change file flags
usage: chflags [-fhv] [-R [-H | -L | -P]] flags file ...
Command line interface to a user's defaults.
❯ defaults
Syntax:
'defaults' [-currentHost | -host <hostname>] followed by one of the following:
read shows all defaults
read <domain> shows defaults for given domain
read <domain> <key> shows defaults for given domain, key
read-type <domain> <key> shows the type for the given domain, key
write <domain> <domain_rep> writes domain (overwrites existing)
write <domain> <key> <value> writes key for domain
rename <domain> <old_key> <new_key> renames old_key to new_key
delete <domain> deletes domain
delete <domain> <key> deletes key in domain
import <domain> <path to plist> writes all of the keys in path to domain
export <domain> <path to plist> saves domain as a binary plist to path
domains lists all domains
find <word> lists all entries containing word
help print this help
<domain> is ( <domain_name> | -app <application_name> | -globalDomain )
or a path to a file omitting the '.plist' extension
<value> is one of:
<value_rep>
-string <string_value>
-data <hex_digits>
-int[eger] <integer_value>
-float <floating-point_value>
-bool[ean] (true | false | yes | no)
-date <date_rep>
-array <value1> <value2> ...
-array-add <value1> <value2> ...
-dict <key1> <value1> <key2> <value2> ...
-dict-add <key1> <value1> ...
Tip: Use defaults domains to to list all domains available.
Unload daemons/agents and generally control launchd
❯ launchctl help
usage: launchctl <subcommand>
load Load configuration files and/or directories
unload Unload configuration files and/or directories
start Start specified job
stop Stop specified job
submit Submit a job from the command line
remove Remove specified job
bootstrap Bootstrap launchd
list List jobs and information about jobs
setenv Set an environmental variable in launchd
unsetenv Unset an environmental variable in launchd
getenv Get an environmental variable from launchd
export Export shell settings from launchd
debug Set the WaitForDebugger flag for the target job to true.
limit View and adjust launchd resource limits
stdout Redirect launchd's standard out to the given path
stderr Redirect launchd's standard error to the given path
shutdown Prepare for system shutdown
singleuser Switch to single-user mode
getrusage Get resource usage statistics from launchd
log Adjust the logging level or mask of launchd
umask Change launchd's umask
bsexec Execute a process within a different Mach bootstrap subset
bslist List Mach bootstrap services and optional servers
bstree Show the entire Mach bootstrap tree. Requires root privileges.
managerpid Print the PID of the launchd managing this Mach bootstrap.
manageruid Print the UID of the launchd managing this Mach bootstrap.
managername Print the name of this Mach bootstrap.
asuser Execute a subcommand in the given user's context.
exit Exit the interactive invocation of launchctl
quit Quit the interactive invocation of launchctl
help This help output
Tip: Use launchctl list to show the currently set values for launchctl.
Manage the metadata stores used by Spotlight
Usage: mdutil -pEsa -i (on|off) -d volume ...
mdutil -t {volume-path | deviceid} fileid
Utility to manage Spotlight indexes.
-p Publish metadata.
-i (on|off) Turn indexing on or off.
-d Disable Spotlight activity for volume (re-enable using -i on).
-E Erase and rebuild index.
-s Print indexing status.
-t Resolve files from file id with an optional volume path or device id.
-a Apply command to all volumes.
-V vol Apply command to all stores on the specified volume.
-v Display verbose information.
NOTE: Run as owner for network homes, otherwise run as root.
Manipulate firmware NVRAM variables
nvram [-x] [-p] [-f filename] [-d name] [-c] name[=value] ...
-x use XML format for printing or reading variables
(must appear before -p or -f)
-p print all firmware variables
-f set firmware variables from a text file
-d delete the named variable
-c delete all variables
name=value set named variable
name print variable
Note that arguments and options are executed in order.
Tip: Use nvram -xp to show all firmware variables in XML format.
