macOS System Defaults¶

This guide covers the macOS system preferences and defaults configured by this dotfiles repository.

Overview¶

The run_once_macos-defaults.sh.tmpl script configures macOS system preferences using the defaults command. These settings are applied once when you first set up your system with chezmoi.

Security & Privacy¶

Firewall¶

sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.alf globalstate -int 1

Enables the built-in firewall for network protection.

Screen Lock¶

defaults write com.apple.screensaver askForPassword -int 1
defaults write com.apple.screensaver askForPasswordDelay -int 0

Requires password immediately after sleep or screensaver.

Privacy¶

defaults write com.apple.AdLib allowApplePersonalizedAdvertising -bool false

Disables personalized advertising.

User Interface & Experience¶

General UI¶

# Expand save panel by default
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSNavPanelExpandedStateForSaveMode -bool true

# Expand print panel by default
defaults write NSGlobalDomain PMPrintingExpandedStateForPrint -bool true

# Save to disk (not iCloud) by default
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSDocumentSaveNewDocumentsToCloud -bool false

# Disable automatic termination of inactive apps
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSDisableAutomaticTermination -bool true

Window Management¶

# Disable window animations
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticWindowAnimationsEnabled -bool false

# Disable mission control animations
defaults write com.apple.dock expose-animation-duration -float 0.1

Speeds up UI by reducing animation delays.

# Show battery percentage
defaults write com.apple.menuextra.battery ShowPercent -string "YES"

# Set clock format
defaults write com.apple.menuextra.clock DateFormat -string "EEE MMM d  h:mm a"

Finder¶

View Options¶

# Show hidden files
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool true

# Show all filename extensions
defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleShowAllExtensions -bool true

# Show status bar
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowStatusBar -bool true

# Show path bar
defaults write com.apple.finder ShowPathbar -bool true

Search & Display¶

# Search current folder by default
defaults write com.apple.finder FXDefaultSearchScope -string "SCcf"

# Disable file extension change warning
defaults write com.apple.finder FXEnableExtensionChangeWarning -bool false

# Use list view by default
defaults write com.apple.finder FXPreferredViewStyle -string "Nlsv"

# Show ~/Library folder
chflags nohidden ~/Library

# Disable .DS_Store on network volumes
defaults write com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteNetworkStores -bool true

# Keep folders on top
defaults write com.apple.finder _FXSortFoldersFirst -bool true

Dock¶

Behavior¶

# Set icon size
defaults write com.apple.dock tilesize -int 48

# Enable magnification
defaults write com.apple.dock magnification -bool true
defaults write com.apple.dock largesize -int 64

# Auto-hide dock
defaults write com.apple.dock autohide -bool true
defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-delay -float 0
defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-time-modifier -float 0.5

Features¶

# Minimize windows into app icon
defaults write com.apple.dock minimize-to-application -bool true

# Show indicator lights for open apps
defaults write com.apple.dock show-process-indicators -bool true

# Don't show recent applications
defaults write com.apple.dock show-recents -bool false

Hot Corners¶

# Top left: Mission Control
defaults write com.apple.dock wvous-tl-corner -int 2
defaults write com.apple.dock wvous-tl-modifier -int 0

# Bottom right: Desktop
defaults write com.apple.dock wvous-br-corner -int 4
defaults write com.apple.dock wvous-br-modifier -int 0

Values: - 0: No action - 2: Mission Control - 3: Application windows - 4: Desktop - 5: Start screensaver - 6: Disable screensaver - 10: Put display to sleep - 11: Launchpad - 12: Notification Center

Keyboard & Input¶

Keyboard¶

# Fast key repeat rate
defaults write NSGlobalDomain KeyRepeat -int 2
defaults write NSGlobalDomain InitialKeyRepeat -int 15

# Disable auto-correct
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticSpellingCorrectionEnabled -bool false

# Disable auto-capitalization
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticCapitalizationEnabled -bool false

Text Input¶

# Disable smart quotes
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticQuoteSubstitutionEnabled -bool false

# Disable smart dashes
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticDashSubstitutionEnabled -bool false

# Enable full keyboard access for all controls
defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleKeyboardUIMode -int 3

Trackpad¶

# Enable tap to click
defaults write com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad Clicking -bool true

# Enable three finger drag
defaults write com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad TrackpadThreeFingerDrag -bool true

