Pablo’s macOS defaults

These defaults have been mostly taken from Mathias Bynens’s dotfiles. I have also benefited from:

Jamie’s Friendly macOS defaults
Nikita’s dotfiles

The code blocks in this file are tangled to generate an associated shell script. Run that script to enable all these customizations in one go.

Preface

#!/usr/bin/env bash

# ~/.macos — https://mths.be/macos

# Close any open System Preferences panes, to prevent them from overriding
# settings we’re about to change
osascript -e 'tell application "System Preferences" to quit'

# Ask for the administrator password upfront
sudo -v

# Keep-alive: update existing `sudo` time stamp until `.macos` has finished
while true; do sudo -n true; sleep 60; kill -0 "$$" || exit; done 2>/dev/null &

General UI/UX

sudo nvram SystemAudioVolume=" "
echo 'Disable the sound effects on boot'

defaults write com.apple.PowerChime ChimeOnAllHardware -bool false;killall PowerChime
echo 'Disable the Chime Sound Effect on Power Cable Connect'

defaults write com.apple.systemsound "com.apple.sound.uiaudio.enabled" -int 0
echo 'Disable screenshot sound'

defaults write -g NSAutomaticWindowAnimationsEnabled -bool false
defaults write -g NSScrollAnimationEnabled -bool false
defaults write -g NSWindowResizeTime -float 0.001
defaults write -g QLPanelAnimationDuration -float 0
defaults write -g NSScrollViewRubberbanding -bool false
defaults write -g NSDocumentRevisionsWindowTransformAnimation -bool false
defaults write -g NSToolbarFullScreenAnimationDuration -float 0
defaults write -g NSBrowserColumnAnimationSpeedMultiplier -float 0
defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-time-modifier -float 0
defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-delay -float 0
defaults write com.apple.dock expose-animation-duration -float 0
defaults write com.apple.dock springboard-show-duration -float 0
defaults write com.apple.dock springboard-hide-duration -float 0
defaults write com.apple.dock springboard-page-duration -float 0
defaults write com.apple.finder DisableAllAnimations -bool true
defaults write com.apple.Mail DisableSendAnimations -bool true
defaults write com.apple.Mail DisableReplyAnimations -bool true
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSUseAnimatedFocusRing -bool false
echo 'Disable animations'

defaults write -g NSAutomaticWindowAnimationsEnabled -bool false
echo 'Fast opening and closing windows and popovers'

# https://robservatory.com/speed-up-your-mac-via-hidden-prefs/
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSWindowResizeTimes 0.001
echo 'Sped up dialogue boxes'

sudo spctl - master-disable
echo 'Allow apps downloaded from "Anywhere" allowed to be opened.'

defaults write com.apple.CrashReporter DialogType none
echo 'Do not ask to send crash reports'

sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow AdminHostInfo HostName
echo 'Reveal IP address, hostname, OS version, etc. when clicking the clock in the login window'

launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.notificationcenterui.plist 2> /dev/null
echo 'Disable Notification Center and remove the menu bar icon'

defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticCapitalizationEnabled -bool false
echo 'Disable automatic capitalization'

defaults write com.apple.symbolichotkeys AppleSymbolicHotKeys -dict-add 70 '<dict><key>enabled</key><false/></dict>'
echo 'disable word definition'

Trackpad, mouse, keyboard, Bluetooth accessories, and input

defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleKeyboardUIMode -int 3
echo 'Enable full keyboard access for all controls (e.g. enable Tab in modal dialogs)'

defaults write com.apple.universalaccess closeViewZoomFollowsFocus -bool true
echo 'Follow the keyboard focus while zoomed in'

# defaults write NSGlobalDomain ApplePressAndHoldEnabled -bool false
# echo 'Disable press-and-hold for keys in favor of key repeat'

