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Power-ups

Power-up reference: every setting Mainspring can change

Mainspring 3.3.1 · 14 min read

In the appSidebar›Browse all

Every power-up Mainspring can switch, every slider and every power setting — with the macOS setting each one writes. Nothing here is typed by hand: this page is generated from the app's own catalog.

This is the complete list — generated from the app's own catalog, so it matches what ships in Mainspring 3.3.1. There are 95 switch power-ups (62 shown by default, 33 more under Advanced), 6 sliders, 5 power switches and 1 power timer. Each row shows the exact macOS setting Mainspring writes when you switch it on.

Under each setting, Off shows what switching the power-up off writes. macOS default means Mainspring removes its value, so macOS goes back to its standard behaviour. See Use power-up switches for how the switches behave.

Jump toScreenshots Dock Finder Keyboard System Performance Trackpad Privacy Mission Control Menu Bar Safari Sliders Power

Screenshots 5

Power-up	What it does	macOS setting it writes
Remove screenshot drop shadow Relaunches SystemUIServer	Removes the soft shadow around window screenshots for clean edges.	`com.apple.screencapture` `disable-shadow` → `true` Off: macOS default
Skip the floating screenshot thumbnail Relaunches the screenshot tool	Saves screenshots straight to disk without the floating preview thumbnail.	`com.apple.screencapture` `show-thumbnail` → `false` Off: macOS default
Save screenshots as JPG Relaunches SystemUIServer	Saves screenshots as smaller JPG files instead of PNG.	`com.apple.screencapture` `type` → `jpg` Off: macOS default
Show clicks in screen recordings Relaunches SystemUIServer	Highlights your pointer with a circle on each click while recording.	`com.apple.screencapture` `show-clicks` → `true` Off: macOS default
Drop the date from screenshot names Relaunches SystemUIServer	Leaves the date and time out of screenshot file names.	`com.apple.screencapture` `include-date` → `false` Off: macOS default

Dock 13

Power-up	What it does	macOS setting it writes
Show the Dock instantly Relaunches Dock	Removes the delay before the auto-hidden Dock appears.	`com.apple.dock` `autohide-delay` → `0` Off: macOS default
Faster Dock hide/show animation Relaunches Dock	Speeds up the Dock's hide and show animation.	`com.apple.dock` `autohide-time-modifier` → `0.4` Off: macOS default
Stop the Dock launch bounce Relaunches Dock	Disables the bounce animation when apps launch.	`com.apple.dock` `launchanim` → `false` Off: macOS default
Faster Mission Control animation Relaunches Dock	Speeds up the Mission Control zoom animation.	`com.apple.dock` `expose-animation-duration` → `0.1` Off: macOS default
Minimize windows into the app icon Relaunches Dock	Tucks minimized windows into their app icon to save Dock space.	`com.apple.dock` `minimize-to-application` → `true` Off: macOS default
Use the Scale minimize effect Relaunches Dock	Uses the simpler Scale effect instead of the Genie animation.	`com.apple.dock` `mineffect` → `scale` Off: macOS default
Dim icons of hidden apps Relaunches Dock	Fades the Dock icons of apps you've hidden.	`com.apple.dock` `showhidden` → `true` Off: macOS default
Lock the Dock size Relaunches Dock	Stops the Dock from being resized by accident.	`com.apple.dock` `size-immutable` → `true` Off: macOS default
Auto-hide the Dock Relaunches Dock	Hides the Dock until you move your pointer to its edge.	`com.apple.dock` `autohide` → `true` Off: macOS default
Hide recent apps in the Dock Relaunches Dock	Removes the recently used apps section from the Dock.	`com.apple.dock` `show-recents` → `false` Off: macOS default
Single-app mode ADVANCED · Relaunches Dock	Clicking a Dock app hides all the others.	`com.apple.dock` `single-app` → `true` Off: macOS default
Show only open apps in the Dock ADVANCED · Relaunches Dock	Shows only apps that are currently open in the Dock.	`com.apple.dock` `static-only` → `true` Off: macOS default
Spring-load Dock apps Relaunches Dock	Drag a file onto a Dock app to open it there.	`com.apple.dock` `enable-spring-load-actions-on-all-items` → `true` Off: macOS default

