How to launch system preferences to a specific preference pane using bundle identifier?

Question

I'm trying to open the system date & time preferences directly from my app. I can seem to open System Preferences with no issue using:

let settingsBundleIdentifier = "com.apple.systempreferences"

NSWorkspace.shared.launchApplication(withBundleIdentifier: settingsBundleIdentifier, options: [], additionalEventParamDescriptor: nil, launchIdentifier: nil)

But I can't figure out how to go directly to the date & time pane.

I tried changing the bundle identifier to com.apple.systempreferences:com.apple.datetimepref and com.apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.datetime to no avail.

What should I be doing here? Can one not open the pane directly through the bundle identifier?

I'm aware that I can open the preference pane directly using file path to DateTime.prefPane. But I'm looking to open it using bundle identifiers.

Answer 1

2020 | SWIFT 5.1:

any needed prefs:

NSWorkspace.shared.open(URL(fileURLWithPath: "/System/Library/PreferencePanes/%PrefsNsme%.prefPane"))

replace %PrefsNsme% to any needed filename that is located at "/System/Library/PreferencePanes/"

---

systemPrefs:

NSWorkspace.shared.open(URL(string: "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference")!)

List of URLs for reference (*updated for macOS Big Sur & Catalina & Mojave):

Accessibility Preference Pane
Main    x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess
Display x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?Seeing_Display
Zoom    x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?Seeing_Zoom
VoiceOver   x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?Seeing_VoiceOver
Descriptions    x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?Media_Descriptions
Captions    x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?Captioning
Audio   x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?Hearing
Keyboard    x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?Keyboard
Mouse & Trackpad    x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?Mouse
Switch Control  x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?Switch
Dictation   x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.universalaccess?SpeakableItems

Security & Privacy Preference Pane
Main    x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security
General x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?General
FileVault   x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?FDE
Firewall    x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Firewall
Advanced    x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Advanced
Privacy x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy
Privacy-Camera x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Camera
Privacy-Microphone  x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Microphone
Privacy-Automation  x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Automation
Privacy-AllFiles    x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_AllFiles
Privacy-Accessibility   x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Accessibility
Privacy-Assistive   x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Assistive
Privacy-Location Services   x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_LocationServices
Privacy-SystemServices  x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_SystemServices
Privacy-Advertising x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Advertising
Privacy-Contacts    x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Contacts
Privacy-Diagnostics & Usage x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Diagnostics
Privacy-Calendars   x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Calendars
Privacy-Reminders   x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Reminders
Privacy-Facebook    x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Facebook
Privacy-LinkedIn    x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_LinkedIn
Privacy-Twitter x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Twitter
Privacy-Weibo   x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Weibo
Privacy-Tencent Weibo   x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_TencentWeibo

macOS Catalina 10.15:
Privacy-ScreenCapture   x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_ScreenCapture
Privacy-DevTools    x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_DevTools
Privacy-InputMonitoring x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_ListenEvent
Privacy-DesktopFolder   x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_DesktopFolder
Privacy-DocumentsFolder x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_DocumentsFolder
Privacy-DownloadsFolder x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_DownloadsFolder
Privacy-NetworkVolume   x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_NetworkVolume
Privacy-RemovableVolume x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_RemovableVolume
Privacy-SpeechRecognition   x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_SpeechRecognition
Privacy-DevTools    x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_DevTools

macOS Big Sur 10.11/10.16:
Privacy-Bluetooth   x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Bluetooth
Privacy-Music   x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Media
Privacy-Home    x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_HomeKit


Dictation & Speech Preference Pane
Dictation   x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.speech?Dictation
Text to Speech  x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.speech?TTS
Sharing Preference Pane
Main    x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preferences.sharing
Screen Sharing  x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preferences.sharing?Services_ScreenSharing
File Sharing    x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preferences.sharing?Services_PersonalFileSharing
Printer Sharing x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preferences.sharing?Services_PrinterSharing
Remote Login    x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preferences.sharing?Services_RemoteLogin
Remote Management   x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preferences.sharing?Services_ARDService
Remote Apple Events x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preferences.sharing?Services_RemoteAppleEvent
Internet Sharing    x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preferences.sharing?Internet
Bluetooth Sharing   x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preferences.sharing?Services_BluetoothSharing

Software update x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preferences.softwareupdate?client=softwareupdateapp

Answer 2

I found the following code to open the Security PrefPane to a certain page:

    let prefpaneUrl = URL(string: "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_Accessibility")!
    NSWorkspace.shared.open(prefpaneUrl)

but oddly, when I try the same for Date & Time

    let prefpaneUrl = URL(string: "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.datetime"
    NSWorkspace.shared.open(prefpaneUrl)

it doesn't work, nor if I use the bundle identifier of the Date & Time PrefPane:

    let prefpaneUrl = URL(string: "x-apple.systempreferences:system.preferences.datetime")!
    NSWorkspace.shared.open(prefpaneUrl)

Update: There is a list of working pref pane identifiers here: http://web.archive.org/web/20190606022433/https://macosxautomation.com/system-prefs-links.html Seems Date & Time just isn't exposed.