OS X Tutorial: How to use regional settings on your Mac

When you’re travelling, your Mac can be one of the most useful tools imaginable. Not only is it a great place to store and edit your photos, transform work documents and stay entertained with movies and any number of games, it’s also the perfect companion for keeping up to date no matter what country you are in. The regional settings that are built into your Mac’s operating system ensure that you can stay bang up to date with the local times, currencies and so much more with just a few simple clicks and actions. Plus, even if you’re not travelling, the regional options are great for changing settings like the date format for your day-to-day Mac use. Everything you could need is kept in one place, so whether you’re off on a business trip in Asia or just taking a holiday in Brazil, you’ll be able to quickly change your options. Here’s a quick nine-step tutorial to ensure you get your setup perfect.

Step 1: Find the settings

First, you’ll need to open up System Preferences. You can select from the Dock, or by clicking the Apple menu and selecting System Preferences.

Step 2: Section

Next, open up Language & Text. You can drag the preferred languages in any order. For now, select Region from the tabs along the top.

Step 3: Regional

From the drop-down box at the top of the window you can select the country that you want your system to be set up with.

Step 4: One day

You also have the option to set what you count as the first day of the week. Whatever your opinion is, use the drop-down box on the right to choose.

Step 5: Customise

Use the Customise button to change the way dates appear. Drag elements around and click the arrows to customise their appearance.

Step 6: Currency

At the bottom of the window is the currency selection box. Depending on where you are you can choose the correct currency from this list.

Step 7: Imperial or metric?

One of the biggest changes you can make is choosing between the metric or imperial measurement system.

Step 8: In the zone

Now hit Show All at the top of the window and select Date & Time. You can select the option that lets your Mac look up your location and time zone for you.

Step 9: Where in the world?

Alternatively you can choose to set the time manually, by running your mouse over the world map and clicking the nearest city to your location.

(Click on the image below to zoom in and view the annotations)