Finder 19

Power-up	What it does	macOS setting it writes
Show the Finder path bar Relaunches Finder	Shows the current folder's path along the bottom of Finder windows.	`com.apple.finder` `ShowPathbar` → `true` Off: macOS default
Show the Finder status bar Relaunches Finder	Shows item count and free space at the bottom of Finder windows.	`com.apple.finder` `ShowStatusBar` → `true` Off: macOS default
Keep folders on top when sorting Relaunches Finder	Groups folders above loose files in every Finder window.	`com.apple.finder` `_FXSortFoldersFirst` → `true` Off: macOS default
Default to list view Relaunches Finder	Opens new Finder windows in list view. Folders you have already set to another view keep it.	`com.apple.finder` `FXPreferredViewStyle` → `Nlsv` Off: macOS default
Search the current folder by default Relaunches Finder	Searches only the current folder instead of your whole Mac.	`com.apple.finder` `FXDefaultSearchScope` → `SCcf` Off: macOS default
No warning when changing a file extension ADVANCED · Relaunches Finder	Skips the warning when you change a file's extension.	`com.apple.finder` `FXEnableExtensionChangeWarning` → `false` Off: macOS default
Show the full folder path in the title bar ADVANCED · Relaunches Finder	Shows the full folder path in each window's title bar.	`com.apple.finder` `_FXShowPosixPathInTitle` → `true` Off: macOS default
Don't write .DS_Store files on USB drives ADVANCED · Takes full effect after you log out	Stops macOS from leaving hidden .DS_Store files on USB drives.	`com.apple.desktopservices` `DSDontWriteUSBStores` → `true` Off: macOS default
Open new Finder windows to your Home folder Relaunches Finder	Opens new Finder windows to your Home folder.	`com.apple.finder` `NewWindowTarget` → `PfHm` Off: macOS default
No warning when emptying the Trash ADVANCED · Relaunches Finder	Empties the Trash without asking you to confirm.	`com.apple.finder` `WarnOnEmptyTrash` → `false` Off: macOS default
Show external drives on the desktop Relaunches Finder	Shows USB sticks and external drives on your desktop.	`com.apple.finder` `ShowExternalHardDrivesOnDesktop` → `true` Off: macOS default
Show hidden files in Finder Relaunches Finder	Shows the hidden files Finder normally keeps out of sight.	`com.apple.finder` `AppleShowAllFiles` → `true` Off: macOS default
Show all file extensions Relaunches Finder	Always shows each file's extension, like .txt or .jpg.	`NSGlobalDomain` `AppleShowAllExtensions` → `true` Off: macOS default
Hide desktop icons Relaunches Finder	Hides every icon on the desktop for a clean background.	`com.apple.finder` `CreateDesktop` → `false` Off: macOS default
Open a window when a drive is plugged in Relaunches Finder	Opens a Finder window when you plug in a drive.	`com.apple.finder` `OpenWindowForNewRemovableDisk` → `true` Off: macOS default
Open new Finder locations as tabs ADVANCED · Relaunches Finder	Opens new Finder locations as tabs, not windows.	`com.apple.finder` `FinderSpawnTab` → `true` Off: macOS default
Folders on top of the Desktop Relaunches Finder	Sorts folders before files on the Desktop, like in Finder windows.	`com.apple.finder` `_FXSortFoldersFirstOnDesktop` → `true` Off: false
Instant spring-loaded folders Relaunches Finder	Drag a file onto a folder and it springs open right away.	`NSGlobalDomain` `com.apple.springing.enabled` → `true` `NSGlobalDomain` `com.apple.springing.delay` → `0` Off: false, macOS default
Quit Finder with ⌘Q ADVANCED · Relaunches Finder	Adds a Quit item to Finder so you can fully close it.	`com.apple.finder` `QuitMenuItem` → `true` Off: false

