Table of Contents<\/summary>\n\n\n- How to open Terminal on Mac<\/a><\/li>\n
- 1. Force Your Mac to Stay Awake<\/a><\/li>\n
- 2. Flush DNS Cache<\/a><\/li>\n
- 3. Increase Spacing Between Dock Apps<\/a><\/li>\n
- 4. Change Default Screenshot Name<\/a><\/li>\n
- 5. Change Default Screenshot Format<\/a><\/li>\n
- 5. Download Files Without a Browser<\/a><\/li>\n
- 6. Compress and Password-Protect Folders<\/a><\/li>\n
- 7. Display Hidden Files and Folders<\/a><\/li>\n
- 8. Access iCloud Drive Using Terminal<\/a><\/li>\n
- 9. Shut Down or Restart Mac Using Terminal.<\/a><\/li>\n
- 10. Supercharge Time Machine Backup<\/a><\/li>\n
- 11. Copy Contents from One Folder to Another<\/a><\/li>\n
- 12. Make Your Mac Say Anything You Want<\/a><\/li>\n
- 13. Declutter Your Desktop Instantly<\/a><\/li>\n
- 14. Quickly Open Apps, Files, or Websites<\/a><\/li>\n
- 15. Check Battery Health from Terminal<\/a><\/li>\n
- 16. Test Your Internet Connection from Terminal<\/a><\/li>\n
- 17. Customize the Dock to Show Only Active Apps<\/a><\/li>\n
- 18. Convert Files Into Custom Ringtones<\/a><\/li>\n
- Signing Off..<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/details><\/div>\n
How to open Terminal on Mac<\/strong><\/h2>\nSpotlight is undoubtedly the easiest way to open Terminal on Mac. Follow the steps below to open Terminal.<\/p>\n
\n- Tap the magnifying glass icon<\/strong> in the menu bar to open Spotlight<\/strong>.
Alternatively, you can also press command + spacebar<\/strong> to open Spotlight.<\/em><\/li>\n- Type Terminal<\/strong> in the Spotlight Search bar.<\/li>\n
- Press Return<\/strong>.
Terminal is now open and ready to use.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\nNow, let’s see how to get most of Terminal!<\/p>\n
1. Force Your Mac to Stay Awake<\/h2>\n
It is annoying when your Mac goes to sleep when you are off for a short break. Of course, you can change Sleep Settings in System Preferences. However, it is easier to use Terminal to keep your Mac awake with the following command.<\/p>\n
caffeinate<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n![\"Terminal](\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" "\\"Terminal")
<\/figure>\nThat’s not all! You can also add a timer to the command. Doing so will disable “caffeinate” mode after a preset time. You need to put the -t flag and specify the time in seconds, as shown below.<\/p>\n
caffeinate -t 150000<\/span><\/p>\nIn this case, your Mac will exit the mode after 15,000 seconds or 250 minutes. You can increase or decrease the timer by changing the number of seconds in the command.<\/p>\n
2. Flush DNS Cache<\/h2>\n
I have seldom faced issues with Mac’s DNS cache. Yet I would suggest you flush DNS cache on Mac every once in a while. Not doing so will lead to problems like loading websites and 404 errors. (add screenshot- macos-shell-flush-dns)<\/p>\n
Enter the following command to flush DNS on Mac.<\/p>\n
udo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder<\/em><\/code><\/p>\nNote<\/em><\/strong>: This command works only on macOS El Capitan and above. After flushing DNS, check if you can access the website with the issue.<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n3. Increase Spacing Between Dock Apps<\/h2>\n
Too many apps in Dock triggering your OCD? Well, you can increase the spacing between each apps using terminal commands. Once done, your Dock will look neat and tidy.<\/p>\n
defaults write com.apple.dock persistent-apps -array-add '{tile-data={}; tile-type=\"spacer-tile\";}'<\/code><\/p>\nAnd hit Return<\/strong>.<\/p>\nOnce done, type: killall Dock<\/code> and press Return<\/strong> again.<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n4. Change Default Screenshot Name<\/h2>\n
Mac saves screenshot with date and time as default. The naming convention tends to look unprofessional. Worry not; once again macOS terminal comes to the rescue. You can change the default name for a screenshot using the below command.<\/p>\n
defaults write com.apple.screencapture name \"New Screen Shot Name\"<\/code><\/p>\nNow type:<\/p>\n
killall SystemUIServer<\/em><\/code><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n5. Change Default Screenshot Format<\/h2>\n
Now that you have fixed the screenshot naming, how about changing the format? macOS saves a screenshot in the PNG format. Some online portals like immigration require images to be in .jpg format.<\/p>\n
Spending time to convert saved images to other formats is not ideal. Instead, you can use the terminal code to change the default image format. Furthermore, you can choose between Jpeg, TIFF, GIF, or even RAW (ideal for post-processing photos.)<\/p>\n
defaults write com.apple.screencapture type jpg<\/span><\/code><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n5. Download Files Without a Browser<\/h2>\n
Want to download a file directly? With Terminal, you can download a file directly from the Internet. This method is useful only if you have a direct download link. Type the following command.<\/p>\n
cd ~\/Downloads\/<\/code><\/p>\nNote<\/em>:<\/strong> If you want to download the contents to any other directory, replace “downloads” with the directory name.<\/p>\ncurl -O [URL of file you want to download]<\/code><\/p>\n6. Compress and Password-Protect Folders<\/h2>\n
I recommend password-protecting sensitive data before sharing it with anyone. You can share the password separately with recipients. Using Terminal, you can compress and password-protect the folder<\/a>. You need to navigate to Desktop and select the folder using the below command.<\/p>\ncd ~\/Desktop\/<\/code><\/p>\nSelect the folder<\/p>\n
zip -er <output folder name.zip> <source folder name><\/code><\/p>\nSwap Output folder name.zip<\/strong> with the desired name. Specify the origin in the source folder name.<\/strong> In other words, you need to mention the origin and target file names. Interestingly you can also change the extension of the output file. Simply add an extension (e.g., .pdf) at the end of the above command.<\/p>\n7. Display Hidden Files and Folders<\/h2>\n
macOS hides critical files. The fail-safe mechanism assures that you don’t delete a system file by mistake. Doing so could crash your Mac. However, the feature becomes a limitation whenever you want to view hidden files on an external drive. <\/p>\n
The solution for this is the below Terminal command that lets you view hidden files.<\/p>\n
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool TRUE<\/span><\/code><\/p>\nNow you will get to see all the hidden files. <\/p>\n
Enter<\/strong><\/p>\nkillall Finder<\/code><\/p>\nA word of caution<\/strong>: Don’t delete important system files. Before deleting anything, run a Google search. Use “False” instead of “True” in the above command to hide files again.<\/p>\n8. Access iCloud Drive Using Terminal<\/h2>\n
To access the data from your iCloud Drive, use the following command.<\/p>\n
cd ~\/Library\/Mobile Documents\/com~apple~CloudDocs\/<\/code><\/p>\nHowever, we already have a detailed guide on how you can access, copy, or move data to your iCloud Drive<\/a>, which you can check out anytime.<\/p>\n9. Shut Down or Restart Mac Using Terminal.<\/h2>\n
To shut down your mac with CLI (Command Line Interface) aka Terminal, use.<\/p>\n
sudo shutdown -h now<\/code><\/p>\nJust as shut down, you can restart your Mac by<\/p>\n
sudo shutdown -r now<\/code><\/p>\n10. Supercharge Time Machine Backup<\/h2>\n
Whenever you\u2019re updating the Mac to the new version, backups are essential. The easiest way to take a backup is to use Time Machine. But do you know? You can speed up time machine backup using the terminal by this command.<\/p>\n
sudo sysctl debug.lowpri_throttle_enabled=1<\/code><\/p>\n11. Copy Contents from One Folder to Another<\/h2>\n
Copying contents from one place to another is fairly easy with Terminal. Type in the following command:<\/p>\n
ditto -V ~\/original\/folder\/ ~\/new\/folder\/<\/code><\/p>\nReplace original<\/strong> with the current directory and new<\/strong> with the name of the directory to which you want to copy the contents.<\/p>\n12. Make Your Mac Say Anything You Want<\/h2>\n
