System Preferences

If you have an M2 model as indicated, it will be “Settings”, also accessed from the Apple icon.

Customize your Mac with System Settings - Apple Support (CA)

Your footer shows an M2 Mac, a Mac which won’t run OS X El Capitan (where this question was posted).

Which means I’m not sure about the configuration.

Given you can’t find System Preferences, and the M2, you’re probably running Ventura, which changed the name.

With Ventura, Apple replaced System Preferences with System Settings.

Here is how to use System Settings, per Apple:

… Customize your Mac with System Settings - Apple Support

If you’re really running El Capitan on an older Mac and not M1- or M2-based, restart into Safe Mode, and check for System Preferences again:

… Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support