This is a complete A- Z index of all Mac commands and the terminal events associated with those commands. We have compiled this list by using official sources and have explained more clearly and elaborately about each of them. We have also added two additional columns specifying whether or not the command is an inbuilt system one. The final column also displays the Mac version support for each of these commands.
IMPORTANT: If you are not an advanced user and have no knowledge on how to use the terminal commands, please do not try to experiment. These are meant for medium and advanced users ONLY.
Mac Terminal Commands – A to Z
Command | InBuilt | Command Action and Event | All |
alias | Yes | Creation of a Alias for current User | Yes |
alloc | No | Free Memory is Listed | Yes |
apropos | No | String search in What is database | NA |
awk | No | Scan and overwrite Text inside file and files | NA |
basename | No | Change full path name to path name | NA |
bash | No | Bourne-Again Shell | NA |
bg | Yes | Send to background | Yes |
bind | Yes | Read line Key is displayed | Yes |
bless | No | Assign Boot and start-up options | NA |
break | Yes | Exit a redundant loop | Yes |
builtin | Yes | Execute a built in shell command | Yes |
bzip2 | No | Compress and decompress a file | Yes |
cal | No | The calendar is displayed | Yes |
caller | Yes | Subroutine call context is returned | Yes |
case | Yes | Conditional statement | Yes |
cat | No | Append and Display file content | Yes |
cd | Yes | Change current Directory | Yes |
chflags | No | Change flags | NA |
chgrp | No | Modify Group Ownership | NA |
chmod | No | Change group permissions | NA |
chown | No | Modify File owner and permissions | NA |
chroot | No | Execute a command using another root directory | NA |
cksum | No | Print and display checksum | NA |
clear | No | Clear current terminal screen contents | NA |
cmp | No | Simply compares two files | NA |
comm | No | Line by line comparison of two sorted lines | Yes |
command | Yes | Run or Execute a command | Yes |
complete | Yes | Edit or modify completion of a command | Yes |
continue | Yes | Resume a loop | Yes |
cp | No | Copy Command | NA |
cron | No | Run or Execute a prescheduled command | NA |
crontab | No | Schedule command for execution after an assigned time | NA |
csplit | No | Split a file into context-determined pieces | NA |
curl | No | Upload or download data from a server | NA |
cut | No | Cut a file into parts | Yes |
date | No | Display or modify date time | Yes |
dc | No | Display Desk Calculator | NA |
dd | No | (Copy a file) Data Dump | NA |
declare | Yes | Declare and assign attributes for a variable | Yes |
defaults | No | Set visual preference options for hidden files | NA |
df | No | Show unused disk space | Yes |
diff | No | Show difference between two files | Yes |
diff3 | No | Show difference between three files | NA |
dig | No | Command to lookup DNS details | NA |
dirname | No | Convert full path name to path | NA |
dirs | Yes | Display cached directories | Yes |
diskutil | No | Disk utility command | Yes |
disown | Yes | Remove a job from current session | Yes |
ditto | No | Same as copy command | Yes |
dot_clean | No | Remove dots and underscores from a context files | NA |
drutil | No | Disk drive utility command | NA |
dscacheutil | No | Flush DNS or cache | NA |
dscl | No | Command-line utility for directory service | Yes |
dseditgroup | No | Manage groups and users | Yes |
dsenableroor | No | Command to enable root access for a terminal | NA |
dsmemberutil | No | Show groups and users rights | NA |
du | No | File space usage estimation | NA |
echo | Yes | Display an entered message on the screen | Yes |
ed | No | A text editor program | Yes |
enable | Yes | Enable or disable system shell commands | Yes |
env | No | Display or Modify environment variables | Yes |
eval | Yes | Evaluate one or more commands or arguments | Yes |
exec | Yes | Execute command | Yes |
exit | Yes | Exit shell | Yes |
expand | No | Expand a Tab | NA |
expect | No | Pre assigned dialogue exchange for interactive programs | NA |
export | Yes | Assign environment variable | Yes |
expr | No | Evaluate an expression or set of expressions | Yes |
fc | No | Fix command | NA |
fdisk | No | Format disk command | NA |
fg | Yes | Bring a job to front | Yes |
file | No | Analyse file type | Yes |
find | No | File search matching requested criteria | NA |
fmt | No | Reformat Text in a paragraph | NA |
fold | No | Wrap text to automatically adjust with working area | NA |
for | Yes | Simple Loop command | Yes |
fs_usage | No | File system display usage | Yes |
