--- title: "15 Terminal Commands to Make macOS Faster and More Convenient" locale: en category: how_to category_name: "How-to" translation_status: reviewed license: cc_by author: "Injoys Editorial Team" source_url: https://injoys.com/en/articles/macos-terminal-commands-15-productivity-settings published_at: 2026-08-17T04:56:19+09:00 --- # 15 Terminal Commands to Make macOS Faster and More Convenient > This guide explains 15 terminal commands for adjusting key repeat, Dock responsiveness, screenshot saving, Finder behavior, and sleep prevention in macOS. It also covers how to apply and restore each setting, along with version-specific caveats. ## Key Points - Open Terminal and record both the command for the setting you want to change and its restoration command. - After changing the key repeat and smart quotes settings, relaunch the apps you use and check the input results. - Adjust the Dock and window animations, then restart the Dock or the relevant apps. - After applying the screenshot and Finder settings, check the save location, search scope, and sorting results. - Prevent sleep only when necessary, and if an issue occurs, revert each setting using its restoration command. Many macOS user settings can be fine-tuned with the `defaults` command in Terminal. The following 15 settings focus on improving keyboard input, Dock responsiveness, screenshot management, Finder navigation, and the environment for long-running tasks. Some values changed with `defaults` are internal preference keys rather than options officially provided by Apple in System Settings. Because their behavior or key names may change after a macOS update, it is safest to apply only the settings you need and keep the restoration commands as well. ## Things to Check Before Starting 1. **Open Terminal:** In Finder, launch `Applications > Utilities > Terminal`. 2. **Run one line at a time:** Do not paste multiple commands at once; run each command and check the result. 3. **Quit the app:** If the target app is running, it may save its existing preferences again. If possible, quit the app before making changes. 4. **Administrator privileges are generally unnecessary:** The settings below apply to the current user account, so most do not require `sudo`. 5. **Understand what will restart:** `killall Finder` and `killall Dock` terminate those processes, but macOS immediately launches them again. The state of open Finder windows may change. To check the current values first, use the following format. ```bash defaults read NSGlobalDomain KeyRepeat defaults read com.apple.finder FXDefaultSearchScope ``` If you see a message saying that the value does not exist, the key may not yet have been explicitly set. ## Keyboard Input Settings ### 1. Change Press-and-Hold for Letters to Key Repeat By default, pressing and holding certain letters in macOS displays a menu for selecting accented characters. Disabling this behavior makes the same character repeat while the key is held down. ```bash defaults write NSGlobalDomain ApplePressAndHoldEnabled -bool false ``` After making the change, completely quit and relaunch the app you are using. Depending on the app, you may need to log out or restart. Restore: ```bash defaults delete NSGlobalDomain ApplePressAndHoldEnabled ``` Disabling this setting makes it difficult to use the accented-character selection menu, so users who type in multiple languages should first confirm that their keyboard shortcuts or input sources are sufficient. ### 2. Shorten the Key Repeat Interval and Initial Repeat Delay `KeyRepeat` represents the interval between repeated inputs, while `InitialKeyRepeat` represents the delay between the initial keypress and the start of repetition. Lower values are faster. ```bash defaults write NSGlobalDomain KeyRepeat -int 1 defaults write NSGlobalDomain InitialKeyRepeat -int 10 ``` If the settings are too fast, characters may be entered multiple times unintentionally. You can start by setting `KeyRepeat` to 2 and `InitialKeyRepeat` to around 15, then adjust them. You may need to log out or restart your Mac for the changes to take effect. Restore: ```bash defaults delete NSGlobalDomain KeyRepeat defaults delete NSGlobalDomain InitialKeyRepeat ``` ### 3. Disable Automatic Smart Quote Substitution In code, JSON, commands, and configuration files, straight quotes and curly smart quotes are treated as different characters. Run the following command to disable automatic substitution globally. ```bash defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticQuoteSubstitutionEnabled -bool false ``` Restore: ```bash defaults delete NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticQuoteSubstitutionEnabled ``` Some editors and word processors use their own input settings, so you may also need to disable the smart quotes option within the app. ## Adjusting Dock Responsiveness ### 4. Remove the Dock Auto-Show Delay and Animation First, press `Option + Command + D` to enable automatic Dock hiding. Then set both the delay before the Dock appears when you move the pointer to the edge of the screen and the duration of the Dock animation to 0. ```bash defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-delay -float 0 defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-time-modifier -float 0 killall Dock ``` Restore: ```bash defaults delete com.apple.dock autohide-delay defaults delete com.apple.dock autohide-time-modifier killall Dock ``` If