Opening and Configuring Terminal.app

2023-11-26 • SEND FEEDBACK •
Related: command line, How-To, software, Terminal.app

See Basics of Command Line in Terminal for a brief introduction on using Terminal.

Opening Terminal.app

Terminal.app is found in /Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app. Opening Terminal.app can be done several ways:

• Open the /Applications/Utilities folder and double-click Terminal.app.
  TIP: use cmd-shift-U to instantly open the Utilities folder.
  
  

  Opening Terminal.app using Spotlight
• Drag Terminal.app to your application bar for quick access.
• Use cmd-space for Spotlight search, start typing "ter..." and it will pop right up. This is a great trick for any application, files, etc
  

  Opening Terminal.app using Spotlight

Below, a Terminal window configured for easy reading with white-text-on-black.

Terminal.app window

Configuring Terminal

Terminal.app allows much nicer configuration than the default eg white text on black blackground, as shown above.

The Settings => Profiles => Text settings provide useful control over window title, etc.

TIP: Click Color & Effects to set Opacity to 100%., because Terminal windows can become harder to read with transparency effects—super annoying.

 

Configuring the colors and etc for a Terminal window

 

The Settings => Profiles => Text settings provide control over window title, etc.

Configuring window title and more for a Terminal window