Back in the pre-Mac OS X and macOS days, Apple’s System 9 and earlier relied on hidden metadata to associate files with apps. File extensions, those bits of text that follow a period at the end. How to change the default Mac app for specific file types; How to set your default web browser; How to set your default email reader; How to change the default Mac app for specific file types. Right-click on a file that uses the file type you'd like to change the default for. For example, one with a.jpg extension (a photo). Upgrade to macOS Catalina. When you upgrade to macOS Catalina, you get more of everything you love about Mac. Experience dedicated apps for music, TV, and podcasts. Smart new features in the apps you use every day. And Sidecar, which lets you use iPad as a second Mac display. Best of all, upgrading is free and easy. Select the file in the Finder and choose File Get Info. In the Open With section, if there’s an appropriate app in the list, you can select it and click Change All and confirm, and now all files.
Terminal is one of the most powerful macOS apps, which allows you to perform actions with different commands. Although Terminal Commands are seemingly difficult to carry out, believe me, they aren’t. Once you know the commands, you can quickly perform tasks like shutting down your Mac or copying contents from one place to another right from your terminal
As the terminal is a CLI (Command Line Interface), the language we type in which interacts with the Mac, is known as bash, and commands are called bash commands. This tool is often overlooked because it is completely different from the GUI (Graphical User Interface ), which provides a rich interface. But today I’ve come up with a useful list of macOS Terminal Commands that you can learn easily and will help you do things instantly. So let’s start.
11 Cool Terminal Commands for macOS – Mac User Should Try
#1. Hide/Unhide and View Files/Folders in Finder
macOS Terminal provides you an easy way to Hide, Unhide or View hidden files in the Finder via Terminal.
Open up the terminal from /Applications/finder or alternatively launch it from Spotlight.
To Hide any File/Folder:
Type in the following command :
Now, drag the file which you want to hide in the terminal and click Enter.
To View Hidden File/Folder:
Type defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool TRUE in the Terminal.
Once done you need to restart the Finder, it can be done by this command.
If you ever wish to hide the sensitive files again, repeat all the commands by replacing TRUE with FALSE.
To Unhide any File/Folder:
Unhiding the file/folder is fairly easy, just replace “hidden” with “nohidden”.
Now, drag the file/folder which you want to unhide.
#2. Download Files Using Terminal
If you’ve a direct link of the file which you want to download, you can use the following commands to download the file using the Terminal on Mac.
Note: If you want to download the contents to any other directory replace “downloads” with the directory name.
#3. Keep your Mac Awake
To prevent the mac from sleep, or showing screensaver after some inactivity use
If you want this command to get auto-disabled after a certain period of time, put the -t flag and specify the time in seconds as shown below.
Here, after 150000 seconds the command will get disabled, and the settings will be restored. Meanwhile, you can also use Cmd + C to terminate the command.
#4. Change Default Screenshot Format Type
By default, the screenshots are saved in .PNG format, but you can gain full control over the screenshots behavior.
To change default screenshot format type, use defaults write com.apple.screencapture type followed by type for e.g. : ( PNG, JPG, GIF, or PDF), then press Enter.
#5. Access iCloud Drive Using Terminal
To access the data from your iCloud Drive use the following command.
However, we already have a detailed guide on how you can access, copy, or move data to your iCloud Drive, which you can check out anytime.
#6. Shut Down or Restart Mac using Terminal
To shut down your mac with CLI (Command Line Interface) aka Terminal, use
Just as shut down, you can restart your Mac by
#7. View File Contents
To access the contents of any damaged or corrupted file, you can force the terminal to open it with this command.
Note: If you try to open an image file in the terminal, it will show some gibberish text.
#8. Speed Up Time Machine Backup
Whenever you’re updating the Mac to the new version, backup’s are assurity of your data and 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
#9. Add Spaces to your Dock
If you feel, your dock is crowded with a lot of apps. You can add up a little space between each app icon, here’s how.
Type:
and hit Return.
Once done, type:
and press Return again
#10. Copy Contents from One Folder to Another
Copying contents from one place to another is fairly easy with Terminal, Type in the following command
Replace original with the current directory, and new with the name of the directory to which you want to copy the contents.
#11. Make your Mac Say Anything you want
This is the coolest command that macOS provides, you can make your Mac say anything you want, by using the say command followed by the words.
say “hello, iGeeksblog”
Wrapping Up…
There are lots of bash commands available for macOS. However, these were some of them. Do give them a try, and make more out of your Mac.
You might also like to read:
Which command did you like the most? Share your views in the comment section.