This is the coolest command that macOS provides. You can make your Mac say anything you want by using the say command<\/strong> followed by the words.<\/p>\nSAY \u201cHELLO, IGEEKSBLOG\u201d<\/code><\/p>\n13. Declutter Your Desktop Instantly<\/h2>\n
If your desktop has become a dumping ground for files, you can hide all desktop icons without deleting anything. Here’s how<\/p>\n
Enter the following command and hit Return:<\/p>\n
defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop -bool false && killall Finder<\/code><\/p>\nThis removes all desktop icons from view.<\/p>\n
To bring them back later:<\/p>\n
defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop -bool true && killall Finder<\/code><\/p>\n14. Quickly Open Apps, Files, or Websites<\/h2>\n
Instead of searching through Finder or Spotlight, you can use Terminal to open apps, files, or websites instantly.<\/p>\n
open -a \"Safari\"
<\/code><\/p>\nopen MyFile.pdf<\/code><\/p>\nopen https:\/\/igeeksblog.com<\/code><\/p>\n15. Check Battery Health from Terminal<\/h2>\n
This Terminal command displays battery information beyond what System Settings shows:<\/p>\n
system_profiler SPPowerDataType<\/code><\/p>\nThis displays battery health, cycle count, and power usage details.<\/p>\n
16. Test Your Internet Connection from Terminal<\/h2>\n
macOS includes a built-in network testing tool that lets you quickly check your internet performance without relying on third-party websites or apps, making it useful for quick diagnostics and troubleshooting.<\/p>\n
networkQuality<\/code><\/p>\nThis runs a basic internet speed test. If you want results, try this command instead:<\/p>\n
networkQuality -v<\/code><\/p>\nYou can also save the output to a file for reference or sharing.<\/p>\n
networkQuality -v > ~\/Desktop\/speedtest.txt<\/code><\/p>\n17. Customize the Dock to Show Only Active Apps<\/h2>\n
If you prefer a minimal Dock that only shows apps currently in use.<\/p>\n
defaults write com.apple.dock static-only -bool true && killall Dock<\/code><\/p>\nThis hides inactive apps from the Dock.<\/p>\n
To restore the default Dock behavior:<\/p>\n
defaults write com.apple.dock static-only -bool false && killall Dock<\/code><\/p>\n18. Convert Files Into Custom Ringtones<\/h2>\n
With iOS 26, Apple finally supports setting custom ringtones on iPhone. On older iOS versions, you still need third-party workarounds. Using a few simple macOS Terminal commands, you can streamline the entire process. Here is how.<\/p>\n
First, convert the audio file into AAC format, which iOS requires for ringtones.<\/p>\n
afconvert input.mp3 output.m4a -f m4af<\/code><\/p>\nNext, rename the file extension from .m4a to .m4r, the ringtone format recognized by iOS 26.<\/p>\n
mv output.m4a output.m4r<\/code><\/p>\nAfter this, sync the .m4r file to your iPhone using Finder, and it will appear under custom ringtones in iOS 26.<\/p>\n
Signing Off..<\/h2>\n
You do not need to be a power user to benefit from macOS Terminal. Even a small set of practical commands can help you work faster, troubleshoot issues, and customize your Mac more effectively. With the right use cases, Terminal quickly becomes one of the most useful tools built into macOS.<\/p>\n
If you find these Terminal commands useful, bookmark this post for future reference. It is the kind of guide that comes in handy when you need a quick fix or shortcut without having to dig through menus.<\/p>\n
Related Reads:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Finder not responding on Mac: How to fix it<\/a><\/li>\n
- How to hide the MacBook Pro notch<\/a><\/li>\n
- How to update macOS on Macbook<\/a><\/li>\n
- How to copy and paste on a Mac<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The post Most useful Terminal commands for macOS (2026)<\/a> appeared first on iGeeksBlog<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Master your Mac. Learn the best macOS Terminal commands to change hidden settings, fix issues, and speed up your workflow.
