Make Your Mac Say Anything Out Loud (In Siriâs Voice!) Hereâs a fun place to start: you can make your Mac say anything, out loud, with a quick Terminal command. Just type say followed by whatever phrase you want your computer to say. The voice used depends on what youâve chosen as the default voice in System Preferences Accessibility. If youâre an advanced user of Mac OS X, itâs very likely that you know what Terminal.app is. If youâre not, the Terminal is an application included in every version of OS X into the Utilities folder which provides a command line interface to manually control your Mac. In this roundup Iâve collected the best links about Terminal.app: youâll find the best commands, hacks and tips to.
Apple's macOS platform includes Terminal, which is equivalent to Command Prompt in Windows OS. Since the macOS is based on UNIX, Terminal might give you a vibe of a dangerous tool where one wrong command can wreck your system. Sure, it is valid only to an extent. There are a bunch of harmless commands that are usable in customizing the interface and other settings of macOS.
The Terminal on macOS can be extremely useful in tweaking the performance of your Mac. Now it entirely depends on what you want to achieve. In case you have been dreading to use it, you can always get comfortable by using simpler tricks. Here are the top 11 terminal command tricks to try on your Mac.
Also on Guiding TechHow To Speed Up a Slow MacRead MoreNote: While selecting/copying a command, make sure you scroll all the way towards right to select the complete command in the gray box. Otherwise partial commands will not work as intended.1. Open Folders
One of the coolest ways to get familiar with the Terminal is to use it to open files and folders. I know that clicking on Finder will do the same. However, using Terminal, you can open a specific folder or a file without exposing your file structure to anyone.
Let's say you want to open your Documents folder. Then you can type the following command and then hit Enter.
And that opens my Documents folder. There's a DOCX file in there. I can use Terminal to open that too. For that, you need to type out the command with some requirements â the path of the respective file:
Open -a 'Application Name' /Path/to/File
So for opening the DOCX file in the Documents folder of my Mac, I typed in the command below and then hit Enter:
That opens up the specific file using the predefined program. You can also use the wildcard character (*.extension) instead of the full filename. However, if you have more than one file in carrying the same extension, then it might freeze your Mac for a bit. 2. Change Default Save Screenshot Location
By default, the macOS Mojave stores the screenshots on the Mac's desktop. Now if you have iCloud sync enabled, which I am sure you do, then it keeps uploading to your account. Thankfully, you can change the save location for the screenshots instead of crowding your desktop.
Here's the command you need to type before hitting Enter:
In the above command, you can provide any specific file location instead of ~/Downloads as shown.
After hitting Enter, I need to reset the SystemUIServer for the changes to take effect immediately. So feed in the following command.
Though it is not required, I would recommend restarting your Mac. 3. Change Screenshot Image Type
The macOS saves the screenshots in JPG format by default. You can change that to save them in PNG or PDF formats too. Here's how to do that quickly with this specific command:
After that, you need to kill the SystemUIServer again. Most commands which require some system changes shall mandate shutting down the SystemUIServer. So do that quickly. Now, your new screenshots will save in the PNG format. Do note that PNG files are generally larger than JPG files. So keep an eye on how much storage space they consume. 4. Show Hidden Files
Have you tried looking for the option to let the Finder show hidden files? Well, it is tougher than picking the show hidden files on Windows. I always forget how to enable that. Thankfully there is a helpful command that makes it happen in a few seconds.
After that, you need to force shut the Finder. Now you should see a lot of hidden files in the Finder. They would be greyed out but still visible. If you roll back this change, then you need to change TRUE to FALSE in the command. 5. Switch Off the Dashboard
Apple promoted the Dashboard view to access calculator and sticky notes quickly. I bet you rarely use that one for you can launch the Calculator app or Sticky Notes app using Mission Control of Spotlight. So you can switch it off and don't have to worry about opening it by mistake.
Here's the command to turn off the Dashboard.
Next, you must kill the Dock so that the changes are correctly applied. Now I don't have to worry about accidentally opening the Dashboard. If you want to switch it on again, then change TRUE to FALSE in the command. Also on Guiding TechHow to Install New Fonts in Mac OS XRead More6. Download Files
Did you know that you can download files using the Terminal? Yes, you don't need to keep the browser running just for that file. The only requirement here is that you must have the file's download link. So the command syntax is:
curl -0 downloadlink
First, navigate to the folder where you want to download the file. For that, you need to switch to the Downloads directory.