Nikhil runs iGB’s official YouTube channel. He is the official lensman of iGB and GB’s small studio is Nikhil’s playground, where he does all wonders with his remarkable signature. When Nikhil is not in his studio, you may spot him in a gourmet restaurant, chomping his way through some delicious food. He is a great traveler, who can go for long drives in search of good food.
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- https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/nikhil/How to Manage Website Settings in iOS 13 Safari on iPhone and iPad
- https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/nikhil/How to Fix 'iMessage Needs to Be Enabled to Send This Message' Issue
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- https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/nikhil/How to Enable and Use Taptic Time on Apple Watch in watchOS 6
Where Categories Are Displayed
You can assign two categories to your app — a primary and a secondary category. The primary category you select is particularly important for your app’s discoverability on the App Store. This will be the category in which the app appears when users browse the App Store or filter search results, and it determines placement on the Apps tab or Games tab on the App Store for iPhone and iPad.
For Mac apps, the primary category you select is also the category in which the app appears when users browse the Mac App Store or filter search results, and it determines placement in the Categories tab on the Mac App Store in macOS 10.14 or later.
Choosing a Primary Category
Let’s say you have a photo-sharing social networking app. For the App Store, you could choose either Photo & Video or Social Networking as your primary category. To decide which category will best serve your app, consider the following:
- Your app’s purpose. Your primary category should be the one that best describes the main function or subject matter of your app.
- Where users naturally look for an app like yours. Understanding your audience will help you identify the category in which they will likely look for your app. Will they consider your app to be more of a social network app or a photography app?
- Which categories contain the same type of apps as yours. Research how similar apps are categorized — users may already know to visit these categories to find this type of app.
Make sure that the category you choose accurately reflects your app’s core experience. Choosing categories that are not appropriate for your app is against the App Store Review Guidelines.
Special Cases
Apps for Kids
If you have an app designed for kids ages 11 and under, select the Made for Kids checkbox in App Store Connect and choose an appropriate age band (5 and under, 6–8, or 9–11). Your app must comply with the App Review Guidelines for Kids apps and will go through review to be approved for the Kids category on the App Store In addition to the Kids category, your app can be discovered in another primary and secondary category (for example: Games, Entertainment, or Education). For more details, see Building Apps for Kids.
If you have an app designed for kids ages 11 and under, select the Made for Kids checkbox in App Store Connect and choose an appropriate age band (5 and under, 6–8, or 9–11). Your app must comply with the App Review Guidelines for Kids apps and will go through review to be approved for the Kids category on the App Store In addition to the Kids category, your app can be discovered in another primary and secondary category (for example: Games, Entertainment, or Education). For more details, see Building Apps for Kids.
Games
If your app is a game, you can choose up to two Games subcategories. Users can find your app by browsing the subcategories on the App Store and in the Games subcategory charts. If you don’t know which subcategory best suits your game, research the types of games in each before making your selection.
If your app is a game, you can choose up to two Games subcategories. Users can find your app by browsing the subcategories on the App Store and in the Games subcategory charts. If you don’t know which subcategory best suits your game, research the types of games in each before making your selection.
Stickers
On the App Store for iMessage, you can assign your sticker pack app to a category called Stickers, or to another primary category that best describes your app. If you use the Stickers category, you can also select a Stickers subcategory. Standalone sticker pack apps are not displayed in categories on the App Store for iPhone and iPad — they are discoverable only in search results. Categories for iOS app with iMessage extensions are taken from the iOS app and are used on the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and iMessage. For more details, see iMessage Apps and Stickers.
On the App Store for iMessage, you can assign your sticker pack app to a category called Stickers, or to another primary category that best describes your app. If you use the Stickers category, you can also select a Stickers subcategory. Standalone sticker pack apps are not displayed in categories on the App Store for iPhone and iPad — they are discoverable only in search results. Categories for iOS app with iMessage extensions are taken from the iOS app and are used on the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and iMessage. For more details, see iMessage Apps and Stickers.
Compare Categories
Explore and compare categories to see which best describes your app.
Apps that provide extensive interactivity for content that is traditionally offered in printed form. If you are planning a more traditional reading experience, you may want to look at publishing an iBook instead.
For example: stories, comics, eReaders, coffee table books, graphic novels.
Apps that assist with running a business or provide a means to collaborate, edit, or share content.
For example: document management (PDFs, scanning, file viewing/editing), VoIP telephony, dictation, remote desktop, job search resources, customer resource management, collaboration, enterprise resource planning, point of sale.
Apps that provide tools for app development, management, and distribution.
For example: coding, testing, debugging, workflow management, text and code editing.
![Category Category](/uploads/1/3/4/1/134119384/831077696.jpg)
Apps that provide an interactive learning experience on a specific skill or subject.