# The step values that correspond to the sliders on the GUI are as follow (lower equals faster):
# KeyRepeat: 120, 90, 60, 30, 12, 6, 2
# InitialKeyRepeat: 120, 94, 68, 35, 25, 15
defaults write NSGlobalDomain KeyRepeat -int 2
defaults write NSGlobalDomain InitialKeyRepeat -int 15
echo 'Set a blazingly fast keyboard repeat rate'

defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleLanguages -array "en" "nl"
defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleLocale -string "en_GB@currency=EUR"
defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleMeasurementUnits -string "Centimeters"
defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleMetricUnits -bool true
echo 'Set language and text formats'

sudo systemsetup -settimezone " America/Mexico_City" > /dev/null
echo 'Set the timezone; see `sudo systemsetup -listtimezones` for other values'
# America/Argentina/Buenos_Aires
# Europe/London
# Europe/Madrid

launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.rcd.plist 2> /dev/null
echo 'Stop iTunes from responding to the keyboard media keys'

defaults write -g WebAutomaticTextReplacementEnableds -bool false
echo 'Disable macOS/iOS text expansion'

Keyboard shortcuts

defaults write -g NSUserKeyEquivalents -dict-add "Emoji & Symbols" "\0"
echo 'Disable emoji panel shortcut'

Screen

defaults write com.apple.screencapture location -string "${HOME}/Downloads"
echo 'Save screenshots to the downloads folder'

defaults write com.apple.screencapture type -string "png"
echo 'Save screenshots in PNG format (other options: BMP, GIF, JPG, PDF, TIFF)'

defaults write com.apple.screencapture disable-shadow -bool true
echo 'Disable screenshot shadow effect'

sysadminctl -screenLock 5 -password -
echo 'Require a password after screen saver begins or display is turned off for 5 seconds'

Finder

defaults write com.apple.finder QuitMenuItem -bool true
echo 'In Finder, allow quitting via ⌘ + Q; doing so will also hide desktop icons'

defaults write com.apple.finder NewWindowTarget -string "PfLo"
defaults write com.apple.finder NewWindowTargetPath -string "file://${HOME}/"
echo 'Set Desktop as the default location for new Finder windows.'

defaults write com.apple.finder ShowExternalHardDrivesOnDesktop -bool true
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowHardDrivesOnDesktop -bool true
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowMountedServersOnDesktop -bool true
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowRemovableMediaOnDesktop -bool true
echo 'Show icons for hard drives, servers, and removable media on the desktop'

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool true
echo 'In Finder, show hidden files by default'

defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleShowAllExtensions -bool true
echo 'In Finder, show all filename extensions'

defaults write com.apple.finder _FXShowPosixPathInTitle -bool true
echo 'Display full POSIX path as Finder window title'

defaults write com.apple.finder _FXSortFoldersFirst -bool true
echo 'Keep folders on top when sorting by name'

defaults write com.apple.finder FXDefaultSearchScope -string "SCcf"
echo 'When performing a search, search the current folder by default'

defaults write com.apple.finder FXEnableExtensionChangeWarning -bool false
echo 'Disable the warning when changing a file extension'

defaults write NSGlobalDomain com.apple.springing.enabled -bool true
echo 'Enable spring loading for directories'

defaults write NSGlobalDomain com.apple.springing.delay -float 0
echo 'Remove the spring loading delay for directories'

defaults write com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteNetworkStores -bool true
echo 'Avoid creating .DS_Store files on network volumes'

defaults write com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteUSBStores -bool true
echo 'Avoid creating .DS_Store files on USB volumes'

# Show item info near icons on the desktop and in other icon views
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :DesktopViewSettings:IconViewSettings:showItemInfo true" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :FK_StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:showItemInfo true" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:showItemInfo true" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist

# Show item info to the right of the icons on the desktop
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set DesktopViewSettings:IconViewSettings:labelOnBottom false" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist

# Enable snap-to-grid for icons on the desktop and in other icon views
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :DesktopViewSettings:IconViewSettings:arrangeBy grid" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :FK_StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:arrangeBy grid" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:arrangeBy grid" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist

# Increase grid spacing for icons on the desktop and in other icon views
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :DesktopViewSettings:IconViewSettings:gridSpacing 100" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :FK_StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:gridSpacing 100" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:gridSpacing 100" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist

