macOS Terminal Commands

Essential System Information

Display macOS Version and Build

sw_vers

Display Darwin Kernel Version

uname -r

Display Model Identifier (SMBIOS)

system_profiler SPHardwareDataType | grep 'Model Identifier'

Show CPU Information

# CPU Brand
sysctl machdep.cpu.brand_string

# CPU Vendor
sysctl -a | grep machdep.cpu.vendor

# CPU Features
sysctl -a | grep machdep.cpu.features

# CPU Features (displayed as list)
sysctl -n machdep.cpu.features | tr ' ' '\n'

# Bus and CPU Frequency
sysctl -a | grep freq

Critical Troubleshooting

View System Logs

# Show log of last boot
log show --last boot

# Search for specific terms in boot log
log show --last boot | grep "your search term"

# Example: Search for ACPI issues
log show --last boot | grep "ACPI"

Check Wake/Sleep Issues

# Check reasons for wake/sleep
pmset -g log | grep -e "Sleep.*due to" -e "Wake.*due to"

# Alternative (searches syslog)
log show --style syslog | fgrep "Wake reason"

# Check hibernation settings
pmset -g

# Check Assertions – displays a summary of power assertions. Assertions may prevent system sleep or display sleep. Available 10.6 and later.
pmset −g assertions

Delete Error Logs

sudo rm -rf /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/*

Kext Management

# Find loaded kexts (excluding Apple's)
kextstat | grep -v com.apple

# Rebuild kext cache (macOS 11+)
sudo kextcache -U /

# Rebuild kext cache (macOS 10.15 or older)
sudo kextcache -i /

Fix Application Code Signing Issues

Run line by line:

xcode-select --install
sudo codesign --force --deep --sign - <drag the app here>
sudo xattr -d -r com.apple.quarantine <drag the app here>
sudo chmod +x <drag the app here>

System Security & Permissions

System Integrity Protection (SIP)

# Check SIP status
csrutil status

# Check active csr-active-config
nvram 7C436110-AB2A-4BBB-A880-FE41995C9F82:csr-active-config

Apple Secure Boot Status

nvram 94b73556-2197-4702-82a8-3e1337dafbfb:AppleSecureBootPolicy

Results:

%00 = No Security
%01 = Medium Security
%02 = Full Security

Gatekeeper Management

# Disable Gatekeeper
sudo spctl --master-disable

Note

In macOS Sequoia+, you have to also confirm the changes in System Settings → Gatekeeper → "Allow apps from 'Everywhere'"

Privacy Settings

# Reset all privacy settings (brings back permission pop-ups)
tccutil reset All

Disable Library Validation (Temporary)

sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.security.libraryvalidation.plist DisableLibraryValidation -bool true

Note

Requires a kernel patch to make persistent

Finder & File System

Show Hidden Files and Folders

Keyboard Shortcut:

⌘⇧. (Command+Shift+Dot)

Terminal Commands:

# Show all files
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE && killall Finder

# Hide files again
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE && killall Finder

Show User Library (macOS 11+)

setfile -a v ~/Library
chflags nohidden ~/Library

Add "Quit" Option to Finder Menu

defaults write com.apple.finder "QuitMenuItem" -bool "true" && killall Finder

Disable .DS_Store on Network Storage

# Disable
defaults write com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteNetworkStores -bool true

# Re-enable
defaults write com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteNetworkStores -bool false

Rebuild Launch Services

Fixes "Open with…" menu issues:

/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user

Rebuild Spotlight Index

# System-wide
sudo mdutil -a -i off
sudo mdutil -a -i on

# Specific volume
sudo mdutil -i off /Volumes/Your Volume Name
sudo mdutil -i on /Volumes/Your Volume Name

APFS & Storage Management

Check APFS Volume Snapshots

diskutil apfs list

Note

Snapshot sealed: Yes means incremental OTA updates are available

Update PreBoot Volume

sudo diskutil apfs updatePreboot /

Create New Snapshot (macOS 11+)