# Tracking speed
defaults write NSGlobalDomain com.apple.trackpad.scaling -float 1.5

Screenshots¶

# Save screenshots to ~/Screenshots
mkdir -p ~/Screenshots
defaults write com.apple.screencapture location -string "~/Screenshots"

# Save as PNG
defaults write com.apple.screencapture type -string "png"

# Disable shadow
defaults write com.apple.screencapture disable-shadow -bool true

# Include date in filename
defaults write com.apple.screencapture include-date -bool true

Applications¶

Safari¶

# Enable develop menu
defaults write com.apple.Safari IncludeDevelopMenu -bool true

# Show full URL
defaults write com.apple.Safari ShowFullURLInSmartSearchField -bool true

# Enable debug menu
defaults write com.apple.Safari IncludeInternalDebugMenu -bool true

Terminal¶

# Use UTF-8
defaults write com.apple.terminal StringEncodings -array 4

# Enable Secure Keyboard Entry
defaults write com.apple.terminal SecureKeyboardEntry -bool true

TextEdit¶

# Use plain text mode
defaults write com.apple.TextEdit RichText -int 0

# Open files as UTF-8
defaults write com.apple.TextEdit PlainTextEncoding -int 4

# Save files as UTF-8
defaults write com.apple.TextEdit PlainTextEncodingForWrite -int 4

Activity Monitor¶

# Show main window on launch
defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor OpenMainWindow -bool true

# Show all processes
defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor ShowCategory -int 0

# Sort by CPU usage
defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor SortColumn -string "CPUUsage"
defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor SortDirection -int 0

Network¶

DNS¶

# Speed up DNS lookups
sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.mDNSResponder.plist NoMulticastAdvertisements -bool YES

Bonjour¶

# Disable Bonjour advertising
sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.mDNSResponder.plist NoMulticastAdvertisements -bool true

Performance¶

Window Server¶

# Reduce transparency
defaults write com.apple.universalaccess reduceTransparency -bool true

Animations¶

# Speed up window resize animations
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSWindowResizeTime -float 0.001

# Disable opening/closing animations
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticWindowAnimationsEnabled -bool false

Power Management¶

Energy Saver¶

# Disable sleep for display when charging
sudo pmset -c displaysleep 0

# Disable machine sleep when charging
sudo pmset -c sleep 0

# Enable lid wake
sudo pmset -a lidwake 1

Battery¶

# Show battery percentage in menu bar
defaults write com.apple.menuextra.battery ShowPercent -string "YES"

# Display sleep on battery
sudo pmset -b displaysleep 10

Customization¶

Modifying Defaults¶

To customize these settings:

Find the setting you want to change

Edit the script:

chezmoi edit ~/.local/share/chezmoi/run_once_macos-defaults.sh.tmpl

Modify the value:

# Example: Change dock size from 48 to 36
defaults write com.apple.dock tilesize -int 36

Apply changes (note: this is a run_once script):
```
chezmoi apply --force
```

Adding New Defaults¶

To add new settings:

Find the domain and key:

# Read current value
defaults read com.apple.dock tilesize

# Watch for changes
defaults read > before.txt
# Change setting in System Preferences
defaults read > after.txt
diff before.txt after.txt

Add to script:

defaults write <domain> <key> -<type> <value>

Apply and test

Resetting Defaults¶

To reset a specific setting:

defaults delete <domain> <key>

To reset an entire domain:

defaults delete <domain>

Applying Changes¶

Most settings require restarting the affected application or service:

# Restart Finder
killall Finder

# Restart Dock
killall Dock

# Restart SystemUIServer
killall SystemUIServer

# Restart cfprefsd
killall cfprefsd

Full system restart ensures all changes take effect.

Troubleshooting¶

Settings Not Applied¶

Check script ran:

ls -la ~/.local/share/chezmoi/run_once_*

Force re-run:

chezmoi state delete-bucket --bucket=scriptState
chezmoi apply

Verify setting:
```
defaults read <domain> <key>
```

Settings Reverted¶

Some settings may be overridden by: - System Preferences - MDM policies - System updates

Permission Errors¶

Settings requiring sudo may need admin password:

sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/...

Best Practices¶

Backup First - Time Machine before major changes
Test Changes - Try on test account first
Document Modifications - Add comments to script
One Change at a Time - Easier to troubleshoot
Restart Services - Ensure changes take effect
Version Control - Commit changes to git