\nThe post Most useful Terminal commands for macOS (2026) appeared first on iGe<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2037","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mac"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/valentinedaysgifts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2037","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/valentinedaysgifts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/valentinedaysgifts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/valentinedaysgifts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2037"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/valentinedaysgifts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2037\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/valentinedaysgifts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2037"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/valentinedaysgifts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2037"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/valentinedaysgifts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2037"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- \n
- How to open Terminal on Mac<\/a><\/li>\n
- 1. Force Your Mac to Stay Awake<\/a><\/li>\n
- 2. Flush DNS Cache<\/a><\/li>\n
- 3. Increase Spacing Between Dock Apps<\/a><\/li>\n
- 4. Change Default Screenshot Name<\/a><\/li>\n
- 5. Change Default Screenshot Format<\/a><\/li>\n
- 5. Download Files Without a Browser<\/a><\/li>\n
- 6. Compress and Password-Protect Folders<\/a><\/li>\n
- 7. Display Hidden Files and Folders<\/a><\/li>\n
- 8. Access iCloud Drive Using Terminal<\/a><\/li>\n
- 9. Shut Down or Restart Mac Using Terminal.<\/a><\/li>\n
- 10. Supercharge Time Machine Backup<\/a><\/li>\n
- 11. Copy Contents from One Folder to Another<\/a><\/li>\n
- 12. Make Your Mac Say Anything You Want<\/a><\/li>\n
- 13. Declutter Your Desktop Instantly<\/a><\/li>\n
- 14. Quickly Open Apps, Files, or Websites<\/a><\/li>\n
- 15. Check Battery Health from Terminal<\/a><\/li>\n
- 16. Test Your Internet Connection from Terminal<\/a><\/li>\n
- 17. Customize the Dock to Show Only Active Apps<\/a><\/li>\n
- 18. Convert Files Into Custom Ringtones<\/a><\/li>\n
- Signing Off..<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/details><\/div>\n
How to open Terminal on Mac<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Spotlight is undoubtedly the easiest way to open Terminal on Mac. Follow the steps below to open Terminal.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Tap the magnifying glass icon<\/strong> in the menu bar to open Spotlight<\/strong>.
Alternatively, you can also press command + spacebar<\/strong> to open Spotlight.<\/em><\/li>\n- Type Terminal<\/strong> in the Spotlight Search bar.<\/li>\n
- Press Return<\/strong>.
Terminal is now open and ready to use.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\nNow, let’s see how to get most of Terminal!<\/p>\n
1. Force Your Mac to Stay Awake<\/h2>\n
It is annoying when your Mac goes to sleep when you are off for a short break. Of course, you can change Sleep Settings in System Preferences. However, it is easier to use Terminal to keep your Mac awake with the following command.<\/p>\n
caffeinate<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
<\/figure>\nThat’s not all! You can also add a timer to the command. Doing so will disable “caffeinate” mode after a preset time. You need to put the -t flag and specify the time in seconds, as shown below.<\/p>\n
caffeinate -t 150000<\/span><\/p>\n
In this case, your Mac will exit the mode after 15,000 seconds or 250 minutes. You can increase or decrease the timer by changing the number of seconds in the command.<\/p>\n
2. Flush DNS Cache<\/h2>\n
I have seldom faced issues with Mac’s DNS cache. Yet I would suggest you flush DNS cache on Mac every once in a while. Not doing so will lead to problems like loading websites and 404 errors. (add screenshot- macos-shell-flush-dns)<\/p>\n
Enter the following command to flush DNS on Mac.<\/p>\n
udo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder<\/em><\/code><\/p>\nNote<\/em><\/strong>: This command works only on macOS El Capitan and above. After flushing DNS, check if you can access the website with the issue.<\/p>\n
<\/figure>\n3. Increase Spacing Between Dock Apps<\/h2>\n
Too many apps in Dock triggering your OCD? Well, you can increase the spacing between each apps using terminal commands. Once done, your Dock will look neat and tidy.<\/p>\n
defaults write com.apple.dock persistent-apps -array-add '{tile-data={}; tile-type=\"spacer-tile\";}'<\/code><\/p>\nAnd hit Return<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
Once done, type:
killall Dock<\/code> and press Return<\/strong> again.<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n4. Change Default Screenshot Name<\/h2>\n
Mac saves screenshot with date and time as default. The naming convention tends to look unprofessional. Worry not; once again macOS terminal comes to the rescue. You can change the default name for a screenshot using the below command.<\/p>\n