After that, you can feed the command to download the VLC for macOS from the official site. It would appear something like this: Note: There is a letter O in the command and not the 0 (zero).7. Ditto for Backups
Copying files and taking backups on macOS is quite swift â thanks to the SSDs and the flash storage. However, it does take a while to copy a large amount of data. Thankfully, Terminal offers a useful command to copy files. Here's how you can do it while watching the name of files that the command copies.
ditto -V /currentpath/ /new/path/
How to see if hacker had remote access macbook. So I want to copy the DMG downloaded in the previous section to the desktop.
That should do the needful. If you want to copy the files to an external drive, then you need to provide the destination path correctly.
8. Always Show File Path in the Finder
If you have switched from Windows recently, you would have noticed that the Finder on macOS doesn't show file path like the Explorer in Windows. However, you can force Finder to show you the file path with this command:
After hitting enter, you need to stop the Finder.
After you hit Enter, the Finder will relaunch. Then you should see the file paths at the top of the Finder window.
9. Power Chime on Connecting the Charger
Has it ever happened that you've connected the MagSafe charger to your Mac but forgot to flip on the power switch? I have lost the count. Thankfully, I stumbled upon this useful command that provides an audio feedback chime whenever I connect the MagSafe charger.
Feed this command in the Terminal and hit Enter.
10. Stop Your Mac from Sleeping
Often you are downloading a massive file, and you don't want your Mac go to sleep. If it is a temporary requirement, then a simple command can make it happen. Just type the following command, hit Enter and walk away from your Mac.
In this command, the number 600 signifies seconds. So with this command, the Mac won't sleep until 10 minutes (600 seconds). You can enter a relevant number of seconds or just the word 'caffeinate' to prevent your Mac from sleeping.
However, if you close that Terminal window, then the command will stop executing and the Mac will go to sleep on a predefined time.
11. Check Your Mac's Uptime
Wondering how long it has been since you've restarted your Mac? A simple restart can sort a lot of things in order and boost your Mac's performance. Here's a command to check your how long your Mac has been running without a Restart or a Shutdown
That should give you all the details with a timestamp.
Also on Guiding Tech#productivityClick here to see our productivity articles pageUsing Terminal Is Fun
The Terminal is an absolute delight to use and tinker around in the macOS. However, we would strictly advise against using random commands provided by unverified sources or strangers. Other than that, these commands should run on latest macOS Mojave update till last few versions.
You should always double-check the Terminal commands that involve removing, deleting or disabling any service. If you stick to our list, then you would be confident of using Terminal like a pro.
Next up: Are you bored of the same old Lock Screen on your Mac? Here is a nifty guide that will show how to customize the lock screen on your macOS Mojave running Mac. The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Read NextHow to Customize the Lock Screen on macOS 10.14 MojaveAlso See#terminal #macos Did You Know
Apple Watch can be used to unlock your Mac.
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Welcome back to Coding Corner! Today, we're going to go over some great interface and user tweaks you can execute to customize your Mac. These tricks are often simple and can help you spruce up your Mac far beyond what the System Preferences window allows.
So, without further ado, 15 great tricks you can execute in Terminal.
Tweak the Finder
Want to see hidden files, or copy Quick Look text? There are quite a few 'defaults' commands that let you alter how the Finder looks or acts.
1. Show hidden files and folders
Want to see all the hidden files and folders OS X has to offer â or you simply can't find a file you hid? Just use this command in Terminal:
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool TRUE killall Finder
To re-hide all your files, just change the
TRUE to FALSE .
2. View any file's contents
If you've had a file get corrupted or you suspect there's something hidden inside its package, you can force Terminal to open it. Just use the following command:
cat ~/enter/file/path
Fair warning: If you try to open a photo or pretty much any non-text document, you'll likely just see text gibberish.
3. Copy the contents of a folder from one place to another
Sure, you can Option-drag any file to a new location to make a copy of it, but if you want to simplify the process and automatically copy the entire contents of one folder to another, check out this simple Terminal trick.
ditto -V ~/original/folder/ ~/new/folder/
4. Download files outside of your browser
Have the URL to a file but don't want to use Safari, Firefox, or Chrome to download it? You can go through Terminal with the following commands:
cd ~/Downloads/ curl -O http://www.thefilename.com/thefile/url.mp3
The first command moves your current Terminal location to your Downloads folder; the second downloads it from the web to that folder.