Keyboard 9

Power-up	What it does	macOS setting it writes
Faster key repeat ADVANCED · Takes full effect after you log out	Makes a held-down key repeat faster across the screen.	`NSGlobalDomain` `KeyRepeat` → `2` Off: macOS default
Shorter delay until key repeat ADVANCED · Takes full effect after you log out	Shortens the pause before a held key starts repeating.	`NSGlobalDomain` `InitialKeyRepeat` → `15` Off: macOS default
Disable press-and-hold accent menu ADVANCED · Takes full effect after you log out	Lets a held key repeat instead of showing accents.	`NSGlobalDomain` `ApplePressAndHoldEnabled` → `false` Off: macOS default
Tab through every control ADVANCED	Lets the Tab key move between every button in a dialog.	`NSGlobalDomain` `AppleKeyboardUIMode` → `3` Off: macOS default
Disable auto-correct	Stops macOS from auto-correcting words as you type.	`NSGlobalDomain` `NSAutomaticSpellingCorrectionEnabled` → `false` Off: macOS default
Disable smart quotes & dashes	Keeps straight quotes and hyphens instead of curly ones.	`NSGlobalDomain` `NSAutomaticQuoteSubstitutionEnabled` → `false` `NSGlobalDomain` `NSAutomaticDashSubstitutionEnabled` → `false` Off: macOS default, macOS default
Disable automatic capitalization	Stops macOS from auto-capitalizing the start of sentences.	`NSGlobalDomain` `NSAutomaticCapitalizationEnabled` → `false` Off: macOS default
Disable period on double-space	Stops a period appearing when you tap space twice.	`NSGlobalDomain` `NSAutomaticPeriodSubstitutionEnabled` → `false` Off: macOS default
Use F1–F12 as standard function keys ADVANCED · Takes full effect after you log out	Uses the top row as plain F1–F12 keys without Fn.	`NSGlobalDomain` `com.apple.keyboard.fnState` → `true` Off: macOS default

System 16

Power-up	What it does	macOS setting it writes
No .DS_Store on network drives ADVANCED · Takes full effect after you log out	Stops macOS from leaving hidden files on network drives.	`com.apple.desktopservices` `DSDontWriteNetworkStores` → `true` Off: macOS default
Expanded save dialogs by default	Opens Save dialogs in full view with every folder shown.	`NSGlobalDomain` `NSNavPanelExpandedStateForSaveMode` → `true` `NSGlobalDomain` `NSNavPanelExpandedStateForSaveMode2` → `true` Off: macOS default, macOS default
Auto-hide the menu bar ADVANCED · Takes full effect after you log out	Hides the top menu bar until you move your pointer up there.	`NSGlobalDomain` `_HIHideMenuBar` → `true` Off: macOS default
Skip the “are you sure you want to open” warning ADVANCED	Stops the warning each time you open a downloaded app.	`com.apple.LaunchServices` `LSQuarantine` → `false` Off: macOS default
Expanded print dialogs by default	Opens Print dialogs fully expanded by default.	`NSGlobalDomain` `PMPrintingExpandedStateForPrint` → `true` `NSGlobalDomain` `PMPrintingExpandedStateForPrint2` → `true` Off: macOS default, macOS default
Skip disk image verification ADVANCED	Skips checksum checks when opening .dmg files.	`com.apple.frameworks.diskimages` `skip-verify` → `true` Off: macOS default
Don't offer new disks for Time Machine	Stops Time Machine asking to back up to every new disk.	`com.apple.TimeMachine` `DoNotOfferNewDisksForBackup` → `true` Off: macOS default
Increase contrast Takes full effect after you log out	Adds stronger contrast and borders for easier reading.	`com.apple.universalaccess` `increaseContrast` → `true` Off: macOS default
Check for updates daily	Checks for software updates every day instead of weekly.	`com.apple.SoftwareUpdate` `ScheduleFrequency` → `1` Off: macOS default
Stop Photos opening on connect ADVANCED	Stops Photos opening when you plug in a phone or camera.	`com.apple.ImageCapture` `disableHotPlug` → `true` Off: macOS default
New TextEdit documents as plain text ADVANCED · Needs Full Disk Access to read	New TextEdit documents start as plain text.	`com.apple.TextEdit` `RichText` → `0` Off: macOS default
Move windows by ⌃⌘-drag	Hold Control-Command and drag anywhere on a window to move it.	`NSGlobalDomain` `NSWindowShouldDragOnGesture` → `true` Off: false
Always show scrollbars	Keep scrollbars visible instead of only while scrolling.	`NSGlobalDomain` `AppleShowScrollBars` → `Always` Off: Automatic
Double-click title bar to zoom	Double-click a window's title bar to zoom it, not minimize.	`NSGlobalDomain` `AppleActionOnDoubleClick` → `Maximize` Off: Minimize
Keep apps from auto-quitting ADVANCED	Stops macOS quietly quitting inactive apps in the background.	`NSGlobalDomain` `NSDisableAutomaticTermination` → `true` Off: false
Silence UI sound effects Relaunches the screenshot tool	No more Trash-empty, screenshot, or move sounds.	`NSGlobalDomain` `com.apple.sound.uiaudio.enabled` → `false` Off: true