In Recovery, enter:

csrutil authenticated-root disable
bless --folder /Volumes/x/System/Library/CoreServices --bootefi --create-snapshot

x = name of your macOS Volume

Disable DMG Verification

# Disable
defaults write com.apple.frameworks.diskimages skip-verify TRUE

# Re-enable
defaults write com.apple.frameworks.diskimages skip-verify FALSE

Networking

List Network Adapters and MAC Addresses

networksetup -listallhardwareports

Disable IPv6 (Recommended for Security)

# List all network services
sudo networksetup -listallnetworkservices

# Disable IPv6
sudo networksetup -setv6off Ethernet
sudo networksetup -setv6off Wi-Fi

# Re-enable IPv6
sudo networksetup -setv6automatic Wi-Fi
sudo networksetup -setv6automatic Ethernet

Delete Network Configuration

sudo rm /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/NetworkInterfaces.plist
sudo rm /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/preferences.plist

Performance & Power Management

Power Management Commands

Reference: https://www.dssw.co.uk/reference/pmset.html

# Check hibernation settings
pmset -g

# Disable power management scheduler (fixes high CPU usage for powerd)
sudo pmset schedule cancelall

Rebuild System Caches (macOS 10.15 or older)

sudo update_dyld_shared_cache -force
sudo /usr/libexec/xpchelper --rebuild-cache

User Interface Customization

Activity Monitor

# Add "GPU" tab
defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor ShowGPUTab -bool true

Keyboard Settings

# Enable key repeating (disable press and hold)
defaults write -g ApplePressAndHoldEnabled -bool false

Notification Center

# Disable
launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.notificationcenterui.plist

# Re-enable
launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.notificationcenterui.plist

Disable Liquid Glass (macOS Tahoe)

defaults write -g com.apple.SwiftUI.DisableSolarium -bool YES

Hackintosh-Specific Commands

Check OpenCore Version

nvram 4D1FDA02-38C7-4A6A-9CC6-4BCCA8B30102:opencore-version

Display Currently Used Board-ID

ioreg -l | grep -i board-id

Or:

var_ID=$(ioreg -p IODeviceTree -r -n / -d 1 | grep board-id);var_ID=${var_ID##*<\"};var_ID=${var_ID%%\">};echo $var_ID

Find USB Controller Renames

ioreg -l -p IOService -w0 | grep -i EHC1
ioreg -l -p IOService -w0 | grep -i EHC2
ioreg -l -p IOService -w0 | grep -i XHC1
ioreg -l -p IOService -w0 | grep -i XHCI

Verify SMBus is Working

kextstat | grep -E "AppleSMBusController|AppleSMBusPCI"

Note: Should return com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusController and com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI

Get CPU Details from IO Registry

ioreg -rxn "CPU0@0"

Note: CPU name varies (can be "PR00@0", "P000@0", or "C000@0"). Check SSDT-PLUG/SSDT-PM

ACPI Debugging

# Debug ACPI tables
log show --predicate "processID == 0" --start $(date "+%Y-%m-%d") --debug | grep "ACPI"

# List ACPI errors
log show --last boot | grep AppleACPIPlatform

# Save ACPI errors to desktop log
log show --last boot | grep AppleACPIPlatform > ~/Desktop/Log_"$(date '+%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S')".log

Advanced Features

Enable Sidecar

defaults write com.apple.sidecar.display AllowAllDevices -bool true
defaults write com.apple.sidecar.display hasShownPref -bool true

Note: Easier to enable via FeatureUnlock.kext

Force AMD GPU for DRM Video

defaults write com.apple.AppleGVA gvaForceAMDKE -boolean yes
defaults write com.apple.AppleGVA gvaForceAMDAVCEncode -boolean YES
defaults write com.apple.AppleGVA gvaForceAMDAVCDecode -boolean YES
defaults write com.apple.AppleGVA gvaForceAMDHEVCDecode -boolean YES

Disable/Delete Metal Support

sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.CoreDisplay useMetal -boolean no
sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.CoreDisplay useIOP -boolean no

Or delete:

sudo defaults delete /Library/Preferences/com.apple.CoreDisplay useMetal
sudo defaults delete /Library/Preferences/com.apple.CoreDisplay useIOP