Read and write values to plists
❯ /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy
Usage: PlistBuddy [-cxh] <file.plist>
-c "<command>" execute command, otherwise run in interactive mode
-x output will be in the form of an xml plist where appropriate
-h print the complete help info, with command guide
❯ /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -h
Command Format:
Help - Prints this information
Exit - Exits the program, changes are not saved to the file
Save - Saves the current changes to the file
Revert - Reloads the last saved version of the file
Clear [<Type>] - Clears out all existing entries, and creates root of Type
Print [<Entry>] - Prints value of Entry. Otherwise, prints file
Set <Entry> <Value> - Sets the value at Entry to Value
Add <Entry> <Type> [<Value>] - Adds Entry to the plist, with value Value
Copy <EntrySrc> <EntryDst> - Copies the EntrySrc property to EntryDst
Delete <Entry> - Deletes Entry from the plist
Merge <file.plist> [<Entry>] - Adds the contents of file.plist to Entry
Import <Entry> <file> - Creates or sets Entry the contents of file
Entry Format:
Entries consist of property key names delimited by colons. Array items
are specified by a zero-based integer index. Examples:
:CFBundleShortVersionString
:CFBundleDocumentTypes:2:CFBundleTypeExtensions
Types:
string
array
dict
bool
real
integer
date
data
Examples:
Set :CFBundleIdentifier com.apple.plistbuddy
Sets the CFBundleIdentifier property to com.apple.plistbuddy
Add :CFBundleGetInfoString string "App version 1.0.1"
Adds the CFBundleGetInfoString property to the plist
Add :CFBundleDocumentTypes: dict
Adds a new item of type dict to the CFBundleDocumentTypes array
Add :CFBundleDocumentTypes:0 dict
Adds the new item to the beginning of the array
Delete :CFBundleDocumentTypes:0 dict
Deletes the FIRST item in the array
Delete :CFBundleDocumentTypes
Deletes the ENTIRE CFBundleDocumentTypes array
Manipulate power management settings
Tips:
- Use
pmset -gto show the currently settings. - Use
pmset -g psto show power source info.
❯ pmset -g
Active Profiles:
Battery Power -1*
AC Power -1
Currently in use:
standbydelay 86400
standby 1
halfdim 1
hibernatefile /var/vm/sleepimage
darkwakes 0
gpuswitch 2
disksleep 10
sleep 10
autopoweroffdelay 14400
hibernatemode 3
autopoweroff 1
ttyskeepawake 1
displaysleep 2
acwake 0
lidwake 1
❯ pmset -g ps
Now drawing from 'Battery Power'
-InternalBattery-0 98%; discharging; 4:52 remaining
Manage system configuration parameters
Usage: scutil
interactive access to the dynamic store.
or: scutil --prefs [preference-file]
interactive access to the [raw] stored preferences.
or: scutil [-W] -r nodename
or: scutil [-W] -r address
or: scutil [-W] -r local-address remote-address
check reachability of node, address, or address pair (-W to "watch").
or: scutil -w dynamic-store-key [ -t timeout ]
-w wait for presense of dynamic store key
-t time to wait for key
or: scutil --get pref
or: scutil --set pref [newval]
or: scutil --get filename path key
pref display (or set) the specified preference. Valid preferences
include:
ComputerName, LocalHostName, HostName
newval New preference value to be set. If not specified,
the new value will be read from standard input.
or: scutil --dns
show DNS configuration.
or: scutil --proxy
show "proxy" configuration.
or: scutil --nwi
show network information
or: scutil --nc
show VPN network configuration information. Use --nc help for full command list
Configuration tool for certain machine settings in System Preferences.
❯ systemsetup -help
systemsetup Help Information
-------------------------------------
Usage: systemsetup -getdate
Display current date.
Usage: systemsetup -setdate <mm:dd:yy>
Set current date to <mm:dd:yy>.
Usage: systemsetup -gettime
Display current time.
Usage: systemsetup -settime <hh:mm:ss>
Set current time to <hh:mm:ss>.
Usage: systemsetup -gettimezone
Display current time zone.
Usage: systemsetup -settimezone <timezone>
Set current time zone to <timezone>. Use "-listtimezones" to list time zones.
