> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.realmacsoftware.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.realmacsoftware.com/squash/quick-guide/preferences.md).
# Settings
Customise Squash 4
Open Squash's Settings window with **Command-,** or **Squash → Settings…**. On older macOS versions, the menu may use the name Preferences.
### General
| Setting | What it does |
| ------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Theme | Choose Automatic, Light or Dark. Automatic follows your Mac's appearance. |
| Interface sounds | Enable or disable sounds for app actions. |
| Confetti when images are saved | Celebrate successful exports with confetti. |
| Replace previous images | Choose whether importing with Add Images, the File menu or a drop on an empty list replaces the current batch or adds to it. Hold Option to reverse this for an import. Drops on a list that already has images use its Replace and Add zones instead. |
| Automatically compress images | On by default. Calculate compressed sizes in the background as images are added or processing settings change. Turn it off to run Squash manually from the File menu or a row's context menu instead. |
| Show exported images in Finder | Reveal exported files or their destination in Finder after a successful save. |
| Search full-size photos for small barcodes | Used by the [Highlighter](/squash/quick-guide/nodes/redact.md). Searches large photos at full size so small barcodes are found too. Slower, and off by default. |
| Check for Beta Updates | Receive beta builds as well as stable updates. Available in the direct-download edition. Beta builds may contain bugs. |
| Share usage data | Help improve Squash by sharing app usage and basic system information with Realmac Software. Images and filenames aren't included. Off by default. |
Automatic compression calculates the output; use **Export Images** at the bottom of the settings sidebar to write the files to your chosen destination.
Descriptive filenames are not controlled by this setting. When the Rename template uses **Describe**, Squash starts generating as soon as images are added. See [AI Setup](/squash/quick-guide/ai.md).
### Watched
Set up folders that Squash watches for new images and squashes automatically with a preset. See [Watched Folders](/squash/quick-guide/watched-folders.md).
### Variables
Add, rename and delete your own named values, for use in filenames, folders, watermarks and metadata. They're saved on your Mac and shared by all your presets. See [Variables](/squash/quick-guide/variables.md).
### Effects
Enable or disable installed filter and border packs. Disabled packs are hidden from the **Effects** and **Borders** sections of the sidebar. Double-click a downloaded pack to install it.
See [Effect packs](/squash/quick-guide/nodes/effects.md#effect-packs) for installation and the packs included with Squash 4.
### Updates
In the direct-download edition, choose **General → Check for Beta Updates** to receive development builds as well as stable updates. Beta builds may contain bugs.
You can also choose **Squash → Check for Updates…**. Setapp and Mac App Store editions receive app updates through their respective stores.
Squash 3 reference screenshots
These screenshots show the earlier Squash 3 interface.
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