How to Open Terminal on Mac

Understanding how to use Terminal and take advantage of its numerous benefits is always a sign that you’re an advanced Mac user. Though the app isn’t as complicated as it might seem at first glance, it does require some knowledge of the fundamentals to get the most from it.

So, if you’re only beginning to learn these details, our today’s piece is a great opportunity to help you on your journey to more sophisticated Mac system control. Below, our team has gathered the basics of using Terminal, so make yourself comfortable and continue reading.

Before we start:

 

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What is Terminal on Mac

Terminal is a powerful built-in command-line interface that allows Mac users to interact with their device’s operating system at a deeper level. With its help, you can communicate with macOS directly by typing commands without additional operations. On launching Terminal, you’ll see a window with a command line where you have to enter commands to run specific tools.

Terminal provides access to system services that can fulfill various functions—from basic software installations to more complicated issues like network troubleshooting. By entering orders directly into Terminal, you can ask your device to rapidly and efficiently perform specific actions, skipping the need to refer to apps.

An important reminder from our team: 

 

When using Terminal, don’t forget to learn how to clear Terminal on Mac.

Here are Terminal’s main advantages from our experience of using it:

• Direct access to macOS functions
• Fast performance
• Advanced troubleshooting
• Low resource consumption

Meanwhile, to enjoy all the above benefits, you need to know how to use Terminal on Mac, as its commands are case-sensitive, and require the correct input to function properly. Unfortunately, a typo in the Terminal command line won’t lead to the result you're looking for.

How to run Terminal on Mac

The common way to open Terminal on your Mac is to click Launchpad in the Dock folder, type Terminal in the search bar, and launch it from there. An alternative is to go to the Finder, open Applications, click Utilities, and select Terminal from the list.

There are additional ways to run Terminal on MacBook if you prefer to have a wide range of options:

1. Open Terminal on Mac with keyboard
2. Access Terminal with Finder
3. Get Terminal using Launchpad
4. Open Terminal via Spotlight Search
5. Run Terminal on Mac from the Applications folder
6. Open Terminal using Siri

1. Open Terminal on Mac with keyboard

Advanced users and developers often choose to run Terminal on Mac with a hotkeys combination, as it’s the quickest way. Though macOS doesn’t have a default keyboard shortcut, you can create your own using the built-in Shortcuts app.

Here are our instructions on how to open Terminal on Mac using a keyboard shortcut:

1. Open the Shortcuts app.
2. In the top menu of the app, find the Plus sign.
3. In the pop-up menu, choose Open App ➙ click Add to Shortcut.
4. Find the Terminal App in the main field.
5. Click Shortcut Details ➙ Add Keyboard Shortcut.
6. Find the box next to the Run With option ➙ enter the Shortcut you’d like to use for opening Terminal.
7. Try out your new shortcut.

2. Access Terminal via Finder

One more simple way to open Terminal on Mac is to use the default file manager of macOS—Finder. It’s represented by the nice blue and white smile icon on your Dock.

Here’s our step-by-step guide on how to access Terminal using Finder:

1. Open the Finder window.
2. In the top bar menu, choose Applications.
3. In the Applications folder, select Utilities.
4. In the Utilities folder, find the Terminal icon, then double click to open it.

3. Activate Terminal using Launchpad

It’s always a good idea to open Terminal on your Mac via Launchpad, as it’s a quick and simple method.

Take the following steps to open Terminal via Launchpad:

1. In the Dock, open Launchpad.
2. Find the Terminal app by typing “Terminal” in the search bar.
3. Open the application.

4. Open Terminal via Spotlight Search

Another built-in feature on macOS you can refer to for opening Terminal is the Spotlight Search. Follow our instructions below on the best way to do this:

1. Open Spotlight Search by pressing Command + Spacebar.
2. In the search bar, type “Terminal” to find it.
3. Press enter to open the Terminal.

5. Run Terminal on Mac from the Applications folder

You can also run Terminal from the Applications folder. Follow these simple steps to do so:

1. Launch Finder.
2. In the left sidebar in Finder, choose Applications.
3. Within Applications, scroll down to find and open Utilities.
4. Click on Terminal inside Utilities to open it.

A hint from us: 

 

Do you feel like some apps behave too slowly on your computer? Remember that regular cleaning provides a smooth performance for your Apple device, so you definitely need to know how to clean up Mac when dealing with any app.

6. Open Terminal using Siri

Don’t forget about Apple’s intelligent virtual assistant Siri. It usually answers your questions and finds your favorite track, but it can also help you quickly open apps, too.

Catch our instructions on how to open Terminal on macOS using Siri:

1. In the top-right corner of the menu bar or in the Dock, find Siri and activate it by clicking the Siri icon.
2. Give Siri the command “Open Terminal” using your microphone.

Basic macOS commands in Terminal

As Terminal allows us to control the operating system using text-based combinations, here’s our list of basic commands to learn:

• pwd
• ls
• cd
• mkdir
• touch
• rm
• cp
• mv
• cat
• man

Let's decode these basic Terminal commands to make the most of this high-powered tool:

• pwd — Print Working Directory. This shows the folder you're currently working in so you can use it to learn your system location.
• ls — List Files and Directories. This command shows the details, including sizes and permissions, of all files in the folder you're working in.
• cd — Change Directory. It’s a command for navigation between folders. Type cd and where you want to move to.
• mkdir — Make Directory. This command is responsible for creating new folders. Type mkdir and the name of a new folder to perform this task.
• touch -— Create a New File. It helps to create a new empty file. Similarly to the previous instructions, type touch and the name of the file you want to create.
• rm — Remove Files. Use this command to delete a file. Type rm and the name of a file you want to remove. We should inform you that this command doesn’t move content to the Trash but deletes it permanently.
• cp — Copy Files. This command copies files from one place to another. Type cp, the name of the file you want to copy and the location you want to copy it to.
• mv — Move or Rename Files. This command is responsible for two functions: moving and renaming files. For moving files, type mv, the name of the file you need to move, and the folder  you want to move it. For renaming, type mv, the old name, and the file’s new name.
• cat — Display File Contents. This command shows the file contents in Terminal. Type cat and the name of the file you want to see.
• man — Manual Pages. This is a support command that helps if you don’t remember how one of the macOS commands in Terminal works. Type man and the name of a command you need to understand.

An extra tip from our experts: 

 

While referring to basic macOS commands in Terminal, explore how to fix Mac Terminal command not found error, to avoid becoming frustrated by small issues.

Conclusion

Terminal is a powerful and multi-functional command-line interface that opens almost unlimited opportunities for new Mac users or even seasoned pros. It empowers all to interact with macOS on a deeper level, meaning mastering Terminal is a key step to unlocking your device's full potential.  

As with any other app, Terminal on Mac should perform smoothly. We recommend getting rid of malware using reliable tools, like MacKeeper’s Antivirus.

Here’s a quick reminder of how to use it:

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