fsactl | No | Enable or disable ACL support for File System | NA |
fsck | No | Check and repair file systems | NA |
ftp | No | FTP manager | NA |
getfileinfo | No | Get file attributes | Yes |
getopts | Yes | Parse the positional parameters | Yes |
goto | No | Jump to an assigned point and then continue program execution | NA |
grep | No | Search file with a certain pattern | NA |
groups | No | Display a user's group name | NA |
gzip | No | Compress and decompress a file | Yes |
halt | No | Shutdown and Restart the system | NA |
hash | Yes | Refresh command cache and path names | Yes |
hdiutil | No | Hard drive interface Utility Tool | Yes |
head | No | Print first line from a text file | Yes |
history | Yes | History Command | Yes |
hostname | No | Display or modify System name | NA |
iconv | No | Convert character set of file(s) | NA |
id | No | Display user and group IDs | Yes |
if | Yes | Conditional Command statement | Yes |
info | No | Display help information | NA |
install | No | Copy and assign attributes of a file | Yes |
ipconfig | No | Configure network attributes and assign values | NA |
jobs | Yes | List all currently active jobs | Yes |
join | No | Join command | NA |
kextfind | No | List the kernel extension | NA |
kickstart | No | Configure and set Apple Remote Desktop properties | NA |
kill | No | Terminate a process directly | Yes |
l | No | List file in original long format | NA |
last | No | Indicate last login information of a users and additional info | NA |
launchctl | No | Launch daemons or agents | NA |
less | No | Display output on screen accommodating data per window | NA |
let | Yes | Evaluate an expression or set of expressions | Yes |
lipo | No | Convert binary format | Yes |
ll | No | List file in original long format, also display hidden files | Yes |
ln | No | Interlink files | NA |
local | Yes | Assign local variable | Yes |
locate | No | Find a file or files | Yes |
login | No | log-in your system | NA |
logname | No | Display current users login name | NA |
logout | Yes | Exit login shell | Yes |
lpr | No | Print file or files | Yes |
lprm | No | Remove queued print jobs | Yes |
lpstat | No | Printer info and current status | Yes |
ls | No | List a file information | NA |
lsof | No | List currently opened files | NA |
lsregister | No | Reset Launch Service database | NA |
man | No | Display Help manual | Yes |
mdfind | No | Spotlight search command | Yes |
mdutil | No | Spotlight search command utility | Yes |
mkdir | No | Create new directory | Yes |
mkfifo | No | Build FIFOs | Yes |
more | No | Display output data one screen at one time | NA |
mount | No | Mount a file system | NA |
mv | No | Cut or rename directories or files | NA |
nano | No | Bring up text editor | Yes |
net | No | Configure network resources | NA |
netstat | No | Display network information | NA |
networksetup | No | Assign network attributes | Yes |
nice | No | Set command priority | NA |
nohup | No | Hang-up a command | NA |
ntfs.util | No | NTFS utility command | Yes |
onintr | No | Control shell action | NA |
open | No | Open up a file or location | NA |
osacomplie | No | Command to Compile an Apple script | NA |
osasdript | No | Execute an AppleScript | NA |
passwd | No | Modify user password directly | Yes |
paste | No | Merge lines from two or more files | Yes |
pbcopy | No | Copy the data to clipboard | NA |
pbpaste | No | Paste the data from Clipboard | NA |
ping | No | Check a network connection | NA |
pkgutil | No | Display or change Installed packages info | NA |
plutil | No | Property list command utility | Yes |
pmset | No | Configure Power Management settings | Yes |
popd | Yes | Restore previous value of current directory | Yes |
pr | No | Modify Text files to print | Yes |
printenv | No | Display all environment variables | Yes |
printf | Yes | Print command | Yes |
ps | No | Display Process status | Yes |
pushd | No | Save and change current directory | NA |
pwd | Yes | Print currently Working Directory | Yes |
quota | No | Display disk limitation and usage | Yes |
rcp | No | Copy files across machines/systems | Yes |
read | Yes | Read first line from an output file | Yes |
readonly | Yes | Assign read only attribute to a file/directory | Yes |
reboot | Yes | Reboot a system | Yes |
return | Yes | Exit Function | Yes |
rev | No | Reverse file lines | NA |
rm | No | Remove file(s) | NA |
rmdir | No | Remove directory(ies) | Yes |
rpm | No | Bring up Remote Package Manager tool | Yes |
rsync | No | Remotely copy a file | NA |
say | No | Text to speech conversion | NA |
screen | No | Manage Multiplex terminal and run remote shells via ssh | NA |