For example: arithmetic, alphabet, writing, early learning and special education, solar system, vocabulary, colors, language learning, standardized test prep, geography, school portals, pet training, astronomy, crafts.
Apps that are interactive and designed to entertain and inform the user, and which contain audio, visual, or other content.
For example: television, movies, second screens, fan clubs, theatre, ringtones, voice manipulation, ticketing services, art creation.
Apps that perform financial transactions or assist the user with business or personal financial matters.
For example: personal financial management, mobile banking, investment, bill reminders, budgets, debt management, tax, small business finance, insurance.
Apps that provide recommendations, instruction, or critique related to the preparation, consumption, or review of food or beverages.
For example: recipe collections, cooking guides, restaurant reviews, celebrity chefs/recipes, dietary & food allergy, alcohol reviews, brewery guides, international cuisine.
Apps that provide single or multiplayer interactive activities for entertainment purposes.
For example: action, adventure, board, card, family, music, puzzle, racing, role playing, simulation, sports, strategy.
Apps that provide tools for art, design, and graphics creation.
For example: vector graphic design, image editing, drawing and illustration.
Apps related to healthy living, including stress management, fitness, and recreational activities.
For example: yoga, muscle diagrams, workout tracking, running, cycling, stress management, pregnancy, meditation, weight loss, pilates, acupuncture/acupressure, Eastern/Chinese medicine.
Apps relating to a general-interest subject matter or service.
For example: real estate, crafts, hobbies, parenting, fashion, home improvement.
Apps designed specifically for children ages 11 and under. Age-appropriate apps must be placed in one of three age bands based on their primary audience: 5 and under, 6–8, or 9–11.
For example: age-appropriate games, interactive stories, educational materials, magazines.
Apps that offer auto-renewing subscriptions to magazine or newspaper content. Choose Magazines & Newspapers if you deliver content using an issue-based strategy or are producing interactive versions of a printed periodical.
For example: newspapers, magazines, other recurring periodicals.
Apps that are focused on medical education, information management, or health reference for patients or healthcare professionals.
For example: skeletal, muscular, anatomy, medical record-keeping, diseases, symptom reference, companion devices (blood pressure, pulse, and so on), health tracking.
Change App Category Macos High Sierra
Apps that are for discovering, listening to, recording, performing, or composing music, and that are interactive in nature.
For example: music creation, radio, education, sound editing, music discovery, composition, lyric writing, band and recording artists, music videos and concerts, concert ticketing.
Apps that provide information to help a user travel to a physical location.
For example: driving assistance, walking assistance, topographical maps, maritime, pilot logs/assistance, oceanic tides, road atlas, fuel finders, public transit maps.
Apps that provide information about current events or developments in areas of interest such as politics, entertainment, business, science, technology, and so on. Choose News if your app serves content via newsreader or digest format, or if your app is for a digital-first or broadcast-first media outlet with frequent content updates.
For example: television, video, radio, or online news outlets or programs, RSS readers.
Apps that assist in capturing, editing, managing, storing, or sharing photos and videos.
For example: capture, editing, special effects, sharing, imaging, printing, greeting card creation, manuals.
Apps that make a specific process or task more organized or efficient.
For example: task management, calendar management, translation, note taking, printing, password management, cloud storage, email clients, flow chart generators, audio dictation, simulation, data viewing.
Macos App Download
Apps that assist the user in accessing or retrieving information.
For example: atlas, dictionary, thesaurus, quotations, encyclopedia, general research, animals, law, religious, how-tos, politics.
Apps that support the purchase of consumer goods or materially enhance the shopping experience.
For example: commerce, marketplace, coupon, product review, apps with Apple Pay.
Apps that connect people by means of text, voice, photo, or video. Apps that contribute to community development.
For example: interpersonal connections, text messaging, voice messaging, video communication, photo & video sharing, dating, blogs, special interest communities, companion apps for traditional social networking services.
Apps related to professional, amateur, collegiate, or recreational sporting activities.
For example: fantasy sports companions, college teams/conference, professional teams/leagues, athletes, score trackers, instruction, sports news.
Apps that assist the user with any aspect of travel, such as planning, purchasing, or tracking.
For example: flight tracking, multi-time clocks, city guides, hotel/rental car/air fare shopping, vacation planning, public transportation, travel rewards.
Apps that enable the user to solve a problem or complete a specific task.
For example: calculators (standard, tip, financial), clocks, measurement, time, web browsing, flashlights, screen locks, bar code scanners, unit conversion tools, password management, remote controls.
Apps that provide forecasts, alerts, and information related to weather conditions.
For example: radar, forecast, storms, tides, severe weather, local weather.