Change shell to zsh mac. If you want to just make your regular B.
Change shell to zsh mac. Mar 27, 2009 · To recognize better the start and the end of output on a commandline, I want to change the color of my prompt, so that it is visibly different from the programs output. zprofile and . Password for john: iMac28:~ john$ Then, quit the Terminal app, and open it again. Create a . I don’t recommend this for novices. It’s always better to gain some experience in the shell environment and see how things work before installing things like this. In this extensive guide, I‘ll explain in detail how to install Zsh, set it as the default shell, customize it to your needs, and troubleshoot any issues. You can ignore Apr 30, 2021 · I use the macOS default Terminal because that's what I used when I started learning to code and I'm loath to change (soz). They haven’t said specifically why the change is occurring, but we can make some educated guesses. Thankfully, switching your Mac‘s default shell from Zsh to Bash is […] May 20, 2021 · If you already performed the change shell command, running it again would tell you no changes made. Understanding t Change the default shell in Terminal on Mac The default shell is zsh. zshrc into your home directory (without needing to know any editor). Jun 29, 2019 · Apple wants you use zsh over bash, and starting with macOS Catalina, zsh will be the default. In the example it sets the default terminal to be the iTerm app: "terminal. Part 1: Moving to zsh (this article) Part 2: Configuration Files Part 3: Shell Options Part 4: Aliases and Functions Part 5: Completions Part 6:… Sep 6, 2023 · I felt comfortable using bash shell on MacOS. Now I think my command to change shell didn’t worked - it seems stuck with a key lock symbol. Sep 5, 2025 · Wondering how to install and use Oh My Zsh on Mac? You've come to the right place as we'll show you everything there is to know. While macOS ships with the reliable bash shell, Zsh offers advanced functionality and customization options that make it worth upgrading to. Search for "Edit Environment variables for your account" to bring up the environment variables window, create a new variable named "SHELL" and give it the value "/usr/bin/zsh/". As a result, commands like node and python, which are installed on my system and work perfectly fine in my terminal, fail to execute with the error: command not found. (There may well be a SHELL=/bin/bash line somewhere in your dotfiles overriding what zsh sets itself). For unpublished reason, which is speculated to be Bash’s license, Apple has decided to change the default shell to zsh. The following sections explain both methods. Set the Terminal preferences to explicitly use /bin/zsh. Why? Can I switch it back? If so, how? Does it make sense to do so? Any gotchas? Aug 5, 2023 · I still believe this is Apple's way of informing you that they want you to use the supported Zsh shell, and don't automatically change the existing shell out from under you without your direct chsh involvement. You can continue to use bash if you like. You want to go out of the ordinary, to add life to the boring terminal and improve your productivity. I have tried this code: sudo chsh -s $(which zsh) I've also tried: sudo chsh -s /bin/zsh Also tried these co Jan 9, 2020 · Set to use the default shell in the Terminal Preferences, as described in the Apple article. com/en-ca/HT208050 Change the default shell in Terminal on Mac The default shell is zsh. Sep 29, 2009 · To do this using the Mac OS X GUI: Open “System Preferences. Apr 19, 2023 · If you’re ready to swap bash for zsh, or zsh for dash, then here’s how to change the default Terminal shell on Mac. On the user you wish to change the shell, control +click or right click on the user and choose “Advanced Options…” Where it says “Login Shell:” change this to the shell you wish to use. Changing this should be a simple three step process: Make sure that zsh is installed and is an accepted shell $ cat /etc/shells Change the shell $ chsh -s $(which zsh) Restart your shell Install zsh and verify that it’s listed among the accepted shells Apple preinstalls zsh at /bin/zsh, however, if you use homebrew, you will have to take a few extra Jan 9, 2019 · 3. Click on edit in settings. If I run zsh from within sh after running sudo su, I get the Z shell, but without the improvements from oh-my-zsh. By following this comprehensive guide on how to change shell to bash mac, you can seamlessly transition from Zsh to Bash, customize your environment, and utilize the many powerful features Bash offers. Unable to change login shell to zsh I have a new MacBook Pro running Monterey. sh files are executed with the zshell interpreter from the Mac terminal without specifying the zsh prefix every time? The shell default is set to zshell already but a command t May 24, 2023 · Whether you want to change colors, display helpful information, or experiment with different styles, personalize your Mac today. 15. The Zsh shell does not read any previous existing Bash shell dotfiles, which is why I provided the HEREDOC to write a new . Via Terminal Using the terminal to switch from Zsh to Bash on macOS is a short and straightforward procedure. " Way 2: Hide 'The default interactive shell is now zsh. This guide provides simple steps and tips to make your shell transition smooth and swift. May 22, 2023 · How do i get rid of terminal message to change my interactive shell in Monterey? I’ve changed bash to zsh, but message remains. I see it is possible in Mac OS X Leopard, but for OS X Lion I can't find a way. 02 login -pf grahamgough /bin Change the default shell in Terminal on Mac The default shell is zsh. external. Before Starting You should be familiar with using the macOS Terminal command line. Aug 25, 2020 · A piece of friendly advice Oh My Zsh is a fun, colorful, and even productive add-on for Zsh that makes lots of changes and adds lots of scripts and functions to your Zsh environment. Apr 11, 2020 · That output is just telling you that macOS has changed the default shell, it’s not telling you anything about your shell, except that it is probably not ZSH. This guide will provide you with practical tips and tricks to help you transition to zsh with ease. Apple includes a bash install with macOS, it's just an older version (tl;dr Apple doesn't want to deal with GPLv3 licensing and therefore switched to zsh by default rather than bundle newer versions of bash). Apple would