screencapture | No | Capture the screen image | Yes |
sdiff | No | Merge or modify two files | Yes |
security | No | Configure security options for a system | Yes |
sed | No | Stream Editor Utility | NA |
select | Yes | Display list of Items | Yes |
set | Yes | Set shell variable | Yes |
setfile | No | Set file attributes | NA |
shift | Yes | Shift positional parameters | Yes |
shopt | Yes | Configure shell options | Yes |
shutdown | No | Shutdown/restart Mac OS X | NA |
sleep | No | Sleep after an assigned time frame | Yes |
softwareupdate | No | Software Update Command | Yes |
sort | No | Sort the text files | Yes |
source | Yes | Execute command from file | Yes |
split | No | Split files into like sized pieces | NA |
stop | No | Stop a process or currently running job | NA |
su | No | Substitute a user identity | Yes |
sudo | No | Execute command as some other user | Yes |
sum | No | Print checksum value for a file | NA |
suspend | Yes | Suspend shell execution | Yes |
sw_vers | No | Print Mac Operating System version | NA |
system_profiler | No | Report a system configuration | Yes |
tail | No | Display the last lines from a file | NA |
tar | No | Archiver Utility | Yes |
tcpdump | No | Network Traffic dump | NA |
tee | No | Redirect multiple file output | NA |
test | Yes | Conditional evaluation | Yes |
textutil | No | Modify Text file formats | NA |
time | No | Calculate Program Resource Usage | Yes |
times | Yes | Print shell along with shell process time | Yes |
top | No | Display process related information | Yes |
touch | No | Change the file timestamps info | Yes |
tr | No | Modify Characters or delete them | NA |
traceroute | No | Display Trace Route path to assigned host name | NA |
trap | Yes | Execute command when shell receives signal | Yes |
tty | No | Print terminal filename on stdin | NA |
type | Yes | Describe command name and type | Yes |
ufs.util | No | Mount or unmount a UFS file system | NA |
ulimit | Yes | Limit system resources usage | Yes |
unalias | Yes | Delete an alias | Yes |
unamask | No | Mask User file creation | NA |
uname | No | Print System Info | Yes |
unexpand | No | Space to tab converter | Yes |
uniq | No | Uniquify the files | Yes |
units | No | Unit scale converter command | NA |
unmount | No | Unmount a mounted device | NA |
unset | Yes | Remove function or variable names | Yes |
until | Yes | Loop command | Yes |
uptime | No | Display System Runtime information | NA |
users | No | Print all username of the current session | NA |
uucp | No | Unix to Unix copy command | Yes |
uudecode | No | Decode a file | NA |
uuencode | No | Encode a file | NA |
vi | No | Visual Text Editor | Yes |
wait | Yes | Wait for process completion | Yes |
whatis | No | Search what is database | NA |
where | No | Report all command instances | NA |
while | Yes | Loop command | Yes |
who | No | Print all names of the users of the current session | NA |
whoami | No | Display or Print current username and info details | NA |
write | No | Send a user a message | NA |
xargs | No | Execute utility by passing arguments | Yes |
yes | No | Print a string value until and unless interrupted by a user | NA |
Foot note: N/A – Data not available.
If you feel this list lacks any particular command which has been recently added to the Mac terminal, you can improve this article by mentioning it in the comment section.
Get all best apps via SetappFor those who have never used Terminal commands on Mac before, the app's resemblance to hacking (as seen in movies) can be a little intimidating. But in fact, Terminal isn't all that complicated once you know a little about how it works.
Restart computers using Terminal on Mac. To restart a computer now or at a specific time using Terminal, you can use the shutdown command or the systemsetup command. The following examples show some ways to use these commands, but for complete information about them, see the shutdown command man page and the systemsetup command man page. An A-Z Index of the Apple macOS command line (macOS bash) afconvert Audio File Convert afinfo Audio File Info afplay Audio File Play airport Manage Apple AirPort alias Create an alias. alloc List used and free memory apropos Search the whatis database for strings asr Apple Software Restore atsutil Font registration system utility automator Run an Automator workflow awk Find and Replace text.
Many commands are surprisingly straightforward, such as how to open a file in Terminal and the dangerously powerful (since it bypasses the Trash) Terminal delete file capability:
open ~/Desktop/filename.extension
rm filename.extension
The rm stands for remove, so use with caution!
