structures/user-default-types.md) - The value of `key` in `NSUserDefaults`. Some popular `key` and `type`s are: * `AppleInterfaceStyle`: `string` * `AppleAquaColorVariant`: `integer` * `AppleHighlightColor`: `string` * `AppleShowScrollBars`: `string` * `NSNavRecentPlaces`: `array` * `NSPreferredWebServices`: `dictionary` * `NSUserDictionaryReplacementItems`: `array` ### `systemPreferences.setUserDefault(key, type, value)` _macOS_ * `key` string * `type` Type - Can be `string`, `boolean`, `integer`, `float`, `double`, `url`, `array` or `dictionary`. * `value` UserDefaultTypes\[Type] Set the value of `key` in `NSUserDefaults`. Note that `type` should match actual type of `value`. An exception is thrown if they don't. Some popular `key` and `type`s are: * `ApplePressAndHoldEnabled`: `boolean` ### `systemPreferences.removeUserDefault(key)` _macOS_ * `key` string Removes the `key` in `NSUserDefaults`. This can be used to restore the default or global value of a `key` previously set with `setUserDefault`. ### `systemPreferences.isAeroGlassEnabled()` _Windows_ Returns `boolean` - `true` if [DWM composition][dwm-composition] (Aero Glass) is enabled, and `false` otherwise. An example of using it to determine if you should create a transparent window or not (transparent windows won't work correctly when DWM composition is disabled): ```javascript const { BrowserWindow, systemPreferences } = require('electron') const browserOptions = { width: 1000, height: 800 } // Make the window transparent only if the platform supports it. if (process.platform !== 'win32' || systemPreferences.isAeroGlassEnabled()) { browserOptions.transparent = true browserOptions.frame = false } // Create the window. const win = new BrowserWindow(browserOptions) // Navigate. if (browserOptions.transparent) { win.loadFile('index.html') } else { // No transparency, so we load a fallback that uses basic styles. win.loadFile('fallback.html') } ``` [dwm-composition]: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/dwm/composition-ovw ### `systemPreferences.getAccentColor()` _Windows_ _macOS_ Returns `string` - The users current system wide accent color preference in RGBA hexadecimal form. ```js const color = systemPreferences.getAccentColor() // `"aabbccdd"` const red = color.substr(0, 2) // "aa" const green = color.substr(2, 2) // "bb" const blue = color.substr(4, 2) // "cc" const alpha = color.substr(6, 2) // "dd" ``` This API is only available on macOS 10.14 Mojave or newer. ### `systemPreferences.getColor(color)` _Windows_ _macOS_ * `color` string - One of the following values: * On **Windows**: * `3d-dark-shadow` - Dark shadow for three-dimensional display elements. * `3d-face` - Face color for three-dimensional display elements and for dialog box backgrounds. * `3d-highlight` - Highlight color for three-dimensional display elements. * `3d-light` - Light color for three-dimensional display elements. * `3d-shadow` - Shadow color for three-dimensional display elements. * `active-border` - Active window border. * `active-caption` - Active window title bar. Specifies the left side color in the color gradient of an active window's title bar if the gradient effect is enabled. * `active-caption-gradient` - Right side color in the color gradient of an active window's title bar. * `app-workspace` - Background color of multiple document interface (MDI) applications. * `button-text` - Text on push buttons. * `caption-text` - Text in caption, size box, and scroll bar arrow box. * `desktop` - Desktop background color. * `disabled-text` - Grayed (disabled) text. * `highlight` - Item(s) selected in a control. * `highlight-text` - Text of item(s) selected in a control. * `hotlight` - Color for a hyperlink or hot-tracked item. * `inactive-border` - Inactive window border. * `inactive-caption` - Inactive window caption. Specifies the left side color in the color gradient of an inactive window's title bar if the gradient effect is enabled. * `inactive-caption-gradient` - Right side color in the color gradient of an inactive window's title bar. * `inactive-caption-text` - Color of text in an inactive caption. * `info-background` - Background color for tooltip controls. * `info-text` - Text color for tooltip controls. * `menu` - Menu background. * `menu-highlight` - The color used to highlight menu items when the menu appears as a flat menu. * `menubar` - The background color for the menu bar when menus appear as flat menus. * `menu-text` - Text in menus. * `scrollbar` - Scroll bar gray area. * `window` - Window background. * `window-frame` - Window frame. * `window-text` - Text in windows. * On **macOS** * `alternate-selected-control-text` - The text on a selected surface in a list or table. _Deprecated_ * `control-background` - The background of a large interface element, such as a browser or table. * `control` - The surface of a control. * `control-text` -The text of a control that isn’t disabled. * `disabled-control-text` - The text of a control that’s disabled. * `find-highlight` - The color of a find indicator. * `grid` - The gridlines of an interface element such as a table. * `header-text` - The text of