# Increase the size of icons on the desktop and in other icon views
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :DesktopViewSettings:IconViewSettings:iconSize 80" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :FK_StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:iconSize 80" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:iconSize 80" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist

defaults write com.apple.finder FXPreferredViewStyle -string "Nlsv"
echo 'Use list view in all Finder windows by default'

defaults write com.apple.finder WarnOnEmptyTrash -bool false
echo 'Disable the warning before emptying the Trash'

sudo chflags nohidden /Volumes
echo 'Show the /Volumes folder'

defaults write com.apple.finder FXInfoPanesExpanded -dict \
	General -bool true \
	OpenWith -bool true \
	Privileges -bool true
echo 'Expand the following File Info panes: “General”, “Open with”, and “Sharing & Permissions”'

defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop -bool false;killall Finder;say icons hidden
echo 'Hide icons for hard drives, servers, and removable media on the desktop'

Dock, Dashboard

defaults write com.apple.dock mouse-over-hilite-stack -bool true
echo 'Enable highlight hover effect for the grid view of a stack (Dock)'

defaults write com.apple.dock tilesize -int 36
echo 'Set the icon size of Dock items to 36 pixels'

defaults write com.apple.dock mineffect -string "scale"
echo 'Change minimize/maximize window effect'

defaults write com.apple.dock minimize-to-application -bool true
echo 'Minimize windows into their application’s icon'

defaults write com.apple.dock enable-spring-load-actions-on-all-items -bool true
echo 'Enable spring loading for all Dock items'

defaults write com.apple.dock show-process-indicators -bool true
echo 'Show indicator lights for open applications in the Dock'

defaults write com.apple.dock persistent-apps -array
echo 'Wipe all (default) app icons from the Dock'

defaults write com.apple.dock static-only -bool true
echo 'Show only open applications in the Dock'

defaults write com.apple.dock launchanim -bool false
echo 'Don’t animate opening applications from the Dock'

defaults write com.apple.dock expose-group-by-app -bool false
echo 'Don’t group windows by application in Mission Control'

defaults write com.apple.dashboard mcx-disabled -bool true
echo 'Disable Dashboard'

defaults write com.apple.dock dashboard-in-overlay -bool true
echo 'Don’t show Dashboard as a Space'

defaults write com.apple.dock mru-spaces -bool false
echo 'Don’t automatically rearrange Spaces based on most recent use'

defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-delay -float 0
echo 'Remove the auto-hiding Dock delay'

defaults write com.apple.dock autohide -bool true
echo 'Automatically hide and show the Dock'

defaults write com.apple.dock showhidden -bool true
echo 'Make Dock icons of hidden applications translucent'

defaults write com.apple.dock show-recents -bool false
echo 'Don’t show recent applications in Dock'

#defaults write com.apple.dock showLaunchpadGestureEnabled -int 0
echo 'Disable the Launchpad gesture (pinch with thumb and three fingers)'

find "${HOME}/Library/Application Support/Dock" -name "*-*.db" -maxdepth 1 -delete
echo 'Reset Launchpad, but keep the desktop wallpaper intact'

defaults write com.apple.dock no-bouncing -bool TRUE
echo 'Prevent icons from bouncing'