For another example, let's look at how to create a folder on Mac. Using Finder, this would simply be a case of right-clicking and choosing New Folder. When it comes to how to make a directory in Terminal, we'd need to use a specific command:
mkdir 'new folder'
The Terminal window itself is designed to grant users access to UNIX features hidden away behind the Mac operating system. But you don't need to learn about all of the technical stuff if you don't want to. All you need to know is that a bit of Mac command line rote learning can help you do all sorts of cool things with your laptop or desktop that you couldn't achieve otherwise.
Fix Mac problems without Terminal
Terminal commands aren't easy. With Setapp, a one-stop platform for Mac apps, you can do the same — or more — in a beautiful interface.
8 Best Terminal Commands For Mac
Of course, defining the best Terminal commands for Mac really depends on what you want to get out of this tool. First things first though, to start you need to know how to open command prompt on Mac because you can't use any Terminal commands without it:
Double-click your Macintosh HD icon or open a Finder window
Make your way into the Applications folder
Double-click Utilities and open Terminal
You'll be met with a window that shows the name of your Mac followed by your username and a $ sign. All of the Mac Terminal commands listed here are entered after this, followed by a press or two of the Return key.
Actually using the app may be a bit tricky if you've never done so before, but at least the question of how to open Terminal on Mac is easy to answer. Pay attention going forward!
1. Show or hide files and folders
One of the easier, and most useful, commands to use in conjunction with Mac command line is the one that reveals hidden files and folders in macOS:
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool TRUE
killall Finder
Now you can edit and delete files that were previously inaccessible. When you want to hide these files again, just change the TRUE above to FALSE and repeat the process.
2. Duplicate files between folders
Rather than dragging and dropping or copying files between folders, you can use Ditto Terminal command on Mac to achieve the same result:
Ditto [original folder] [new folder]
If you have folders in different locations with the same name, you can type -v after Ditto to display each item's file path using the verbose mode of Mac Terminal.
3. Change default screenshot settings
Tired of clogging up your desktop with screenshots? Terminal on Mac offers an easy fix for that with the option to set a new location for screenshots to be saved. Just enter the following:
defaults write com.apple.screencapture location ~/your/desired/location
killall SystemUIServer
You can also change the default file format (PNG) if you want to generate screenshots as JPEGs or PDFs instead:
defaults write com.apple.screencapture type jpg
4. Improve the screenshot process
If you take a lot of screenshots on your Mac, you might have noticed that it automatically adds a drop shadow to screenshotted windows. If you'd prefer to turn these shadows off, you can do so with the following Mac commands:
$ defaults write com.apple.screencapture disable-shadow -bool TRUE
killall SystemUIServer
To further customize how screenshots appear on your Mac, you could look at CleanShot. This app allows you to capture your Mac's screen without the distraction of desktop icons, set custom wallpapers on the background, and annotate or blur certain parts of the image.
After taking a screenshot with CleanShot, a small popup window allows you to tweak the appearance of your capture — such as adding shapes, text, or pixelating parts of the image — before you share it anywhere using a layout similar to the simple and intuitive actions in Preview.
Terminal Commands For Macbook
5. Download files without using your browser
The art of downloading files without using a web browser is familiar to any millennials who risked malware and viruses to download their favorite tracks from Limewire or Kazaa, but may be unheard of to others.
A nifty Mac command line trick exists for downloading files without using your web browser if you already know the location of the file. The command is as follows:
cd ~/Downloads/
curl -O http://website.com/folder/file...
The first part is a crash course in how to change directory in Terminal, as that's what the cd stands for. So by re-reading the example above, you can see that the file will appear in your Downloads folder when it's finished downloading.
6. Keep your Mac awake
Overriding your Mac's default sleep settings (available via System Preferences ➙ Energy Saver) is a breeze using one of Terminal's more humorous Mac commands. Apparently, like so many people out there, Macs run on coffee:
caffeinate -u -t [number of seconds to remain active]
If you'd rather not launch Terminal every time you need to keep your Mac awake, there's an app out there called Lungo that lives in your menu bar and builds on the coffee theme. Just select the cup icon in the top right corner of your screen and you can keep your Mac awake for 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 4 hours, or indefinitely with a single click.
Network Commands For Terminal Mac
7. View the contents of any folder or file
If one of your files gets corrupted, or you suspect there's a hidden message tucked away somewhere inside its package, you can use the Terminal window to see some details about it:
cat ~/file/path/here
The command will throw out a bunch of indecipherable nonsense if you try to use it on something like an image or an audio file, but it could be a lifesaver when recovering text from a corrupted Word document, for example.
