macOS Catalina has a central place for the Apple ID account details in System Preferences, letting you review important tips and notifications for your account, access and adjust security features, update iCloud settings, manage media and purchases, and more.
Catalina: Apple ID account management
With macOS Catalina 10.15, nearly all Apple ID account information available on the web is accessible through a brand new section in the System Preferences app.
This is where you’ll get a high-level overview of your Apple ID account and ensure that you’re on top of things by checking out tips and important account notifications from Apple. If an Apple ID account feature is not set up properly or your current settings make the account insecure, you may see prompts asking you to, for example, turn on two-factor authentication.
Another section holds your basic account information so you can easily update details like your name, contact, password, email newsletter preferences, as well as payment and shipping information. That was also possible in Mojave, if you knew where to look. In Catalina, your account info is always available from the main System Preferences screen.
In helping you manage security for your Apple ID, the new System Preferences pane also provides a handy list of all the devices signed into your account and other useful information such as when any particular device was last backed up, the status of the Find My service and so forth. In terms of purchases, you can upgrade your storage plan through this section.
Again, this was possible before but Catalina makes accessing these things way easier.
Yet another sub-section deals with any media and purchases associated with this Apple ID account. You can see the status of all your current subscriptions, browse your past purchases and change the various settings related to Apple’s content stores.
And if you happen to use Family Sharing, you can view which subscriptions and services you’re sharing with others, who in your family has enabled the Ask to Buy feature and more.
And that’s pretty much all you need to know about the new Apple ID section in Catalina.
Catalina: Apple ID account management changelog
Here’s Apple’s list of changes for Apple ID account management in macOS Catalina 10.15.
- Apple ID account information: One place for your Apple ID account details — now you can access all your important Apple ID account information right from System Preferences on your Mac.
- Overview and helpful notifications: A new overview pane allows you to quickly review important tips and notifications to help ensure that your account is properly signed in and secure and that all the features you expect are set up and working correctly.
- Basic account and security details: Easily review account details such as your name, contact info, password, security details, payment and shipping info and email newsletter preferences.
- iCloud settings: Review and update your iCloud settings and manage or upgrade your storage plan anytime.
- Media and purchases: Get easy access to your current subscriptions, past purchases, and account settings related to the App Store, iTunes Apple Music, Apple Books, Apple News and more.
- Family Sharing: View which subscriptions you’re sharing, which services are enabled, who has Ask to Buy turned on and more.
- View all your devices: View a list of all the devices you’re signed in to with your account. Review details like last backup completed, Find My status and more.
The update will be dropping in the fall.
macOS Catalina requirements and availability
macOS Catalina is compatible with the following Macs:
- MacBook 2015 and later
- MacBook Air 2012 and later
- MacBook Pro 2012 and later
- Mac mini 2012 and later
- iMac 2012 and later
- iMac Pro 2017 and later
- Mac Pro 2013 and later
To learn more, read Apple’s press release or visit apple.com/macos/catalina-preview.
Your take
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