Usage: systemsetup -listtimezones
List time zones supported by this machine.
Usage: systemsetup -getusingnetworktime
Display whether network time is on or off.
Usage: systemsetup -setusingnetworktime <on off>
Set using network time to either <on> or <off>.
Usage: systemsetup -getnetworktimeserver
Display network time server.
Usage: systemsetup -setnetworktimeserver <timeserver>
Set network time server to <timeserver>.
Usage: systemsetup -getsleep
Display amount of idle time until computer, display and hard disk sleep.
Usage: systemsetup -setsleep <minutes>
Set amount of idle time until computer, display and hard disk sleep to <minutes>.
Specify "Never" or "Off" for never.
Usage: systemsetup -getcomputersleep
Display amount of idle time until computer sleeps.
Usage: systemsetup -setcomputersleep <minutes>
Set amount of idle time until compputer sleeps to <minutes>.
Specify "Never" or "Off" for never.
Usage: systemsetup -getdisplaysleep
Display amount of idle time until display sleeps.
Usage: systemsetup -setdisplaysleep <minutes>
Set amount of idle time until display sleeps to <minutes>.
Specify "Never" or "Off" for never.
Usage: systemsetup -getharddisksleep
Display amount of idle time until hard disk sleeps.
Usage: systemsetup -setharddisksleep <minutes>
Set amount of idle time until hard disk sleeps to <minutes>.
Specify "Never" or "Off" for never.
Usage: systemsetup -getwakeonmodem
Display whether wake on modem is on or off.
Usage: systemsetup -setwakeonmodem <on off>
Set wake on modem to either <on> or <off>.
Usage: systemsetup -getwakeonnetworkaccess
Display whether wake on network access is on or off.
Usage: systemsetup -setwakeonnetworkaccess <on off>
Set wake on network access to either <on> or <off>.
Usage: systemsetup -getrestartpowerfailure
Display whether restart on power failure is on or off.
Usage: systemsetup -setrestartpowerfailure <on off>
Set restart on power failure to either <on> or <off>.
Usage: systemsetup -getrestartfreeze
Display whether restart on freeze is on or off.
Usage: systemsetup -setrestartfreeze <on off>
Set restart on freeze to either <on> or <off>.
Usage: systemsetup -getallowpowerbuttontosleepcomputer
Display whether the power button is able to sleep the computer.
Usage: systemsetup -setallowpowerbuttontosleepcomputer <on off>
Enable or disable whether the power button can sleep the computer.
Usage: systemsetup -getremotelogin
Display whether remote login is on or off.
Usage: systemsetup -setremotelogin <on off>
Set remote login to either <on> or <off>. Use "systemsetup -f -setremotelogin off" to suppress prompting when turning remote login off.
Usage: systemsetup -getremoteappleevents
Display whether remote apple events are on or off.
Usage: systemsetup -setremoteappleevents <on off>
Set remote apple events to either <on> or <off>.
Usage: systemsetup -getcomputername
Display computer name.
Usage: systemsetup -setcomputername <computername>
Set computer name to <computername>.
Usage: systemsetup -getlocalsubnetname
Display local subnet name.
Usage: systemsetup -setlocalsubnetname <name>
Set local subnet name to <name>.
Usage: systemsetup -getstartupdisk
Display current startup disk.
Usage: systemsetup -setstartupdisk <disk>
Set current startup disk to <disk>.
Usage: systemsetup -liststartupdisks
List startup disks on this machine.
Usage: systemsetup -getwaitforstartupafterpowerfailure
Get the number of seconds after which the computer will start up after a power failure.
Usage: systemsetup -setwaitforstartupafterpowerfailure <seconds>
Set the number of seconds after which the computer will start up after a power failure. The <seconds> value must be a multiple of 30 seconds.
Usage: systemsetup -getdisablekeyboardwhenenclosurelockisengaged
Get whether or not the keyboard should be disabled when the X Serve enclosure lock is engaged.