Performance 9

Power-up	What it does	macOS setting it writes
Disable window open/close animations	Opens and closes windows instantly, with no animation.	`NSGlobalDomain` `NSAutomaticWindowAnimationsEnabled` → `false` Off: macOS default
Faster window resizing ADVANCED	Resizes windows instantly instead of gliding into the new size.	`NSGlobalDomain` `NSWindowResizeTime` → `0.001` Off: macOS default
Reduce transparency Takes full effect after you log out	Replaces blurry menus and panels with solid colors to save power.	`com.apple.universalaccess` `reduceTransparency` → `true` Off: macOS default
Don't reopen windows on relaunch ADVANCED	Apps reopen empty instead of restoring your last windows.	`NSGlobalDomain` `NSQuitAlwaysKeepsWindows` → `false` Off: macOS default
Speed up Launchpad animations ADVANCED · Relaunches Dock · macOS 25 or earlier	Opens and closes Launchpad instantly, with no zoom animation.	`com.apple.dock` `springboard-show-duration` → `0` `com.apple.dock` `springboard-hide-duration` → `0` Off: macOS default, macOS default
Disable Finder animations ADVANCED · Relaunches Finder	Turns off Finder's animations so file actions happen instantly.	`com.apple.finder` `DisableAllAnimations` → `true` Off: macOS default
Faster Quick Look preview ADVANCED · Relaunches Finder	Shows the Space-bar file preview instantly, with no fade-in.	`NSGlobalDomain` `QLPanelAnimationDuration` → `0` Off: macOS default
Disable smooth scrolling ADVANCED	Scrolls exactly as far as you move, with no glide.	`NSGlobalDomain` `NSScrollAnimationEnabled` → `false` Off: macOS default
Reduce motion Takes full effect after you log out	Cuts the slide and zoom animations across macOS.	`com.apple.universalaccess` `reduceMotion` → `true` Off: macOS default

Trackpad 1

Power-up	What it does	macOS setting it writes
Invert scroll direction	Flips natural scrolling for trackpad and mouse, so the page moves opposite to your swipe.	`NSGlobalDomain` `com.apple.swipescrolldirection` → `false` Off: macOS default