a header cell in a table. * `highlight` - The virtual light source onscreen. * `keyboard-focus-indicator` - The ring that appears around the currently focused control when using the keyboard for interface navigation. * `label` - The text of a label containing primary content. * `link` - A link to other content. * `placeholder-text` - A placeholder string in a control or text view. * `quaternary-label` - The text of a label of lesser importance than a tertiary label such as watermark text. * `scrubber-textured-background` - The background of a scrubber in the Touch Bar. * `secondary-label` - The text of a label of lesser importance than a normal label such as a label used to represent a subheading or additional information. * `selected-content-background` - The background for selected content in a key window or view. * `selected-control` - The surface of a selected control. * `selected-control-text` - The text of a selected control. * `selected-menu-item-text` - The text of a selected menu. * `selected-text-background` - The background of selected text. * `selected-text` - Selected text. * `separator` - A separator between different sections of content. * `shadow` - The virtual shadow cast by a raised object onscreen. * `tertiary-label` - The text of a label of lesser importance than a secondary label such as a label used to represent disabled text. * `text-background` - Text background. * `text` - The text in a document. * `under-page-background` - The background behind a document's content. * `unemphasized-selected-content-background` - The selected content in a non-key window or view. * `unemphasized-selected-text-background` - A background for selected text in a non-key window or view. * `unemphasized-selected-text` - Selected text in a non-key window or view. * `window-background` - The background of a window. * `window-frame-text` - The text in the window's titlebar area. Returns `string` - The system color setting in RGB hexadecimal form (`#ABCDEF`). See the [Windows docs][windows-colors] and the [macOS docs][macos-colors] for more details. The following colors are only available on macOS 10.14: `find-highlight`, `selected-content-background`, `separator`, `unemphasized-selected-content-background`, `unemphasized-selected-text-background`, and `unemphasized-selected-text`. [windows-colors]: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/winuser/nf-winuser-getsyscolor [macos-colors]: https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/macos/visual-design/color#dynamic-system-colors ### `systemPreferences.getSystemColor(color)` _macOS_ * `color` string - One of the following values: * `blue` * `brown` * `gray` * `green` * `orange` * `pink` * `purple` * `red` * `yellow` Returns `string` - The standard system color formatted as `#RRGGBBAA`. Returns one of several standard system colors that automatically adapt to vibrancy and changes in accessibility settings like 'Increase contrast' and 'Reduce transparency'. See [Apple Documentation](https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/macos/visual-design/color#system-colors) for more details. ### `systemPreferences.isInvertedColorScheme()` _Windows_ _Deprecated_ Returns `boolean` - `true` if an inverted color scheme (a high contrast color scheme with light text and dark backgrounds) is active, `false` otherwise. **Deprecated:** Should use the new [`nativeTheme.shouldUseInvertedColorScheme`](native-theme.md#nativethemeshoulduseinvertedcolorscheme-macos-windows-readonly) API. ### `systemPreferences.isHighContrastColorScheme()` _macOS_ _Windows_ _Deprecated_ Returns `boolean` - `true` if a high contrast theme is active, `false` otherwise. **Deprecated:** Should use the new [`nativeTheme.shouldUseHighContrastColors`](native-theme.md#nativethemeshouldusehighcontrastcolors-macos-windows-readonly) API. ### `systemPreferences.getEffectiveAppearance()` _macOS_ Returns `string` - Can be `dark`, `light` or `unknown`. Gets the macOS appearance setting that is currently applied to your application, maps to [NSApplication.effectiveAppearance](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/appkit/nsapplication/2967171-effectiveappearance?language=objc) ### `systemPreferences.getAppLevelAppearance()` _macOS_ _Deprecated_ Returns `string` | `null` - Can be `dark`, `light` or `unknown`. Gets the macOS appearance setting that you have declared you want for your application, maps to [NSApplication.appearance](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/appkit/nsapplication/2967170-appearance?language=objc). You can use the `setAppLevelAppearance` API to set this value. ### `systemPreferences.setAppLevelAppearance(appearance)` _macOS_ _Deprecated_ * `appearance` string | null - Can be `dark` or `light` Sets the appearance setting for your application, this should override the system default and override the value of `getEffectiveAppearance`. ### `systemPreferences.canPromptTouchID()` _macOS_ Returns `boolean` - whether or not this device has the ability to use Touch ID. ### `systemPreferences.promptTouchID(reason)` _macOS_ * `reason` string - The reason you are asking for Touch ID