All Questions
26 questions
0
votes
0
answers
14
views
How do I tell MacOS to open TextEdit app at certain X and Y coordinates using a plist variable?
I've been looking at plist variables while trying to set the position and size of a window when the editor is launched. But I'm failing to guess or find the name of plist key for this.
I was following ...
- 101
2
votes
0
answers
25
views
How to disable Smart Copy/Paste everywhere and/or in an individual app with Terminal? [duplicate]
Does anyone know how I can disable Smart Copy/Paste globally (or within an individual app's settings) using Terminal?
I know I can do this in the GUI for apps that support it (e.g. Safari, TextEdit) ...
1
vote
1
answer
80
views
Write plist defaults value inside a named profile
How do I write a value inside a named profile, like so;
defaults write com.apple.Terminal "'Window Settings'.Basic.shellExitAction" -int 1
Obviously this doesn't work and also tried ...
- 11
3
votes
0
answers
427
views
Why does defaults only read from files with certain extended attributes?
It seems that defaults read only works on property list files in certain folders (e.g. Desktop, Downloads) when the extended attribute com.apple.macl contains a specific value otherwise it reports ...
- 383
3
votes
0
answers
482
views
Show sound input settings by default in macOS Control Center
On macOS, it's possible to modify sound settings from within control center (icon in menubar).
By default, when clicking on sound settings in Control Center, only the audio output is configurable. An ...
- 345
3
votes
2
answers
713
views
Is there a way to include both single and double quotes in a value to `defaults write` command?
Let's assume I want to add this string to a preference domain:
a'b"c
Can I accomplish that with the defaults command?
These won't work (shell waits for further input):
defaults write testdomain ...
- 1,942
0
votes
0
answers
2k
views
How do I write to a plist with defaults?
I've been googling around, reading documentation, but for the love of me cannot really figure out how to write to plist files on Catalina using defaults.
I can easily do these changes: defaults write ...
- 374
0
votes
1
answer
771
views
Reset Messages window size and position to factory default in macOS Big Sur
How do I reset Messages's window size and position to its factory default in macOS Big Sur? I have tried deleting a couple of .plist files (i.e. com.apple.iChat, com.apple.imessage, com.apple.Messages,...
0
votes
0
answers
234
views
Customizing positions of application windows when launching using plists or defaults
I would like to change the screen position where apps open their windows when launching. I've tried editing the defaults values in several ways, but the changes are never saved. Take for example the ...
- 147
8
votes
1
answer
7k
views
Set Detailed Bluetooth Audio Codec preferences in macOS Monterey
TL;DR
Preferences set in ~root/Library/Preferences/bluetoothaudiod.plist don't seem to have any effect any more. “Bluetooth Explorer” and defaults(1) commands that messed with these don’t seem to work ...
- 201
1
vote
3
answers
1k
views
How can I fix when macOS defaults write -data fails with single quote error?
I'm tying to create a plist using "defaults write", unfortunately I can't use plutil or any other utility.
HEX data: 62706c69 73743030 d4010203
This is the plist I need to create
<?xml ...
- 51
0
votes
1
answer
836
views
Cannot remove spotlight item from menu bar with `defaults`
When unchecking "Show in Menu Bar" in System Preferences > Dock & Menu Bar > Spotlight, it removes the NSStatusItem Visible Item-0 from com.apple.Spotlight.plist. When enabling the ...
- 363
6
votes
2
answers
4k
views
'defaults write com.google.Chrome PasswordManagerEnabled true' has no effect
'defaults write com.google.Chrome PasswordManagerEnabled' has no effect. Neither the contents of
/Library/Managed Preferences/com.google.Chrome.plist nor that of /Library/Managed Preferences/<...
- 223
3
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Delete a specific key value using the defaults delete command line tool
Having the following .plist file:
/usr/bin/sudo /usr/bin/defaults read /Library/Preferences/com.apple.systempreferences.plist
{
DisabledPreferencePanes = (
"com.apple.preference....
- 1,228
2
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Finding out property list (plist) attributes and/or processes
Apple’s own web page indicates how to Edit property lists in Terminal on Mac. However is there a way to guess/find out an attribute or a process that I would like to modify but I don’t know the ...
- 685
1
vote
1
answer
386
views
Is there a complete list of defaults / plist settings for the dock? [duplicate]
I know that most of the defaults settings for macOS components are probably hidden or undocumented, but I'm curious if there is someone who has compiled a complete list or if there is a way to ...
- 2,624
3
votes
1
answer
3k
views
How can I script the keyboard backlight settings?
I'm looking to change settings with a script, but I can't find where the plist data for the keyboard backlight settings is stored.
For example, in the System Preferences, I'd like to modify the ...
- 1,449
1
vote
1
answer
121
views
Do macOS default preferences ever have breaking changes (the ones we edit with defaults command)?
I have a script that uses the defaults command to set a bunch of preferences.
I am curious, do these preferences ever have breaking changes (f.e. when I update macOS), so that I need to modify my ...
- 1,449
5
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How to define an array with a single `defaults` command?
I want a domain com.apple.keyboard.modifiermapping.1452-628-0 to contain the following array:
(
{
HIDKeyboardModifierMappingDst = 2;
HIDKeyboardModifierMappingSrc = 0;
},
...
- 4,018
6
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Unable to toggle natural scrolling direction
I've been experimenting a bit when trying to write a script for toggling the scrolling direction; com.apple.swipescrolldirection.
There are plenty of examples of people doing this online, and several ...
0
votes
1
answer
178
views
How to disable screensaver for newly created user?
I am fairly new to OS X, I am trying to disable the screensaver of a user that I recently created with the following commands on the terminal of an account that I'm currently logged in as:
sudo ...
1
vote
1
answer
4k
views
The location of plist file with defaults
How to know the location of plist that defaults read reads. For example, defaults read com.google.Keystone.Agent returns the information.
{
ActivesInfo = {
"com.google.Chrome" = ...
- 5,714
1
vote
1
answer
1k
views
Where does Messages.app store its "Play sound effects" setting?
I'm trying to write a script to configure the system and various apps to my liking, mostly via defaults write. I got stuck with Messages' Play sound effects setting (under General). I think this ...
- 148
3
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Where is a full (complete) list of defaults domains and parameters?
I found several long lists with defaults, settings, but never a complete one with a reference to developers.apple.com. Is there any such list to find? If not, which is the longest/systematic/complete ...
- 645
2
votes
3
answers
6k
views
How to create a binary plist file from the command line on OS X?
I am looking for a solution to create a binary plist file from the command line on OS X?
I want to create the ~/.MacOSX/environment.plist and setup the PATH there.
I know that this plist file has to ...
- 30.7k
20
votes
6
answers
13k
views
How to list all available .plist keys on a certain domain application by defaults command?
I want to know all keys (property list) which available on certain domain application, as example I could list available key for com.apple.dock by entering this command:
$ defaults read com.apple....
- 523