macOS Customization: Missing Features from iOS and iPadOS

macOS Customization Gaps Compared to iOS and iPadOS

Lock Screen Customization

iOS 16 and iPadOS 17 introduced extensive lock screen customization, including widgets and font changes. macOS Sonoma's lock screen redesign, however, lacked these features. iOS 19 continues the trend of mobile OS updates.

App Icon Customization

iOS and iPadOS 18 allow dark mode and tinting for app icons, and developers can let users change app icons natively. macOS has limited app icon customization. This contrasts with the Gemini App's 2025 redesign, which focuses on interface improvements.

Control Center Customization

iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 overhauled Control Center, enabling third-party app toggles and user rearrangement. macOS Control Center, introduced in Big Sur, lacks this flexibility. The Android 16 update, for example, introduces a three-app split screen, showcasing different approaches to customization.