Privacy 10

Power-up	What it does	macOS setting it writes
Require password immediately	Asks for your password the instant the screen sleeps.	`com.apple.screensaver` `askForPassword` → `1` `com.apple.screensaver` `askForPasswordDelay` → `0` Off: 0, macOS default
Turn off personalized ads	Stops Apple from using your activity to target ads.	`com.apple.AdLib` `allowApplePersonalizedAdvertising` → `false` Off: macOS default
Silence the crash reporter ADVANCED	Hides the pop-up window that appears when an app crashes.	`com.apple.CrashReporter` `DialogType` → `none` Off: macOS default
Turn off Look Up web suggestions	Keeps your Look Up searches on your Mac, not Apple's servers.	`com.apple.lookup.shared` `LookupSuggestionsDisabled` → `true` Off: macOS default
Turn off Ask Siri ADVANCED · Takes full effect after you log out	Turns Siri off so your Mac stops listening for requests.	`com.apple.assistant.support` `Assistant Enabled` → `false` Off: macOS default
Save new documents to the Mac, not iCloud	Saves new documents to your Mac instead of iCloud.	`NSGlobalDomain` `NSDocumentSaveNewDocumentsToCloud` → `false` Off: macOS default
Stop click-to-reveal desktop Relaunches WindowManager · macOS 14 or later	Keeps a stray click on the wallpaper from sweeping your windows aside.	`com.apple.WindowManager` `EnableStandardClickToShowDesktop` → `false` Off: macOS default
Hide desktop widgets Relaunches WindowManager · macOS 14 or later	Removes calendar, stocks, and other widgets from the desktop.	`com.apple.WindowManager` `StandardHideWidgets` → `true` `com.apple.WindowManager` `StageManagerHideWidgets` → `true` Off: macOS default, macOS default
Hide the Stage Manager strip Relaunches WindowManager	Hides the side column of window thumbnails while Stage Manager is on.	`com.apple.WindowManager` `AutoHide` → `true` Off: macOS default
Tidy windows for a call Runs once — shows a Run button	Minimizes every window except browsers, slides, docs, PDFs, and your video-call app. Runs once each time you use it — use Restore windows in the menu bar to bring them back, and pair it with Minimize windows into the app icon to also hide Dock thumbnails.	`app.mainspring` `tidyWindows` → `true` Off: macOS default

Mission Control 3

Power-up	What it does	macOS setting it writes
Don't rearrange Spaces automatically Relaunches Dock	Keeps your Spaces in a fixed order, not most-recent.	`com.apple.dock` `mru-spaces` → `false` Off: macOS default
Group Mission Control windows by app Relaunches Dock	Stacks each app's windows together in Mission Control.	`com.apple.dock` `expose-group-apps` → `true` Off: macOS default
Don't auto-switch Spaces when changing apps Relaunches Dock	Stops your Mac from jumping to another desktop when switching apps.	`com.apple.dock` `workspaces-auto-swoosh` → `false` Off: macOS default

Power-up	What it does	macOS setting it writes
Show battery percentage Relaunches Control Center	Shows the exact battery percentage in the menu bar.	`com.apple.controlcenter` `BatteryShowPercentage` → `true` Off: macOS default
Show seconds in the menu-bar clock Relaunches Control Center	Adds ticking seconds to the menu-bar clock.	`com.apple.menuextra.clock` `ShowSeconds` → `true` Off: macOS default
Use a 24-hour clock Relaunches Control Center	Shows the menu-bar clock in 24-hour time (14:30).	`com.apple.menuextra.clock` `Show24Hour` → `true` Off: macOS default
Show the day of the week Relaunches Control Center	Adds the weekday (Mon, Tue) to the menu-bar clock.	`com.apple.menuextra.clock` `ShowDayOfWeek` → `true` Off: macOS default
Always show the date Relaunches Control Center	Keeps the full date in the menu-bar clock at all times.	`com.apple.menuextra.clock` `ShowDate` → `1` Off: macOS default
Flash the clock separators ADVANCED · Relaunches Control Center	Blinks the colons in the menu-bar clock each second.	`com.apple.menuextra.clock` `FlashDateSeparators` → `true` Off: macOS default
Tighten menu-bar spacing ADVANCED · Takes full effect after you log out	Squeeze the gaps between menu-bar icons — applies after you log out.	`NSGlobalDomain` `NSStatusItemSpacing` → `6` `NSGlobalDomain` `NSStatusItemSelectionPadding` → `6` Off: macOS default, macOS default

