Mac system defaults tricks

macos_defaults.md

System stuff for a mac

What the defaults do and how to undo them

Dropshadows on screenshots

defaults write com.apple.screencapture disable-shadow -bool true
killall SystemUIServer

Spotlight

sudo launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.metadata.mds.plist

sudo launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.metadata.mds.plist

GCC Compiler

brew install apple-gcc42
sudo ln -s /usr/local/bin/gcc-4.2 /usr/bin/gcc-4.2

ref: http://cczona.com/blog/2012/07/fix-for-make-usrbingcc-4-2-no-such-file-or-directory/

chflags

chflags nohidden ~/Library

Dock shine

defaults write com.apple.dock hide-mirror -bool true;killall Dock

defaults write com.apple.dock hide-mirror -bool false;killall Dock

TextEdit ruler

defaults write com.apple.TextEdit ShowRuler 0

defaults delete com.apple.TextEdit ShowRuler

Quicktime player

defaults write com.apple.QuickTimePlayerX MGCinematicWindowDebugForceNoRoundedCorners 1

defaults write com.apple.QuickTimePlayerX MGCinematicWindowDebugForceNoRoundedCorners 0

Helpviewer DevMode

defaults write com.apple.helpviewer DevMode -bool true

defaults write com.apple.helpviewer DevMode -bool false

Fast windows

defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSWindowResizeTime .1

defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSWindowResizeTime .5

Mail names

defaults write com.apple.mail AddressesIncludeNameOnPasteboard -bool false

defaults write com.apple.mail AddressesIncludeNameOnPasteboard -bool true

Debug menu in Addressbook

defaults write com.apple.addressbook ABShowDebugMenu -bool YES

defaults write com.apple.addressbook ABShowDebugMenu -bool NO

AppNap

sudo defaults write com.apple.Finder NSAppSleepDisabled -bool YES

Font Smoothing for Consolas

defaults -currentHost write -globalDomain AppleFontSmoothing -int 2

Reduce time-to-standby to 12 hours

cf. http://www.ewal.net/2012/09/09/slow-wake-for-macbook-pro-retina/

sudo pmset -a standbydelay 43200

Dock in the corner

cf. http://macyay.com/os-x-dock-corner/

defaults write com.apple.dock pinning -string start; killall Dock

Speed up animations

cf. http://www.chromescreen.com/speed-up-osx-mavericks/

defaults write com.apple.dock expose-animation-duration -float 0.15; killall Dock

Safari

cf. https://twitter.com/xor/status/537025703196102657

efaults write com.apple.Safari ShowFullURLInSmartSearchField -bool true

Animation speed

defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticWindowAnimationsEnabled -bool NO

Speed up keyboard repeat in Sublime Text

defaults write com.sublimetext ApplePressAndHoldEnabled -bool false

Speed up keyboard repeat everywhere

cf. https://software.com/mac/tweaks/change-key-repeat-vs-character-picker

defaults write NSGlobalDomain ApplePressAndHoldEnabled -boolean false