Source: NvidiaGraphicsFixup

Special Features & Utilities

Disable Logging

sudo rm /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.syslogd.plist

Prevent macOS from Managing iDevices

defaults write com.apple.iTunesHelper ignore-devices -bool YES
defaults write com.apple.AMPDeviceDiscoveryAgent ignore-devices 1
defaults write com.apple.AMPDeviceDiscoveryAgent reveal-devices 0
defaults write -g ignore-devices -bool true

Source: Apple-Knowledge

Make .command Files Executable

chmod +x <drag file here>

Install Command Line Developer Tools

xcode-select --install

Beta & Update Management

Change Update Seed to Developer (≤ macOS 12)

# Unenroll from current seed
sudo /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Seeding.framework/Resources/seedutil unenroll

# Enroll in developer seed
sudo /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Seeding.framework/Resources/seedutil enroll DeveloperSeed

Note: In macOS 13+, use Apple's beta program instead

Useful Keyboard Shortcuts

Essential Shortcuts

Show hidden files in Finder: ⌘⇧.
Access Terminal in Setup Assistant: ⌘⌥⌃T

Complete Reference

Mac Keyboard Shortcuts

Linux Commands (for Hackintosh Users)

Generate Audio Codec Dump

cd ~/Desktop && mkdir CodecDump && for c in /proc/asound/card*/codec#*; do f="${c/\/*card/card}"; cat "$c" > CodecDump/${f//\//-}.txt; done && zip -r CodecDump.zip CodecDump

Search for Firmware Used by Devices

sudo dmesg|grep -i firmware

Quick Reference Links

macOS Commands A-Z Index: https://ss64.com/mac/
macOS Defaults Database: https://macos-defaults.com/
PMSET Reference: https://www.dssw.co.uk/reference/pmset.html
Bluetooth Management Guide: https://mogutan.wordpress.com/2018/07/24/switch-bluetooth-setting-from-command-line-on-macos/

FilesExpand file tree

Terminal_Commands.md

Latest commit

History

Terminal_Commands.md

File metadata and controls

macOS Terminal Commands

Essential System Information

Display macOS Version and Build

Display Darwin Kernel Version

Display Model Identifier (SMBIOS)

Show CPU Information

Critical Troubleshooting

View System Logs

Check Wake/Sleep Issues

Delete Error Logs

Kext Management

Fix Application Code Signing Issues

System Security & Permissions

System Integrity Protection (SIP)

Apple Secure Boot Status

Gatekeeper Management

Privacy Settings

Disable Library Validation (Temporary)

Finder & File System

Show Hidden Files and Folders

Show User Library (macOS 11+)

Add "Quit" Option to Finder Menu

Disable .DS_Store on Network Storage

Rebuild Launch Services

Rebuild Spotlight Index

APFS & Storage Management

Check APFS Volume Snapshots

Update PreBoot Volume

Create New Snapshot (macOS 11+)

Disable DMG Verification

Networking

List Network Adapters and MAC Addresses

Disable IPv6 (Recommended for Security)

Delete Network Configuration

Performance & Power Management

Power Management Commands

Rebuild System Caches (macOS 10.15 or older)

User Interface Customization

Activity Monitor

Keyboard Settings

Notification Center

Disable Liquid Glass (macOS Tahoe)

Hackintosh-Specific Commands

Check OpenCore Version

Display Currently Used Board-ID

Find USB Controller Renames

Verify SMBus is Working

Get CPU Details from IO Registry

ACPI Debugging

Advanced Features

Enable Sidecar

Force AMD GPU for DRM Video

Disable/Delete Metal Support

Special Features & Utilities

Disable Logging

Prevent macOS from Managing iDevices

Make .command Files Executable

Install Command Line Developer Tools

Beta & Update Management

Change Update Seed to Developer (≤ macOS 12)

Useful Keyboard Shortcuts

Essential Shortcuts

Complete Reference

Linux Commands (for Hackintosh Users)

Generate Audio Codec Dump

Search for Firmware Used by Devices

Quick Reference Links