8. Hide inactive apps in Dock and dull hidden ones
Accruing more and more apps in your Dock is pretty much par for the course when you use a Mac for any significant length of time. So a good-to-know Terminal command here is the one that makes your Dock embrace a minimal approach by showing only active apps:
defaults write com.apple.dock static-only -bool TRUE
killall Dock
If you want to take this process even further, you can dim apps that aren't visible on your monitor(s):
defaults write com.apple.Dock showhidden -bool TRUE
killall Dock
Another easier option for those with the cluttered Dock is to check out uBar, a simple and minimal replacement. Instead of a long line of icons, you can now have a highly customizable bar that allows you to devote more space to the apps that matter most.
You can use uBar to preview, group, quit, or close apps and windows, without the need to open them first, across multiple monitors. It's an altogether less distracting option for those who find the default Dock a bit cluttered or unpredictable.
Best Terminal for Mac alternatives
If you simply can't get to grips with how to open Terminal on Mac or get comfortable with all of its ins and outs, you may want to investigate an app like MacPilot.
Get a perfect Terminal alternative
Install MacPilot, an appealing tool that will replace Terminal on your Mac. Over 1000 hidden macOS features and ease of use.
MacPilot grants access to more than 1,000 hidden features in macOS using UNIX without requiring that you learn any complicated commands. Instead, it offers users a Finder-esque window that groups tweaks by both application and function.
In most cases, enabling or disabling features with MacPilot is as simple as checking or unchecking the relevant boxes. You can also explore content across your disks using a File Browser that includes hidden files and detailed information about all available items.
The range of System Tools, reference guides, and secret tricks offered by MacPilot is a powerful alternative to Terminal for those who would rather avoid struggling with commands.
Why the Terminal window still matters
Try to wax lyrical about the benefits of Mac commands with fellow Apple users and there's a good chance you'll be met with them asking 'what is a Terminal?' The fact is, this app isn't something that the average Mac user ever bothers much with.
As you can see from the list of useful commands above, neglecting to use Terminal on Mac or an app like MacPilot means never seeing everything that your laptop or desktop is capable of.
One of many great things about using Mac Terminal commands is that, should you make a mistake, you can usually undo whatever you've done just by changing TRUE to FALSE and running the command again or simply changing the location or setting back to what it was before.
It's true that Mac Terminal has a steep learning curve if you're not used to its 'language' but, whether or not you take the easier route with MacPilot, you can still try some of the cool tricks Terminal allows. You can play games, for example, by doing the following:
Open a Terminal window and type emacs then press Enter
With GNU Emacs selected, hit Escape
On the next screen, type x then tetris, pong or snake and press Enter
The most interesting example of a hidden Mac Terminal trick? That has to be the option to watch an ASCII version of the entire movie Star Wars:
telnet towel.blinkenlights.nl
Grab some popcorn and enjoy!
Best of all, the apps mentioned throughout this article: CleanShot, Lungo, uBar, MacPilot — are all available for a free 7-day trial with Setapp, a platform for more than 150 apps to extend the possibilities of your Mac. See the best your Mac can do.
Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.
Read onSign Up
Ditto [original folder] [new folder]
If you have folders in different locations with the same name, you can type -v after Ditto to display each item's file path using the verbose mode of Mac Terminal.
3. Change default screenshot settings
Tired of clogging up your desktop with screenshots? Terminal on Mac offers an easy fix for that with the option to set a new location for screenshots to be saved. Just enter the following:
defaults write com.apple.screencapture location ~/your/desired/location
killall SystemUIServer
You can also change the default file format (PNG) if you want to generate screenshots as JPEGs or PDFs instead:
defaults write com.apple.screencapture type jpg
4. Improve the screenshot process
If you take a lot of screenshots on your Mac, you might have noticed that it automatically adds a drop shadow to screenshotted windows. If you'd prefer to turn these shadows off, you can do so with the following Mac commands:
$ defaults write com.apple.screencapture disable-shadow -bool TRUE
killall SystemUIServer
To further customize how screenshots appear on your Mac, you could look at CleanShot. This app allows you to capture your Mac's screen without the distraction of desktop icons, set custom wallpapers on the background, and annotate or blur certain parts of the image.
After taking a screenshot with CleanShot, a small popup window allows you to tweak the appearance of your capture — such as adding shapes, text, or pixelating parts of the image — before you share it anywhere using a layout similar to the simple and intuitive actions in Preview.
Terminal Commands For Macbook
5. Download files without using your browser
The art of downloading files without using a web browser is familiar to any millennials who risked malware and viruses to download their favorite tracks from Limewire or Kazaa, but may be unheard of to others.