Safari 3

Power-up	What it does	macOS setting it writes
Show full URLs in Safari ADVANCED · Needs Full Disk Access to read	Shows the full web address in Safari's address bar.	`com.apple.Safari` `ShowFullURLInSmartSearchField` → `true` Off: macOS default
Enable Safari's developer features ADVANCED · Needs Full Disk Access to read	Adds Safari's Develop menu and Web Inspector for inspecting websites.	`com.apple.Safari` `IncludeDevelopMenu` → `true` `com.apple.Safari` `WebKitDeveloperExtrasEnabledPreferenceKey` → `true` `com.apple.Safari` `WebKitPreferences.developerExtrasEnabled` → `true` Off: macOS default, macOS default, macOS default
Don't auto-open downloaded files ADVANCED · Needs Full Disk Access to read	Stops Safari from opening downloaded files automatically.	`com.apple.Safari` `AutoOpenSafeDownloads` → `false` Off: macOS default

Sliders 6

Sliders sit at the end of their category in Browse all. The change is written when you let go of the slider. See Use the sliders.

Slider	What it does	Range	macOS setting
Dock size Dock	Make the Dock icons bigger or smaller.	16–128px in steps of 4	`com.apple.dock` `tilesize`
Dock magnification size Dock	How big icons grow when you hover over the Dock.	32–128px in steps of 4	`com.apple.dock` `largesize` Also turns on `com.apple.dock magnification`
Sidebar icon size Finder	Size of the icons in Finder's sidebar (1 small – 3 large).	1–3 in steps of 1	`NSGlobalDomain` `NSTableViewDefaultSizeMode`
Mouse tracking speed Trackpad	Pointer speed for a mouse. System Settings stops at 3 — this goes to 8. Log out to apply.	0.5–8 in steps of 0.25	`NSGlobalDomain` `com.apple.mouse.scaling`
Trackpad tracking speed Trackpad	Pointer speed for the trackpad. System Settings stops at 3 — this goes to 8. Log out to apply.	0.5–8 in steps of 0.25	`NSGlobalDomain` `com.apple.trackpad.scaling`
Scrolling speed Trackpad	How far one scroll gesture travels. Push past the System Settings maximum. Log out to apply.	0.25–6 in steps of 0.25	`NSGlobalDomain` `com.apple.scrollwheel.scaling`

Power 7

These live under Browse all › Power and change macOS power management with pmset, which needs administrator rights. Each carries the ADMIN chip. See Power settings, Turn the display off after and Never sleep.

Setting	What it does	pmset key
Keep awake with the lid closed Also the Never sleep card on Home	Your Mac keeps running when you shut the lid — ideal docked to a display.	`disablesleep` → `1` Off: 0
Disable Power Nap	Stops background work (mail, backups, updates) during sleep.	`powernap` → `0` Off: 1
Low Power Mode	Trims performance to stretch your battery further.	`lowpowermode` → `1` Off: 0
Don't wake for network access ADVANCED	Keeps the Mac asleep instead of waking for incoming network requests.	`womp` → `0` Off: 1
Stop network keep-alive in sleep ADVANCED	Lets the network fully sleep (no push or Find My).	`tcpkeepalive` → `0` Off: 1
Wake when power is connected ADVANCED	Wakes the Mac the moment you plug in the charger.	`acwake` → `1` Off: 0
Turn the display off after	How long the Mac waits before putting the screen to sleep. Choices: 1 minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, Never.	`displaysleep` → minutes (`0` = Never)

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