Using Network Location in macOS

Software

I’ve been using modern macOS since the original Mac OS X betas were shipped on CD. Yet this is, to the best of my memory, the first time I’ve ever used the Location feature for networks.

If you open System Preferences and choose Network, there’s a dropdown labelled Location. It’s set to Automatic by default, but if you select it, you can choose Edit Locations… and add another. From then on, subsequent network settings will only be changed for that location.

Cooler still, you can then select that location from the Apple menu. Now I have all my custom DNS, IP, and VPN settings available within two clicks:

Screenshot showing the Location submenu on the Apple menu, with a list of places I've defined

Schveet!

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Ruben Schade is a technical writer and infrastructure architect in Sydney, Australia who refers to himself in the third person. Hi!

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