A nifty Mac command line trick exists for downloading files without using your web browser if you already know the location of the file. The command is as follows:
cd ~/Downloads/
curl -O http://website.com/folder/file...
The first part is a crash course in how to change directory in Terminal, as that's what the cd stands for. So by re-reading the example above, you can see that the file will appear in your Downloads folder when it's finished downloading.
6. Keep your Mac awake
Overriding your Mac's default sleep settings (available via System Preferences ➙ Energy Saver) is a breeze using one of Terminal's more humorous Mac commands. Apparently, like so many people out there, Macs run on coffee:
caffeinate -u -t [number of seconds to remain active]
If you'd rather not launch Terminal every time you need to keep your Mac awake, there's an app out there called Lungo that lives in your menu bar and builds on the coffee theme. Just select the cup icon in the top right corner of your screen and you can keep your Mac awake for 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 4 hours, or indefinitely with a single click.
Network Commands For Terminal Mac
7. View the contents of any folder or file
If one of your files gets corrupted, or you suspect there's a hidden message tucked away somewhere inside its package, you can use the Terminal window to see some details about it:
cat ~/file/path/here
The command will throw out a bunch of indecipherable nonsense if you try to use it on something like an image or an audio file, but it could be a lifesaver when recovering text from a corrupted Word document, for example.
8. Hide inactive apps in Dock and dull hidden ones
Accruing more and more apps in your Dock is pretty much par for the course when you use a Mac for any significant length of time. So a good-to-know Terminal command here is the one that makes your Dock embrace a minimal approach by showing only active apps:
defaults write com.apple.dock static-only -bool TRUE
killall Dock
If you want to take this process even further, you can dim apps that aren't visible on your monitor(s):
defaults write com.apple.Dock showhidden -bool TRUE
killall Dock
Another easier option for those with the cluttered Dock is to check out uBar, a simple and minimal replacement. Instead of a long line of icons, you can now have a highly customizable bar that allows you to devote more space to the apps that matter most.
You can use uBar to preview, group, quit, or close apps and windows, without the need to open them first, across multiple monitors. It's an altogether less distracting option for those who find the default Dock a bit cluttered or unpredictable.
Best Terminal for Mac alternatives
If you simply can't get to grips with how to open Terminal on Mac or get comfortable with all of its ins and outs, you may want to investigate an app like MacPilot.
Get a perfect Terminal alternative
Install MacPilot, an appealing tool that will replace Terminal on your Mac. Over 1000 hidden macOS features and ease of use.
MacPilot grants access to more than 1,000 hidden features in macOS using UNIX without requiring that you learn any complicated commands. Instead, it offers users a Finder-esque window that groups tweaks by both application and function.
In most cases, enabling or disabling features with MacPilot is as simple as checking or unchecking the relevant boxes. You can also explore content across your disks using a File Browser that includes hidden files and detailed information about all available items.
The range of System Tools, reference guides, and secret tricks offered by MacPilot is a powerful alternative to Terminal for those who would rather avoid struggling with commands.
Why the Terminal window still matters
Try to wax lyrical about the benefits of Mac commands with fellow Apple users and there's a good chance you'll be met with them asking 'what is a Terminal?' The fact is, this app isn't something that the average Mac user ever bothers much with.
As you can see from the list of useful commands above, neglecting to use Terminal on Mac or an app like MacPilot means never seeing everything that your laptop or desktop is capable of.
One of many great things about using Mac Terminal commands is that, should you make a mistake, you can usually undo whatever you've done just by changing TRUE to FALSE and running the command again or simply changing the location or setting back to what it was before.
It's true that Mac Terminal has a steep learning curve if you're not used to its 'language' but, whether or not you take the easier route with MacPilot, you can still try some of the cool tricks Terminal allows. You can play games, for example, by doing the following:
Open a Terminal window and type emacs then press Enter
With GNU Emacs selected, hit Escape
On the next screen, type x then tetris, pong or snake and press Enter
The most interesting example of a hidden Mac Terminal trick? That has to be the option to watch an ASCII version of the entire movie Star Wars:
telnet towel.blinkenlights.nl
Grab some popcorn and enjoy!
Best of all, the apps mentioned throughout this article: CleanShot, Lungo, uBar, MacPilot — are all available for a free 7-day trial with Setapp, a platform for more than 150 apps to extend the possibilities of your Mac. See the best your Mac can do.
Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.
Read onSign Up