Modifying screenshots
Want to change how your screenshots look? Here are some commands to help you do just that.
5. Change your screenshot's file format
This Terminal command lets you change the file format of your screenshots. By default, they're saved as PNGs, but you can also save them as PDFs, JPGs, and more.
defaults write com.apple.screencapture type jpg
6. Disable drop shadows on a screenshot
Here's another good one if you tend to take a lot of screenshots: This command will disable drop-shadow on your screenshots, only displaying the window you've snapped.
$ defaults write com.apple.screencapture disable-shadow -bool TRUE killall SystemUIServer
7. Create a new default name scheme for screenshots
https://vibeyellow538.weebly.com/blog/how-to-hack-apple-id-password-on-mac. Don't like the phrase Apple uses to save your screenshots? Traditionally, it's 'Screen Shot - [date] - [time]', but you can change 'Screen Shot' to any word you please.
Fun Terminal Hacks For Mac Osdefaults write com.apple.screencapture name 'New Screen Shot Name' killall SystemUIServer`
Get bored of your new name scheme? Go back to the default by typing as follows:
defaults write com.apple.screencapture name ' killall SystemUIServer
8. Change the location of your screenshots
Your screenshots, by default, save to the Desktop. But if you'd prefer they save elsewhere, it's an easy Terminal trick to make it so.
defaults write com.apple.screencapture location ~/your/location/here killall SystemUIServer
You can also drag the folder of your choice on top of the Terminal window after typing 'location' if you don't want to manually type out the file path.
System changes
If you're looking for broader OS X-level changes, these commands might help you get started.
9. Create a custom login message
Whether you want to troll your friends or add useful 'in case of loss' contact information, you can add a personalized message to your login screen with this Terminal command.
sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow LoginwindowText 'In case of loss, call 555-555-5555.'
10. How long has my Mac been running?
Is your Mac acting sluggishly? It might be in need of a good restart. You can check to see just how long your Mac's been active by checking its uptime with this Terminal command:
Best Terminal For Macuptime
11. Keep your Mac awake![]()
If you need to prevent your Mac from going to sleep â say, you're running an extensive task, or recording your screen â there's an all-too-amusing command for that:
caffeinate
Once you enter this command, your Mac's digital eyes will be pried open and prevented from going to sleep until you end it by pressing Control-C.
If you don't want to rely on being the one to end your poor Mac's suffering, you can also create a set a number of seconds before your Mac sleeps:
caffeinate -u -t 5400
The above command will keep your Mac awake for an hour and a half.
12. Make your Mac automatically restart after a crash
We've all had our Mac freeze up or crash at least once in its lifetime. If you want to skip the crying and the yelling at the screen and get back to work, you can enter this Terminal command, which will make OS X reboot as soon as it senses a full system freeze.
sudo systemsetup -setrestartfreeze on
Modify your Dock
Want to make your Dock look different? Check out these Terminal tweaks.
13. Add spacers to your Dock
You can organize your Dock's many icons by adding in blank spaces with this handy terminal command:
defaults write com.apple.dock persistent-apps -array-add '{'tile-type'='spacer-tile';}' killall Dock
Repeat this command for each spacer you'd like for your Dock. To remove a spacer, you can drag it out to the right until you see the poof icon.
14. Dull hidden apps in the Dock
Not sure which apps are visible on your screen? You can make this information extra pertinent by using this Terminal command, which lowers the opacity on icons for hidden apps in the Dock. It's a great way to see what you haven't used lately, as well as what's cluttering up your screen.
defaults write com.apple.Dock showhidden -bool TRUE killall Dock
15. Hide non-active apps in your Dock
If lowering the opacity of hidden apps appeals to you, you might like this Terminal command even better: It hides any closed app from your Dock at all times.
defaults write com.apple.dock static-only -bool TRUE killall Dock
Your favorites?Fun Terminal Commands Mac Os X
Have a Terminal command you love that we didn't mention? Drop it below in the comments.
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National COVID-19 server to use Apple and Google's API, hosted by Microsoft
The Association of Public Health Laboratories has announced it is working with Apple, Google, and Microsoft to launch a national server that will securely store COVID-19 exposure notification data.
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