you want to retain the animation while only increasing its speed, you can use a value greater than 0, such as `0.15`, for `autohide-time-modifier`. ## Reducing System Animations ### 5. Disable Some Window Animations The following global setting disables window opening and closing animations in apps that honor it. ```bash defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticWindowAnimationsEnabled -bool false ``` Restore: ```bash defaults delete NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticWindowAnimationsEnabled ``` Recent macOS apps may ignore this internal setting, so the same result is not guaranteed for every window. To also use the official setting provided by Apple, enable `System Settings > Accessibility > Display > Reduce motion`. Reduce Motion simplifies screen transition effects rather than eliminating animations entirely. ## Screenshot Settings ### 6. Remove Shadows from Window Screenshots This excludes the shadow around a window when capturing it by pressing `Shift + Command + 4`, then `Space`, and selecting the window. ```bash defaults write com.apple.screencapture disable-shadow -bool true killall SystemUIServer ``` Restore: ```bash defaults delete com.apple.screencapture disable-shadow killall SystemUIServer ``` ### 7. Disable the Preview Thumbnail After Capturing This disables the small preview that appears in the lower-right corner of the screen immediately after taking a screenshot. ```bash defaults write com.apple.screencapture show-thumbnail -bool false killall SystemUIServer ``` Restore: ```bash defaults delete com.apple.screencapture show-thumbnail killall SystemUIServer ``` You can also enable or disable the preview under `Shift + Command + 5 > Options > Show Floating Thumbnail`. ### 8. Change the Screenshot Save Folder First, create a dedicated screenshot folder inside the Pictures folder and set it as the save location. ```bash mkdir -p "$HOME/Pictures/Screenshots" defaults write com.apple.screencapture location -string "$HOME/Pictures/Screenshots" killall SystemUIServer ``` If the path contains spaces, you must enclose it in double quotes. Deleting the folder or specifying a location you do not have permission to access may cause problems when saving captures. Restore to the default Desktop: ```bash defaults write com.apple.screencapture location -string "$HOME/Desktop" killall SystemUIServer ``` ## Finder Navigation Settings ### 9. Display the Full Path in the Finder Title and Enable the Status Bar This displays the full POSIX path of the current folder in the Finder window title and enables the status bar at the bottom of the window, which shows information such as the number of items and remaining space. ```bash defaults write com.apple.finder _FXShowPosixPathInTitle -bool true defaults write com.apple.finder ShowStatusBar -bool true killall Finder ``` If you need the path bar itself, select `View > Show Path Bar` from the Finder menu or press `Option + Command + P`. You can also toggle the status bar with `Command + /`. Restore: ```bash defaults delete com.apple.finder _FXShowPosixPathInTitle defaults delete com.apple.finder ShowStatusBar killall Finder ``` ### 10. Change the Default Finder Search Scope to the Current Folder This makes Finder search the currently open folder first, rather than the entire Mac, when you enter a search term in the Finder search field. ```bash defaults write com.apple.finder FXDefaultSearchScope -string "SCcf" killall Finder ``` Restore: ```bash defaults delete com.apple.finder FXDefaultSearchScope killall Finder ``` On macOS versions that provide the same option in Finder settings, selecting the current-folder search option under `Finder > Settings > Advanced > When performing a search` is more reliable. ### 11. Display Folders at the Top When Sorting by Name This makes folders appear before files when viewing files and folders sorted by name. ```bash defaults write com.apple.finder _FXSortFoldersFirst -bool true killall Finder ``` Restore: ```bash defaults delete com.apple.finder _FXSortFoldersFirst killall Finder ``` The result may vary depending on the sorting method and Finder view type. In recent versions of macOS, you can also use the option in Finder’s Advanced settings to keep folders on top. ### 12. Disable the File Extension Change Warning This disables the confirmation warning shown when changing a filename extension such as `.png`, `.txt`, or `.mp4`. ```bash defaults write com.apple.finder FXEnableExtensionChangeWarning -bool false killall Finder ``` Restore: ```bash defaults delete com.apple.finder FXEnableExtensionChangeWarning killall Finder ``` Renaming an extension does not convert the actual file format. For example, simply renaming a PNG file to JPG leaves the internal data in PNG format, so you need an image editor or conversion tool to convert the format. ## Finder and Desktop Hiding Features ### 13. Add a Quit Menu Item to Finder This adds a Quit item to the Finder menu. ```bash defaults write com.apple.finder QuitMenuItem -bool true killall Finder ``` When you quit Finder, Finder windows and desktop icons may disappear together. To reopen it, click Finder in the Dock or launch Finder from Spotlight. Restore: ```bash defaults delete com.apple.finder QuitMenuItem killall Finder ``` ### 14. Hide All File Icons on the Desktop You can hide desktop items before a video conference or screen-sharing session. ```bash defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop -bool false killall Finder ``` This command does not delete or move any files. The files remain in place when you open the Desktop folder in Finder. Show them again: ```bash defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop -bool true killall Finder ``` ## Preventing Mac Sleep ### 15. Temporarily Prevent Sleep While Working Running `caffeinate` in Terminal can prevent specified types of sleep while the process is running. For general long-running tasks, use the following command. ```bash caffeinate -i ``` To stop it, press `Control + C` in that Terminal window. To prevent sleep only while a specific command is running, place it before the command. ```bash caffeinate -i your-command ``` The main options are as follows. | Option | What It Prevents | |---|---| | `-i` | System sleep due to inactivity | | `-d` | Display sleep | | `-m` | Disk idle mode | | `-s` | System sleep while using AC power | | `-t seconds` | Runs for the specified duration | For example, to prevent idle system sleep and display sleep for one hour, run the following. ```bash caffeinate -id -t 3600 ``` `caffeinate` is not a way to always override a low battery, forced shutdown, user-initiated sleep, or closing a MacBook lid. When using a Mac like a server for long periods, you must separately plan for power connections, heat, battery condition, network recovery, and automatic startup after a restart. ## What to Check When Settings Do Not Take Effect - Check whether the command’s double quotes were changed to smart quotes. - Restart Finder, Dock, SystemUIServer, or the target app. - Test input settings again after logging out or restarting. - On a Mac managed by a company or school, a configuration profile may overwrite user settings again. - If an app uses its own preferences, the global macOS settings may not apply. - Internal preference keys may stop working after a macOS update. ## A Safe Approach to Reverting Settings These commands can make the system feel faster, but they can also significantly change how you use it. Rather than applying all 15 at once, it is better to make changes by category, such as keyboard, Dock, or Finder, and use them for about a day. `defaults delete domain key` removes a value explicitly set by the user, allowing the app or macOS to select its default behavior again. However, if the screen does not change immediately after deletion, you may need to restart the related process or log out. In particular, automation scripts that depend on internal keys should be revalidated before upgrading macOS. ## FAQ ### Do I need sudo to run this command? Most of these commands change the current user account's preferences, so sudo is not required. Adding sudo may apply the settings to an unintended user or system area, so it is best not to use it unless there is a specific reason to do so. ### Why don't the changes take effect immediately after running the defaults command? The app or system process may be keeping the existing settings in memory. Relaunch Finder, Dock, SystemUIServer, or the target app, and for keyboard settings, check again after logging out or restarting. ### Can I reset all the settings at once? Deleting all preferences for a specific app is not recommended because it may also remove other personal settings. It is safer to remove only the changed keys one at a time using the defaults delete command provided for each item. ### Why are characters still being automatically converted even after I turned off smart quotes? Some word processors, note-taking apps, and editors use their own autocorrection features separately from the global macOS settings. You must also turn off smart quotes in the relevant app's input, autocorrection, or formatting settings. ### If I run caffeinate, will it keep working even when I close the MacBook lid? Not always. caffeinate prevents the specified sleep conditions, but it does not override every situation, such as closing the lid, low battery, or shutdown. To operate with the lid closed, you must separately check conditions supported by macOS, such as an external display and power requirements. ### Could the commands stop working after a macOS update? Yes. Although defaults itself is a macOS command, some Finder or Dock preference keys depend on internal implementations rather than a public user interface. After an update, you should check the current values and test each item again. ### Does hiding desktop icons delete the files? No. It only prevents Finder from displaying desktop items; the files remain in the Desktop folder. Change the CreateDesktop value to true and relaunch Finder to display them again. ## Sources - [Take a screenshot on your Mac](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102646) - [defaults(1) macOS manual page](https://keith.github.io/xcode-man-pages/defaults.1.html) - [caffeinate(8) macOS manual page](https://keith.github.io/xcode-man-pages/caffeinate.8.html) ## Images ![Illustration of a macOS desktop with settings panels and a file window](https://injoys.com/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6ODcwNywicHVyIjoiYmxvYl9pZCJ9fQ==--885f826f2b962c2c3f546e61fd3ce811943c13f8/ai-81fb7d33.webp) ![Desktop Mac with layered windows, setting toggles, folders, search, and keyboard icons](https://injoys.com/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6ODcxMywicHVyIjoiYmxvYl9pZCJ9fQ==--b43009568fc902305c75556127df8e6250093e52/ai-6e8b7aa3.webp)