defaults write com.apple.screencapture name \"New Screen Shot Name\"<\/code><\/p>\nNow type:<\/p>\n
killall SystemUIServer<\/em><\/code><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n5. Change Default Screenshot Format<\/h2>\n
Now that you have fixed the screenshot naming, how about changing the format? macOS saves a screenshot in the PNG format. Some online portals like immigration require images to be in .jpg format.<\/p>\n
Spending time to convert saved images to other formats is not ideal. Instead, you can use the terminal code to change the default image format. Furthermore, you can choose between Jpeg, TIFF, GIF, or even RAW (ideal for post-processing photos.)<\/p>\n
defaults write com.apple.screencapture type jpg<\/span><\/code><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n5. Download Files Without a Browser<\/h2>\n
Want to download a file directly? With Terminal, you can download a file directly from the Internet. This method is useful only if you have a direct download link. Type the following command.<\/p>\n
cd ~\/Downloads\/<\/code><\/p>\nNote<\/em>:<\/strong> If you want to download the contents to any other directory, replace “downloads” with the directory name.<\/p>\n
curl -O [URL of file you want to download]<\/code><\/p>\n6. Compress and Password-Protect Folders<\/h2>\n
I recommend password-protecting sensitive data before sharing it with anyone. You can share the password separately with recipients. Using Terminal, you can compress and password-protect the folder<\/a>. You need to navigate to Desktop and select the folder using the below command.<\/p>\n
cd ~\/Desktop\/<\/code><\/p>\nSelect the folder<\/p>\n
zip -er <output folder name.zip> <source folder name><\/code><\/p>\nSwap Output folder name.zip<\/strong> with the desired name. Specify the origin in the source folder name.<\/strong> In other words, you need to mention the origin and target file names. Interestingly you can also change the extension of the output file. Simply add an extension (e.g., .pdf) at the end of the above command.<\/p>\n
7. Display Hidden Files and Folders<\/h2>\n
macOS hides critical files. The fail-safe mechanism assures that you don’t delete a system file by mistake. Doing so could crash your Mac. However, the feature becomes a limitation whenever you want to view hidden files on an external drive. <\/p>\n
The solution for this is the below Terminal command that lets you view hidden files.<\/p>\n
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool TRUE<\/span><\/code><\/p>\nNow you will get to see all the hidden files. <\/p>\n
Enter<\/strong><\/p>\n
killall Finder<\/code><\/p>\nA word of caution<\/strong>: Don’t delete important system files. Before deleting anything, run a Google search. Use “False” instead of “True” in the above command to hide files again.<\/p>\n
8. Access iCloud Drive Using Terminal<\/h2>\n
To access the data from your iCloud Drive, use the following command.<\/p>\n
cd ~\/Library\/Mobile Documents\/com~apple~CloudDocs\/<\/code><\/p>\nHowever, we already have a detailed guide on how you can access, copy, or move data to your iCloud Drive<\/a>, which you can check out anytime.<\/p>\n
9. Shut Down or Restart Mac Using Terminal.<\/h2>\n
To shut down your mac with CLI (Command Line Interface) aka Terminal, use.<\/p>\n
sudo shutdown -h now<\/code><\/p>\nJust as shut down, you can restart your Mac by<\/p>\n
sudo shutdown -r now<\/code><\/p>\n10. Supercharge Time Machine Backup<\/h2>\n
Whenever you\u2019re updating the Mac to the new version, backups are essential. The easiest way to take a backup is to use Time Machine. But do you know? You can speed up time machine backup using the terminal by this command.<\/p>\n
sudo sysctl debug.lowpri_throttle_enabled=1<\/code><\/p>\n11. Copy Contents from One Folder to Another<\/h2>\n
Copying contents from one place to another is fairly easy with Terminal. Type in the following command:<\/p>\n
ditto -V ~\/original\/folder\/ ~\/new\/folder\/<\/code><\/p>\nReplace original<\/strong> with the current directory and new<\/strong> with the name of the directory to which you want to copy the contents.<\/p>\n
12. Make Your Mac Say Anything You Want<\/h2>\n
This is the coolest command that macOS provides. You can make your Mac say anything you want by using the say command<\/strong> followed by the words.<\/p>\n
SAY \u201cHELLO, IGEEKSBLOG\u201d<\/code><\/p>\n13. Declutter Your Desktop Instantly<\/h2>\n
If your desktop has become a dumping ground for files, you can hide all desktop icons without deleting anything. Here’s how<\/p>\n
Enter the following command and hit Return:<\/p>\n
defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop -bool false && killall Finder<\/code><\/p>\nThis removes all desktop icons from view.<\/p>\n
To bring them back later:<\/p>\n
defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop -bool true && killall Finder<\/code><\/p>\n14. Quickly Open Apps, Files, or Websites<\/h2>\n
Instead of searching through Finder or Spotlight, you can use Terminal to open apps, files, or websites instantly.<\/p>\n
open -a \"Safari\"