Usage: systemsetup -setdisablekeyboardwhenenclosurelockisengaged <yes no>
Set whether or not the keyboard should be disabled when the X Serve enclosure lock is engaged.
Usage: systemsetup -version
Display version of systemsetup tool.
Usage: systemsetup -help
Display help.
Usage: systemsetup -printCommands
Display commands.
Tip: Use systemsetup -printCommands to show the available commands.
❯ systemsetup -printCommands
systemsetup -getdate
systemsetup -setdate <mm:dd:yy>
systemsetup -gettime
systemsetup -settime <hh:mm:ss>
systemsetup -gettimezone
systemsetup -settimezone <timezone>
systemsetup -listtimezones
systemsetup -getusingnetworktime
systemsetup -setusingnetworktime <on off>
systemsetup -getnetworktimeserver
systemsetup -setnetworktimeserver <timeserver>
systemsetup -getsleep
systemsetup -setsleep <minutes>
systemsetup -getcomputersleep
systemsetup -setcomputersleep <minutes>
systemsetup -getdisplaysleep
systemsetup -setdisplaysleep <minutes>
systemsetup -getharddisksleep
systemsetup -setharddisksleep <minutes>
systemsetup -getwakeonmodem
systemsetup -setwakeonmodem <on off>
systemsetup -getwakeonnetworkaccess
systemsetup -setwakeonnetworkaccess <on off>
systemsetup -getrestartpowerfailure
systemsetup -setrestartpowerfailure <on off>
systemsetup -getrestartfreeze
systemsetup -setrestartfreeze <on off>
systemsetup -getallowpowerbuttontosleepcomputer
systemsetup -setallowpowerbuttontosleepcomputer <on off>
systemsetup -getremotelogin
systemsetup -setremotelogin <on off>
systemsetup -getremoteappleevents
systemsetup -setremoteappleevents <on off>
systemsetup -getcomputername
systemsetup -setcomputername <computername>
systemsetup -getlocalsubnetname
systemsetup -setlocalsubnetname <name>
systemsetup -getstartupdisk
systemsetup -setstartupdisk <disk>
systemsetup -liststartupdisks
systemsetup -getwaitforstartupafterpowerfailure
systemsetup -setwaitforstartupafterpowerfailure <seconds>
systemsetup -getdisablekeyboardwhenenclosurelockisengaged
systemsetup -setdisablekeyboardwhenenclosurelockisengaged <yes no>
systemsetup -version
systemsetup -help
systemsetup -printCommands
Time Machine utility
❯ tmutil
Usage: tmutil help <verb>
Usage: tmutil version
Usage: tmutil enable
Usage: tmutil disable
Usage: tmutil startbackup [-a | --auto] [-b | --block] [-r | --rotation] [-d | --destination dest_id]
Usage: tmutil stopbackup
Usage: tmutil enablelocal
Usage: tmutil disablelocal
Usage: tmutil snapshot
Usage: tmutil delete snapshot_path ...
Usage: tmutil restore [-v] src dst
Usage: tmutil compare [-a@esmugtndEX] [-D depth] [-I name]
tmutil compare [-a@esmugtndEX] [-D depth] [-I name] snapshot_path
tmutil compare [-a@esmugtndEUX] [-D depth] [-I name] path1 path2
Usage: tmutil setdestination [-a] mount_point
tmutil setdestination [-ap] afp://user[:pass]@host/share
Usage: tmutil removedestination destination_id
Usage: tmutil destinationinfo [-X]
Usage: tmutil addexclusion [-p] item ...
Usage: tmutil removeexclusion [-p] item ...
Usage: tmutil isexcluded item ...
Usage: tmutil inheritbackup machine_directory
tmutil inheritbackup sparse_bundle
Usage: tmutil associatedisk [-a] mount_point volume_backup_directory
Usage: tmutil latestbackup
Usage: tmutil listbackups
Usage: tmutil machinedirectory
Usage: tmutil calculatedrift machine_directory
Usage: tmutil uniquesize path ...
Use `tmutil help <verb>` for more information about a specific verb.