How to Get to the Command Line on a Mac

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

This wikiHow teaches you how to open the Terminal (command prompt) application in macOS using Launchpad, Spotlight, or Finder. Terminal gives you access to the Unix part of macOS so you can manage files, edit settings, and run scripts using text commands.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Using Launchpad

PDF download Download Article
  1. It’s the silver icon in the Dock that looks like a rocket. The Dock is a panel of icons usually found at the bottom of the screen, though it can also be moved to the screen’s left or right side. [1]
    • If you’re on a laptop, you can also open Launchpad by doing a four-finger pinch gesture on the trackpad.
    • You may also be able to open it by pressing F4 on the keyboard.
  2. It’s a square icon containing several smaller icons.
    Advertisement
  3. The Terminal application will now launch to the command prompt.
    • If you don’t see Terminal in the Other folder, it may have been moved elsewhere in Launchpad. If you’re unable to find it, try another method.
    4. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Using Spotlight

PDF download Download Article
  1. It’s the magnifying glass at the top right corner of the screen. [2]
    • You can also open Spotlight by pressing ⌘ Command + Space on the keyboard.
  2. “Terminal” will appear in the search results.
  3. The Terminal application will now launch to the command prompt.
    4. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Using Finder

PDF download Download Article
  1. It’s the icon at the bottom of the screen that looks like a two-toned smiling face.
  2. It’s in the left panel of Finder.
    • If you don't see "Applications" in the left panel, click Go at the top of the screen and select Applications .
  3. You may have to scroll down to find it.
  4. You may have to scroll down to find it. The Terminal application will now launch to the command prompt.
    5. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    What is the command for my ip address?
    Community Answer
    ipconfig getifaddr en0
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 6 Helpful 25
  • Question
    How do I ping the gateway from terminal?
    Community Answer
    At the command prompt, type "ping " and press Return.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 10
  • Question
    How to find a list of all terminal commands?
    Community Answer
    Press the Escape key (on the keyboard) twice, then press "y" when you're asked if you want to see all commands.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 11 Helpful 21
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • To close Terminal, press ⌘ Command + Q .
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
      • To change the color scheme of your Terminal window, click Terminal at the top of the screen and select Preferences . Choose one of the themes on the left side of the screen or customize the colors in the main panel.
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Automatically Shut Down Your Computer at a Specified Time
      How to
      Force Shut Down or Restart a Frozen Mac
      Can You Change Your Apple ID Without Losing Everything? Learn How to Keep What You Need
      How to
      Install MacOS on a Virtual Machine Using VirtualBox
      How to
      Tell if Your Mac Is Too Old to Update
      6 Quick Steps to Download & Install Spotify on macOS
      How to
      Install AltStore on an iPhone or iPad
      How to
      Change the Scroll Direction on a Mac
      How to
      Open Executable Files on Mac: Wine, Parallels, and Boot Camp
      How to
      Find Your Internal & External IP Address on a Mac
      How to
      Disable Password Login on Mac (Plus Troubleshooting)
      How to
      Create a TXT File on Mac
      5 Ways to Turn On a Mac Computer - wikiHow
      How to
      Quickly Open the Launchpad on a Mac
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202635
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204014

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Click the Launchpad icon on the Dock.
      2. Click the Other folder.
      3. Click Terminal .

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,079,702 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement