Fixes for common mac annoyances

mac-settings.md

Instructions

Open the Terminal mac application and enter any of the statements below into the command line. Note that some of these changes require a logout/restart to take effect.

Commands

Disable the sound effects on boot

sudo nvram SystemAudioVolume=" "

Wipe all (default) app icons from the Dock

• This is only really useful when setting up a new Mac, or if you don’t use the Dock to launch apps.

defaults write com.apple.dock persistent-apps -array

Don’t animate opening applications from the Dock

defaults write com.apple.dock launchanim -bool false

Speed up Mission Control animations

defaults write com.apple.dock expose-animation-duration -float 0.1

Disable Dashboard

defaults write com.apple.dashboard mcx-disabled -bool true

Don’t show Dashboard as a Space

defaults write com.apple.dock dashboard-in-overlay -bool true

Don’t automatically rearrange Spaces based on most recent use

defaults write com.apple.dock mru-spaces -bool false

Prevent Time Machine from prompting to use new hard drives as backup volume

defaults write com.apple.TimeMachine DoNotOfferNewDisksForBackup -bool true

Automatically quit printer app once the print jobs complete

defaults write com.apple.print.PrintingPrefs "Quit When Finished" -bool true

Disable the “Are you sure you want to open this application?” dialog

defaults write com.apple.LaunchServices LSQuarantine -bool false

Check for software updates daily, not just once per week

defaults write com.apple.SoftwareUpdate ScheduleFrequency -int 1

Enable full keyboard access for all controls (e.g. enable Tab in modal dialogs)

defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleKeyboardUIMode -int 3

Turn off keyboard illumination when computer is not used for 5 minutes

defaults write com.apple.BezelServices kDimTime -int 300

Disable auto-correct

defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticSpellingCorrectionEnabled -bool false