How to reduce motion and animations on a Mac
2 min read · 5 steps · Updated 4 October 2026
Open System Settings, click Accessibility, then Motion, and switch on Reduce motion. This changes the movement of elements on the screen, for example when you open apps, switch between desktops, or open and close Notification Center.
- Device
- Mac
- Shown on
- macOS Tahoe 26
- App
- System Settings
- Path
- System Settings › Accessibility › Motion
- Real screenshots
- 5 of 5 steps
- Checked
- October 2026
- Sources
- 1 official, linked below
Windows that zoom open and desktops that slide sideways look smooth, but some people find the movement unpleasant or tiring. One switch tones it down. Two more switches on the same page stop animated images and the blinking text cursor.
The screenshots show System Settings on macOS Tahoe 26.
Step by step
Open System Settings
Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and choose System Settings.
Click Accessibility, then Motion
Accessibility is in the sidebar on the left. Motion is in the Vision group on the right. You may need to scroll down in the sidebar.
Switch on Reduce motion
It is the first switch on the page. In the picture it is off.
Stop animated images if you like
Auto-play animated images is on at first. Switch it off to pause rapid animated images automatically, such as GIFs in Messages and Safari.
Stop the blinking cursor if you like
Prefer non-blinking cursor stops the blinking of the vertical bar at the point where you are typing.
Good to know
Apple lists two more options that do not appear on every Mac: Dim flashing lights, only on Mac computers with Apple silicon, and Vehicle Motion Cues, on Mac laptops.
To make things larger instead of calmer: how to zoom in on the screen on a Mac.
In short: System Settings, Accessibility, Motion, Reduce motion on.
Links checked on 3 October 2026. Rules and prices change. Check the official source before you act.