<\/code><\/p>\nopen MyFile.pdf<\/code><\/p>\nopen https:\/\/igeeksblog.com<\/code><\/p>\n15. Check Battery Health from Terminal<\/h2>\n
This Terminal command displays battery information beyond what System Settings shows:<\/p>\n
system_profiler SPPowerDataType<\/code><\/p>\nThis displays battery health, cycle count, and power usage details.<\/p>\n
16. Test Your Internet Connection from Terminal<\/h2>\n
macOS includes a built-in network testing tool that lets you quickly check your internet performance without relying on third-party websites or apps, making it useful for quick diagnostics and troubleshooting.<\/p>\n
networkQuality<\/code><\/p>\nThis runs a basic internet speed test. If you want results, try this command instead:<\/p>\n
networkQuality -v<\/code><\/p>\nYou can also save the output to a file for reference or sharing.<\/p>\n
networkQuality -v > ~\/Desktop\/speedtest.txt<\/code><\/p>\n17. Customize the Dock to Show Only Active Apps<\/h2>\n
If you prefer a minimal Dock that only shows apps currently in use.<\/p>\n
defaults write com.apple.dock static-only -bool true && killall Dock<\/code><\/p>\nThis hides inactive apps from the Dock.<\/p>\n
To restore the default Dock behavior:<\/p>\n
defaults write com.apple.dock static-only -bool false && killall Dock<\/code><\/p>\n18. Convert Files Into Custom Ringtones<\/h2>\n
With iOS 26, Apple finally supports setting custom ringtones on iPhone. On older iOS versions, you still need third-party workarounds. Using a few simple macOS Terminal commands, you can streamline the entire process. Here is how.<\/p>\n
First, convert the audio file into AAC format, which iOS requires for ringtones.<\/p>\n
afconvert input.mp3 output.m4a -f m4af<\/code><\/p>\nNext, rename the file extension from .m4a to .m4r, the ringtone format recognized by iOS 26.<\/p>\n
mv output.m4a output.m4r<\/code><\/p>\nAfter this, sync the .m4r file to your iPhone using Finder, and it will appear under custom ringtones in iOS 26.<\/p>\n
Signing Off..<\/h2>\n
You do not need to be a power user to benefit from macOS Terminal. Even a small set of practical commands can help you work faster, troubleshoot issues, and customize your Mac more effectively. With the right use cases, Terminal quickly becomes one of the most useful tools built into macOS.<\/p>\n
If you find these Terminal commands useful, bookmark this post for future reference. It is the kind of guide that comes in handy when you need a quick fix or shortcut without having to dig through menus.<\/p>\n
Related Reads:<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- Finder not responding on Mac: How to fix it<\/a><\/li>\n
- How to hide the MacBook Pro notch<\/a><\/li>\n
- How to update macOS on Macbook<\/a><\/li>\n
- How to copy and paste on a Mac<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The post Most useful Terminal commands for macOS (2026)<\/a> appeared first on iGeeksBlog<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Master your Mac. Learn the best macOS Terminal commands to change hidden settings, fix issues, and speed up your workflow.
\nThe post Most useful Terminal commands for macOS (2026) appeared first on iGe<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2037","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mac"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/valentinedaysgifts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2037","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/valentinedaysgifts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/valentinedaysgifts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/valentinedaysgifts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2037"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/valentinedaysgifts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2037\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/valentinedaysgifts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2037"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/valentinedaysgifts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2037"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/valentinedaysgifts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2037"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}} - How to hide the MacBook Pro notch<\/a><\/li>\n
- Type Terminal<\/strong> in the Spotlight Search bar.<\/li>\n
- 1. Force Your Mac to Stay Awake<\/a><\/li>\n
![\"Terminal](\"https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Terminal-command-to-force-your-Mac-to-stay-awake.jpg\" "\\"Terminal")
<\/figure>\n![\"Flush](\"https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Flush-DNS-cache-terminal-command-for-macOS.jpg\" "\\"Flush")
<\/figure>\n![\"Increase](\"https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Increase-spacing-between-Dock-apps.jpg\" "\\"Increase")
<\/figure>\n![\"Change](\"https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Change-default-screenshot-name-on-Mac.jpg\" "\\"Change")
<\/figure>\n![\"Change](\"https:\/\/www.igeeksblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Change-default-screenshot-format-on-Mac.jpg\" "\\"Change")
<\/figure>\n