macOS gives you plenty of options to customize and set everything up just the way you want it. However, if you like messing around with your computers, the Mac’s built-in settings may not be enough for you. Fortunately, macOS Big Sur has many hidden settings you can play with. So, if you want to fully customize your Mac experience, here’s how to easily access hidden Mac settings.
Access Hidden Mac Settings
There are several ways to access hidden settings on Mac. You can explicitly use Terminal; something we’ll discuss in a later section. Or, you can get and use apps that allow you to change these settings without ever having to use Terminal.
I will discuss both methods in this article so you can choose which one you like better. You can use the table of contents below to jump to the method you want to try.
1. Use Hidden Mac Settings with TinkerTool
We will first discuss the easy way to change hidden settings on Mac. For this TinkerTool (download). It’s a free app, so you don’t have to worry about paying to start adjusting your Mac’s settings.
Once you have TinkerTool installed, simply launch it from Launchpad or by searching for it in Spotlight (or a Spotlight alternative like Alfred). You will see a number of categories at the top, such as Finder, Apps, Fonts, and more.
In each of these categories you will find category-specific settings that you can change. For example, you can show hidden files in the Finder tab, show the path in the header, and even add an exit option to the Finder.
You can also use the Dock category to fully customize your Dock. As you can see, this offers a lot more options on Mac than offered by System Preferences. You can even add space tiles to your Dock if you want a more customized look.
What I really like is the General tab. Here I can easily change Mac screenshot formats from default PNG to JPG or even PSD files. You can also disable screenshot preview, disable shadows, and more.
As you can see, TinkerTool gives you access to many hidden settings in macOS, so you can have much better control of your Mac’s settings. Most changes here will require you to restart the Finder, Dock, etc. But TinkerTool provides buttons to do these things quickly, like the ‘Restart Dock’ button.
2. Restore Hidden Mac Settings with TinkerTool
If you’re like me, you’ve probably gone crazy and changed every setting you can. No problem, if you changed a lot of things that you actually don’t want changed, you can easily restore the settings with TinkerTool as well.
Simply click on the ‘Reset’ tab and click on ‘Reset to pre-TinkerTool state’. You can also click on ‘Reset to defaults’ if you wish to do so.
3. Use Terminal to Change Hidden Settings on macOS
While TinkerTool is a really easy way to change hidden settings on your Mac, all of these settings can also be changed using Terminal commands. Obviously this requires you to know the commands to use, which can be troublesome to find.
You’ll still be able to find these commands with a quick search online, and once you have them you can easily use them in Terminal. In this example, I will demonstrate the command to show and hide hidden files on the Desktop using Terminal.
- Open terminal.
- Type the following command
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -boolean true
- Press the enter/return key.
- Now type the following command
killall Finder
- This will restart the Finder and you will be able to see the hidden files on your Mac.
Note: By the way, you can use the command “defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -boolean false” to hide hidden files as well.
Basically, all the settings TinkerTool gives you access to are also available through Terminal. All you have to do is search for the required command and run it in the Terminal application.
4. FAQ
Q. How can I show hidden files in Terminal?
It’s easy to show hidden files in Terminal. To get a detailed step-by-step guide, you should check out our article on hiding and showing files on Mac. While you’re here, also check out our articles on hiding desktop icons and the Finder Preview pane on Mac.
Q. How do I find hidden library on Mac?
You can use the shortcut ‘command + shift + G’ and then type ‘~/Library’. Or you can open Finder, hit the “option” key and click the “Go” option in the menu bar. You will see the Library mentioned in the list.
Q. How do I fix preferences error on Mac?
There are several solutions you can try. First, make sure your Apple ID is signed in. If it’s on, sign out and sign back in to iCloud.
Finally, you can try restarting your Mac to see if it fixes the preferences error.
Q. Where is the Command key on a Mac?
The command key is on either side of the space bar on a Mac keyboard.
Q. How can I see hidden apps on Mac?
There are certain apps that hide on Mac. To view them, open Finder and press ‘command+shift+G’. Type “/System/Library/CoreServices/Applications” and press enter.
Q. Why are the files hidden?
Files are hidden on Mac for several reasons. They can be system files that users don’t need to access. Otherwise, these may be files hidden by a different user using Terminal commands.
Power Your macOS Experience with Hidden Mac Settings
Using hidden settings on your Mac is a great way to gain even more control over how your computer works. You can enable or disable hidden files, restrict Finder, change Dock settings, and much more. You can have your Mac keep certain apps in always-on mode, even if you use system-wide dark mode.
Also, as we’ve discussed in this article, there’s no single way to do it. Using the command line, you can use applications like TinkerTool or even Terminal, depending on your needs and comfort level. So, what hidden settings are you considering changing on your Mac? Let us know in the comments. Also, if you liked this article, you will also like our article on methods to recover deleted files on Mac. Don’t forget to check.
