Systemwide

Systemwide is an adjective used in computing to describe changes, settings, or resources that apply to the entire operating system or computer environment, rather than to a single user, application, or session. A systemwide configuration is loaded for all users and processes and typically requires elevated privileges to implement.

On Linux and other Unix-like systems, systemwide configuration files reside in locations such as /etc or /usr, and global environment variables may be defined in /etc/profile or /etc/environment. Software installed systemwide is placed in shared directories like /usr and /lib and is accessible to all users. Services and daemons that start at boot are generally managed at the system level using an init system such as systemd.

In Windows environments, systemwide settings are managed through the registry under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, through Group Policy, and via the ProgramData directory. Environment variables for all users are configured in the System Properties. In macOS, systemwide resources and policies are implemented in /Library, and systemwide preferences can affect all users; launch daemons and agents operate at the system level via launchd.

Systemwide changes contrast with per-user settings that apply only to a specific user account and may override or be overridden by system defaults. Because systemwide modifications affect all users and services, they typically require careful administration, testing, and backup. Rollback plans and change control are common practices to mitigate risks when applying systemwide updates or configurations.