Setting up a message center under Mavericks: the best tips

The new messaging center under Mavericks is very practical. We'll show you a few tricks to help you set up the tool properly.

Arrange programs correctly in the message center

You can customize which programs appear in the message center:

Open the system settings and select the menu item "Message center".
First define the order in which the programs should appear: To do this, choose at the bottom of the window whether you want to sort the apps according to the last activity or manually.
If you prefer to sort the tools manually, you can move the apps on the left with the mouse.

In the notification center of OS X Mavericks, many apps have their own settings. If you adjust them, the system tool becomes even clearer:

Select all apps in order. You can choose between three hint styles for each program: The banners appear at the top of the screen for a few seconds. However, you have to close the information manually. The advantage: With many tools such as Skype or Mail, you can answer directly here. You can even control your music with iTunes.
For each app, decide whether the messages should also appear on the lock screen. But keep in mind that everyone can read your clues - even when you're not around.
Here you can also set how many entries should appear in the message center. Do not make too many entries here, otherwise the head office will quickly become crowded and confusing.
Additional tip: You can activate the sound for important notifications.

At certain times, the messages and banners also interfere. To avoid this, you can mute the control panel:

If you want to mute the control center regularly, simply open the settings. Select the "Do Not Disturb" tab in the list and set the desired rest time.
If, on the other hand, you only want to switch the notifications briefly, scroll up once briefly in the open control center. With the "Do not disturb" button, your message center remains silent for the next day.

If you are rather bothered by the system tool, you can also hide the message center.