authentication Returns `Promise` - resolves if the user has successfully authenticated with Touch ID. ```javascript const { systemPreferences } = require('electron') systemPreferences.promptTouchID('To get consent for a Security-Gated Thing').then(success => { console.log('You have successfully authenticated with Touch ID!') }).catch(err => { console.log(err) }) ``` This API itself will not protect your user data; rather, it is a mechanism to allow you to do so. Native apps will need to set [Access Control Constants](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/secaccesscontrolcreateflags?language=objc) like [`kSecAccessControlUserPresence`](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/secaccesscontrolcreateflags/ksecaccesscontroluserpresence?language=objc) on their keychain entry so that reading it would auto-prompt for Touch ID biometric consent. This could be done with [`node-keytar`](https://github.com/atom/node-keytar), such that one would store an encryption key with `node-keytar` and only fetch it if `promptTouchID()` resolves. ### `systemPreferences.isTrustedAccessibilityClient(prompt)` _macOS_ * `prompt` boolean - whether or not the user will be informed via prompt if the current process is untrusted. Returns `boolean` - `true` if the current process is a trusted accessibility client and `false` if it is not. ### `systemPreferences.getMediaAccessStatus(mediaType)` _Windows_ _macOS_ * `mediaType` string - Can be `microphone`, `camera` or `screen`. Returns `string` - Can be `not-determined`, `granted`, `denied`, `restricted` or `unknown`. This user consent was not required on macOS 10.13 High Sierra so this method will always return `granted`. macOS 10.14 Mojave or higher requires consent for `microphone` and `camera` access. macOS 10.15 Catalina or higher requires consent for `screen` access. Windows 10 has a global setting controlling `microphone` and `camera` access for all win32 applications. It will always return `granted` for `screen` and for all media types on older versions of Windows. ### `systemPreferences.askForMediaAccess(mediaType)` _macOS_ * `mediaType` string - the type of media being requested; can be `microphone`, `camera`. Returns `Promise` - A promise that resolves with `true` if consent was granted and `false` if it was denied. If an invalid `mediaType` is passed, the promise will be rejected. If an access request was denied and later is changed through the System Preferences pane, a restart of the app will be required for the new permissions to take effect. If access has already been requested and denied, it _must_ be changed through the preference pane; an alert will not pop up and the promise will resolve with the existing access status. **Important:** In order to properly leverage this API, you [must set](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/avfoundation/cameras_and_media_capture/requesting_authorization_for_media_capture_on_macos?language=objc) the `NSMicrophoneUsageDescription` and `NSCameraUsageDescription` strings in your app's `Info.plist` file. The values for these keys will be used to populate the permission dialogs so that the user will be properly informed as to the purpose of the permission request. See [Electron Application Distribution](../tutorial/application-distribution.md#rebranding-with-downloaded-binaries) for more information about how to set these in the context of Electron. This user consent was not required until macOS 10.14 Mojave, so this method will always return `true` if your system is running 10.13 High Sierra. ### `systemPreferences.getAnimationSettings()` Returns `Object`: * `shouldRenderRichAnimation` boolean - Returns true if rich animations should be rendered. Looks at session type (e.g. remote desktop) and accessibility settings to give guidance for heavy animations. * `scrollAnimationsEnabledBySystem` boolean - Determines on a per-platform basis whether scroll animations (e.g. produced by home/end key) should be enabled. * `prefersReducedMotion` boolean - Determines whether the user desires reduced motion based on platform APIs. Returns an object with system animation settings. ## Properties ### `systemPreferences.appLevelAppearance` _macOS_ A `string` property that can be `dark`, `light` or `unknown`. It determines the macOS appearance setting for your application. This maps to values in: [NSApplication.appearance](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/appkit/nsapplication/2967170-appearance?language=objc). Setting this will override the system default as well as the value of `getEffectiveAppearance`. Possible values that can be set are `dark` and `light`, and possible return values are `dark`, `light`, and `unknown`. This property is only available on macOS 10.14 Mojave or newer. ### `systemPreferences.effectiveAppearance` _macOS_ _Readonly_ A `string` property that can be `dark`, `light` or `unknown`. Returns the macOS appearance setting that is currently applied to your application, maps to [NSApplication.effectiveAppearance](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/appkit/nsapplication/2967171-effectiveappearance?language=objc)