Mac guides

How to tune macOS

Plain-English answers to the settings Apple buries in Terminal — and the one-click way to do each.

Finder & files

Show hidden files on Mac → Always show file extensions → Show the hidden ~/Library folder → Delete & stop .DS_Store files → Show the Finder path bar → Show the Finder status bar → Keep folders on top → Default to Column view → Full path in the title bar → Quit Finder with ⌘Q → Change new-window folder → Stop .DS_Store on drives → Instant spring-loaded folders → Batch-rename files → Recover deleted files →

Screenshots

Screenshot without the shadow → Change where screenshots save → Save screenshots as JPG → Remove the date from names → Disable the thumbnail preview → Record your screen → Take a scrolling screenshot →

Dock

Make the Dock instant → Auto-hide with no delay → Resize & magnify the Dock → Move the Dock to the side → Show only active apps → Stop the Dock bounce → Remove recent apps → Add Dock spacers →

Keyboard & typing

Turn off autocorrect → Disable smart quotes & dashes → Stop auto-capitalization → Speed up key repeat → Disable press-and-hold accents → Use standard function keys → Tab through every control → Remap Caps Lock → Type emoji & symbols → Set up text replacements →

Speed & performance

Make a slow Mac fast → Disable animations → Faster Mission Control → Reduce transparency → Stop apps reopening at login → Free up disk space → Clear caches safely → See what's using space → Manage startup items → Fully uninstall apps →

Privacy & security

Require password on sleep → Disable personalized ads → Disable Siri suggestions → Stop Spotlight data leaks → Hide Spotlight web results → Silence the crash reporter → Save locally, not iCloud → Turn off location services → Opt out of analytics → Review app permissions → Disable Handoff →

Menu bar & clock

Show battery percentage → Show seconds in the clock → Use a 24-hour clock → Tighten menu-bar spacing → Rearrange menu-bar icons → Hide menu-bar icons →

Desktop, Spaces & windows

Set up hot corners → Stop click-to-show-desktop → Hide desktop icons → Keep Spaces in order → Stop apps switching Spaces → Group windows by app → Quickly show the desktop → Use multiple desktops → Move windows from anywhere → Always show scrollbars → Double-click to zoom → Use Split View → Snap & tile windows → Sequoia window tiling → Turn off Stage Manager → Force quit a frozen app →

Power & battery

Keep awake, lid closed → Stop your Mac sleeping → Keep awake on demand → Disable Power Nap → Turn on Low Power Mode → Wake on power → Squeeze more battery → Check battery health →

Appearance & more

Switch to Dark Mode → Silence UI sound effects → Change the accent color → Turn on Night Shift → Toggle True Tone → Tame notifications → Set up Do Not Disturb → Limit Spotlight indexing → The best Mac power-user tweaks →