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As a macOS power user, you probably find yourself frequently opening the Terminal utility to run commands, monitor system processes, or make advanced configuration changes. With its command line interface, Terminal provides access to the Unix underpinnings of macOS and enables you to perform tasks that aren‘t possible through the regular graphical user interface.
While you can always open Terminal from the Applications > Utilities folder, there are numerous faster and more convenient ways to launch it. In this guide, we‘ll walk through 10 different methods to open Terminal on your Mac, with a focus on shortcuts and quick access. Whether you prefer using keyboard shortcuts, voice commands with Siri, custom scripts, or third-party launchers, you‘ll find a suitable option here. Let‘s get started!
Method 1: Built-in Keyboard Shortcuts
The quickest way to open Terminal is often right at your fingertips—just use a keyboard shortcut. There are a couple of built-in options:
Spotlight Search
Press Command + Space to open Spotlight search, type "terminal", and hit Enter. It takes just a few keystrokes and Terminal will be launched instantly.
Custom Keyboard Shortcut
You can also set up a dedicated keyboard shortcut to open Terminal:
- Open System Preferences and go to Keyboard > Shortcuts > App Shortcuts.
- Click the + button to add a new shortcut.
- Choose Terminal from the Application dropdown.
- Type "New Window" for the Menu Title.
- Click the Keyboard Shortcut field and press your desired key combo, e.g. Option + Command + T.
Now you can simply press your custom shortcut to launch a new Terminal window at any time. The main benefit is that your hands never have to leave the keyboard.
Method 2: Siri and Voice Commands
If you have Siri enabled on your Mac, you can use voice commands to open Terminal. The default phrase is "Hey Siri, open Terminal" but you can also set up a custom voice command for Terminal that‘s quicker to say.
To do so, first make sure "Type to Siri" is enabled in System Preferences > Accessibility > Siri. Then activate Siri and say "Make a new shortcut to open Terminal called ‘Command Line‘". You‘ll be guided through picking a custom trigger phrase.
Then try it out—say "Hey Siri, Command Line" (or whatever invocation phrase you chose). Terminal will open right up. Voice commands are great for hands-free access to Terminal.
Method 3: Terminal in Dock
Another convenient option is adding Terminal to your Dock for one-click access:
- Open Terminal and right-click its icon in the Dock.
- Go to Options > Keep in Dock.
- You can also drag the Terminal icon from Applications > Utilities to the right side of the Dock.
Now Terminal will remain in your Dock even when all windows are closed. You can click the icon to launch it or right-click to open recent sessions or start a new one. It‘s easily accessible and visual, although it does take up some Dock space.
Method 4: Finder Toolbar
You can also add Terminal to the toolbar of Finder windows for quick access whenever you‘re browsing files:
- Open a new Finder window and right-click an empty space on the toolbar.
- Choose Customize Toolbar.
- Drag the Terminal icon from the options to your desired position in the toolbar.
- Click Done to save the changes.
Whenever you have a Finder window open, just press Shift-Command-T and click the Terminal toolbar icon to launch it. You can customize the icon size and position in the toolbar too. The advantage is Terminal is always available no matter which folder you‘re in. But it does require first opening a Finder window and then clicking the toolbar icon.
Method 5: Automator Quick Action
Using the built-in Automator utility, we can create a Quick Action that opens Terminal from the Finder, Services menu, or Touch Bar:
- Launch Automator and choose Quick Action as the type.
- Set the workflow to receive "no input" in "any application".
- Find the Launch Application action in the Library and drag it to the workflow.
- Set the application to Terminal.
- Save with a name like "New Terminal".
Now your Quick Action will appear in the Services menu within any app. You can right-click in Finder or the Desktop, go to Services, and choose New Terminal to run it. Quick Actions can also be added to the Touch Bar for activation.
For even faster access, open System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts > Services and assign a keyboard shortcut to your New Terminal Quick Action. It‘ll be available everywhere.
Automator allows for some useful customization too. You could add a Run Shell Script action to change to a specific directory before opening Terminal. Or have it open Terminal with a certain window size and profile. The main downside is it takes a bit of setup.
Method 6: Third-Party Utilities
There are a variety of powerful macOS launcher utilities, such as Alfred, LaunchBar, and Quicksilver, that aim to supercharge opening apps, files and more. These launchers usually let you open Terminal via a global keyboard shortcut. For example, in Alfred you‘d press Option + Space to open the launcher, then start typing "terminal" to see it as a suggested result. Hitting Enter will launch Terminal.
Many of these utilities support advanced workflows for Terminal. You could set up a custom web search that opens results in Terminal. Or create snippets to quickly run frequently used commands. The sky‘s the limit.
The main drawback is that you‘ll need to install additional software. But if you regularly open a lot of apps and files, a launcher utility can be a huge productivity boost. Try a few out and find one that fits your needs.
Method 7: Apple Script
For an even more customized solution, you can create an Apple Script that launches Terminal just the way you want it. Open the built-in Script Editor and try this sample code:
tell application "Terminal"
do script "cd ~/Desktop"
activate
set the bounds of the front window to {50, 50, 600, 400}
end tell
This script opens a new Terminal window, changes to the Desktop directory, and sets a default window position and size. You can specify all sorts of window settings, run commands, and enable features. Save it as an Application or Script file.
Then you can launch your custom Terminal script from the Script menu in the menu bar. Even better, use the Shortcuts tab of Script Editor to bind a unique keyboard shortcut that runs the script in one press.
Apple Script takes some learning to use effectively. But it provides the ultimate flexibility in setting up Terminal just how you like it.
Tips for Terminal Power Users
However you choose to launch Terminal, there are a few settings tweaks and tricks that will make your experience better:
- Set a default window size in Terminal > Preferences > Window so each new session is the right dimensions.
- Choose a color scheme or create your own in Profiles to highlight output and improve readability.
- Set Terminal > Preferences > General > On startup open New window with profile and pick a profile for a consistent environment.
- Learn basic Terminal navigation shortcuts like control+A to jump to the start of the line or control+E to jump to the end.
- Customize your prompt (PS1) to show useful info like the current Git branch or last command‘s exit status.
- Use Tab in Terminal to auto-complete file paths and commands.
- Add color output to commands with flags like –color for ls
Find Your Favorite Terminal Launcher
We‘ve covered 10 great ways to open Terminal on your Mac, from simple keyboard shortcuts to custom scripts and third-party utilities. Whether you prefer the speed of Spotlight, the convenience of the Dock, the flexibility of Automator, or the power of Apple Script, there‘s a method that will fit right into your workflow.
Take some time to experiment with these Terminal launching techniques and see which ones feel most natural to you. With a little practice, you‘ll be opening Terminal instantly whenever you need it. That‘s a key step in becoming a command line wizard.
Remember, the real magic happens inside Terminal, with all the commands and tools you use to get stuff done. But being able to conjure up a Terminal with a quick shortcut or voice command makes everything smoother. Happy coding!