Spotlight

# Hide Spotlight tray-icon (and subsequent helper)
#sudo chmod 600 /System/Library/CoreServices/Search.bundle/Contents/MacOS/Search
# Disable Spotlight indexing for any volume that gets mounted and has not yet
# been indexed before.
# Use `sudo mdutil -i off "/Volumes/foo"` to stop indexing any volume.
sudo defaults write /.Spotlight-V100/VolumeConfiguration Exclusions -array "/Volumes"
# Change indexing order and disable some search results
# Yosemite-specific search results (remove them if you are using macOS 10.9 or older):
# 	MENU_DEFINITION
# 	MENU_CONVERSION
# 	MENU_EXPRESSION
# 	MENU_SPOTLIGHT_SUGGESTIONS (send search queries to Apple)
# 	MENU_WEBSEARCH             (send search queries to Apple)
# 	MENU_OTHER
defaults write com.apple.spotlight orderedItems -array \
	'{"enabled" = 1;"name" = "APPLICATIONS";}' \
	'{"enabled" = 1;"name" = "SYSTEM_PREFS";}' \
	'{"enabled" = 1;"name" = "DIRECTORIES";}' \
	'{"enabled" = 1;"name" = "PDF";}' \
	'{"enabled" = 1;"name" = "FONTS";}' \
	'{"enabled" = 0;"name" = "DOCUMENTS";}' \
	'{"enabled" = 0;"name" = "MESSAGES";}' \
	'{"enabled" = 0;"name" = "CONTACT";}' \
	'{"enabled" = 0;"name" = "EVENT_TODO";}' \
	'{"enabled" = 0;"name" = "IMAGES";}' \
	'{"enabled" = 0;"name" = "BOOKMARKS";}' \
	'{"enabled" = 0;"name" = "MUSIC";}' \
	'{"enabled" = 0;"name" = "MOVIES";}' \
	'{"enabled" = 0;"name" = "PRESENTATIONS";}' \
	'{"enabled" = 0;"name" = "SPREADSHEETS";}' \
	'{"enabled" = 0;"name" = "SOURCE";}' \
	'{"enabled" = 0;"name" = "MENU_DEFINITION";}' \
	'{"enabled" = 0;"name" = "MENU_OTHER";}' \
	'{"enabled" = 0;"name" = "MENU_CONVERSION";}' \
	'{"enabled" = 0;"name" = "MENU_EXPRESSION";}' \
	'{"enabled" = 0;"name" = "MENU_WEBSEARCH";}' \
	'{"enabled" = 0;"name" = "MENU_SPOTLIGHT_SUGGESTIONS";}'
# Load new settings before rebuilding the index
killall mds > /dev/null 2>&1
# Make sure indexing is enabled for the main volume
sudo mdutil -i on / > /dev/null
# Rebuild the index from scratch
sudo mdutil -E / > /dev/null

Terminal & iTerm 2

# Only use UTF-8 in Terminal.app
defaults write com.apple.terminal StringEncodings -array 4

# Use a modified version of the Solarized Dark theme by default in Terminal.app
osascript <<EOD

tell application "Terminal"

	local allOpenedWindows
	local initialOpenedWindows
	local windowID
	set themeName to "Solarized Dark xterm-256color"

	(* Store the IDs of all the open terminal windows. *)
	set initialOpenedWindows to id of every window

	(* Open the custom theme so that it gets added to the list
	   of available terminal themes (note: this will open two
	   additional terminal windows). *)
	do shell script "open '$HOME/init/" & themeName & ".terminal'"

	(* Wait a little bit to ensure that the custom theme is added. *)
	delay 1

	(* Set the custom theme as the default terminal theme. *)
	set default settings to settings set themeName

	(* Get the IDs of all the currently opened terminal windows. *)
	set allOpenedWindows to id of every window

	repeat with windowID in allOpenedWindows

		(* Close the additional windows that were opened in order
		   to add the custom theme to the list of terminal themes. *)
		if initialOpenedWindows does not contain windowID then
			close (every window whose id is windowID)

		(* Change the theme for the initial opened terminal windows
		   to remove the need to close them in order for the custom
		   theme to be applied. *)
		else
			set current settings of tabs of (every window whose id is windowID) to settings set themeName
		end if

	end repeat

end tell

EOD

# Enable “focus follows mouse” for Terminal.app and all X11 apps
# i.e. hover over a window and start typing in it without clicking first
#defaults write com.apple.terminal FocusFollowsMouse -bool true
#defaults write org.x.X11 wm_ffm -bool true

# Enable Secure Keyboard Entry in Terminal.app
# See: https://security.stackexchange.com/a/47786/8918
defaults write com.apple.terminal SecureKeyboardEntry -bool true

# Disable the annoying line marks
defaults write com.apple.Terminal ShowLineMarks -int 0

# Install the Solarized Dark theme for iTerm
open "${HOME}/init/Solarized Dark.itermcolors"

# Don’t display the annoying prompt when quitting iTerm
defaults write com.googlecode.iterm2 PromptOnQuit -bool false

Time Machine

defaults write com.apple.TimeMachine DoNotOfferNewDisksForBackup -bool true
echo 'Prevent Time Machine from prompting to use new hard drives as backup volume'

Activity Monitor

defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor OpenMainWindow -bool true
echo 'Show the main window when launching Activity Monitor'

defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor IconType -int 5
echo 'Visualize CPU usage in the Activity Monitor Dock icon'

defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor ShowCategory -int 0
echo 'Show all processes in Activity Monitor'

defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor SortColumn -string "CPUUsage"
defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor SortDirection -int 0
echo 'Sort Activity Monitor results by CPU usage'

Textedit

defaults write com.apple.TextEdit RichText -int 0
echo 'Use plain text mode for new TextEdit documents'

defaults write com.apple.TextEdit NSShowAppCentricOpenPanelInsteadOfUntitledFile -bool false
echo 'Create an untitled document at launch'

defaults write com.apple.TextEdit PlainTextEncoding -int 4
defaults write com.apple.TextEdit PlainTextEncodingForWrite -int 4
echo 'Open and save files as UTF-8 in TextEdit'

defaults write com.apple.DiskUtility DUDebugMenuEnabled -bool true
defaults write com.apple.DiskUtility advanced-image-options -bool true
echo 'Enable the debug menu in Disk Utility'

Mac App Store

defaults write com.apple.appstore WebKitDeveloperExtras -bool true
echo 'Enable the WebKit Developer Tools in the Mac App Store'

defaults write com.apple.appstore ShowDebugMenu -bool true
echo 'Enable Debug Menu in the Mac App Store'

defaults write com.apple.SoftwareUpdate AutomaticCheckEnabled -bool true
echo 'Enable the automatic update check'

defaults write com.apple.SoftwareUpdate ScheduleFrequency -int 1
echo 'Check for software updates daily, not just once per week'

defaults write com.apple.SoftwareUpdate AutomaticDownload -int 1
echo 'Download newly available updates in background'

defaults write com.apple.SoftwareUpdate CriticalUpdateInstall -int 1
echo 'Install System data files & security updates'

defaults write com.apple.commerce AutoUpdate -bool true
echo 'Turn on app auto-update'

defaults write com.apple.commerce AutoUpdateRestartRequired -bool true
echo 'Allow the App Store to reboot machine on macOS updates'

Photos

defaults -currentHost write com.apple.ImageCapture disableHotPlug -bool true
echo 'Prevent Photos from opening automatically when devices are plugged in'

Google Chrome

defaults write com.google.Chrome PMPrintingExpandedStateForPrint2 -bool true
defaults write com.google.Chrome.canary PMPrintingExpandedStateForPrint2 -bool true
echo 'Expand the print dialog by default'

Kill affected applications

for app in "Activity Monitor" \
	"Address Book" \
	"Calendar" \
	"cfprefsd" \
	"Contacts" \
	"Dock" \
	"Finder" \
	"Google Chrome Canary" \
	"Google Chrome" \
	"Mail" \
	"Messages" \
	"Opera" \
	"Photos" \
	"Safari" \
	"SizeUp" \
	"Spectacle" \
	"SystemUIServer" \
	"Terminal" \
	"Transmission" \
	"Tweetbot" \
	"Twitter" \
	"iCal"; do
	killall "${app}" &> /dev/null
done
echo "Done. Note that some of these changes require a logout/restart to take effect."

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defaults.org

defaults.org

Pablo’s macOS defaults

Table of contents

Preface

General UI/UX

Trackpad, mouse, keyboard, Bluetooth accessories, and input

Keyboard shortcuts

Screen

Finder

Dock, Dashboard

Spotlight

Terminal & iTerm 2

Time Machine

Activity Monitor

Textedit

Mac App Store

Photos

Google Chrome

Kill affected applications

Local variables

Files

defaults.org

Latest commit

History

defaults.org

File metadata and controls

Pablo’s macOS defaults

Table of contents

Preface

General UI/UX

Trackpad, mouse, keyboard, Bluetooth accessories, and input

Keyboard shortcuts

Screen

Finder

Dock, Dashboard

Spotlight

Terminal & iTerm 2

Time Machine

Activity Monitor

Textedit

Mac App Store

Photos

Google Chrome

Kill affected applications

Local variables