essentially change everything about the Mac OS X system, including its underlying software, in order to place it on a non-compatible hardware. Jan 12, 2021 · If you are on bash shell and trying to switch to zsh shell (Z shell) all you need to do is type zsh on your bash prompt on Terminal on macOS. ' and continue using bash If you know the benefits of zsh, such as more customization and smarter auto-completion, but still prefer the familiar bash, you can hide 'The Nov 15, 2018 · By Chiamaka Ikeanyi Sometimes, using the default terminal sucks. I'm trying to change the Login Shell of Mac OS X from bash to zsh. See the Apple document "Use zsh as the default shell on your Mac" support. Of note, this location is There is official way to change the default shell to zsh now. What are Aliases? Aliases in a shell are user-defined shortcuts or abbreviations for longer commands. My default shell is set to zsh (configured with oh-my-zsh), but the Agent seems to be executing commands in a different shell. SHELL is not a particular zsh variable, but you can set it to any value you want. Nov 21, 2022 · Zsh became the default in macOS Catalina and higher version of macOS. osxExec": "iTerm. Your shell did not change. Discover how to change from zsh to bash effortlessly. Apr 12, 2020 · One of the changes that have been done by Apple on this version, is the default login shell of macOS, from Bash to zsh. Run the following code, for instance, to change your shell to Zsh chsh -s /bin/zsh As described in the manpage, and by Lorin, if the shell is not known by the OS, you have to add it to its known list: /etc/shells. json and add this line of code to the user settings json file "terminal. × Change the default shell in Terminal on Mac The default shell is zsh. But I’m the admin, no line to enter password. bash has and will be around for a while, but is exceedingly unlikely to ever get anything past any critical or security fixes; to ever get any function or feature updates. Jun 29, 2023 · Change Visual Studio Code terminal’s default to zsh and current file directory Open settings. Jan 8, 2023 · Get Started with ZSH: A Step-by-Step Guide to Installing Oh My ZSH, Dracula Theme, and Popular Plugins In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through the process of installing ZSH and Oh My ZSH on Nov 23, 2021 · After upgrading to MacOS Monterey, I was stunned that Apple would switch my default shell to ZSH. Jun 2, 2025 · I’m encountering an issue while using the Cursor Agent in my development environment on macOS. It offers features like syntax highlighting, autosuggestions, and tab completions that are designed to make using the command line a more pleasant experience. Your login account is older, and has accordingly preserved use of bash. You can switch to Bash at any time interactively from zsh by typing bash and return in the Terminal. You can switch from zsh to bash on macOS Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, and Catalina after reading. Dec 29, 2019 · By changing your default shell to zsh, you no longer have the Bash shell as default when the Terminal launches — it will be zsh, which will not read the bash dot files. Nov 30, 2021 · You can just use exec to replace your current shell with a new shell: Switch to bash: exec bash Switch to zsh: exec zsh This won't affect new terminal windows or anything, but it's convenient. Dec 29, 2021 · Recent versions of macOS now use zsh as the default command line shell. On most Linux systems . Modify the zsh prompt by adding your desired values for variables like %n (username), %m (Mac's model name), %W (date), and %T (time). If you want to just make your regular B Mar 2, 2024 · Here is the message: The default shell for newly-created accounts switched from bash to zsh at macOS 10. Are you looking to enhance your terminal and command-line workflow on Mac? Then setting Zsh as the default shell is an impactful upgrade. Follow step by step instructions to get started using ZSH on Mac OS X. Nov 24, 2024 · As a professional software engineer and coding instructor with over 15 years of experience, I‘ve come to master the art of customizing my terminal into a productive power tool. The rc file is run every time a new shell is created and is used to set up the shell itself. How do I change my default shell to bash on Macos Catalina or above using the command line or GUI options? A Unix shell is nothing but a program that accepts Unix commands from the keyboard and executes them. This needs to be done with the System Preferences app. Sep 1, 2019 · By default, the shell on a Mac is bash. Since you’re going down the path of learning an alternate shell, you might as well keep on the newest version instead of Change the default shell in Terminal on Mac The default shell is zsh. Jul 3, 2020 · A shell (bash, zsh others) runs in a terminal emulator (aka macOS Terminal) and the shell is a thin layer between the keyboard and the commands/programs you run while using the Terminal emulator. Install Latest Z Shell First, install the latest verison of Z Shell from Hombrew. Mar 21, 2012 · Tired of bash? Prefer zsh, ksh, tcsh, fish, or sh? You can quickly change the default shell in Terminal app, in addition to changing a users default login shell for when logging in remotely with SS… You can use chsh to change a user's shell. In this series, I will document my experiences moving bash settings, configurations, and scripts over to zsh. The new macOS Catalina update will include zsh as the default shell, and older macOS versions can also move to the new shell too Dec 17, 2019 · Why is Apple Changing the Shell? Apple is changing from the Bash shell to the Zsh (Z Shell). Jan 8, 2023 · Terminal Preferences are not required to set the default shell. For example, you may need to be using the bash shell to . For more details, please visit https://support. net Aug 29, 2023 · Apple now uses Zsh as the default shell on macOS, but the old Bash shell is still included and easily switchable. The result is that Mac OS X now supports only one single input method: zsh. Note: Zsh is only the default shell on newly created user accounts, so any existing accounts you have on an upgraded Mac will still use Bash by default unless you change it. Even if you haven’t upgraded to Catalina yet, getting used to Zsh is a good idea and pretty simple to do. I typically use the bash shell on Linux servers, so I prefer using it on my Mac. The default interactive shell is now zsh. Feb 15, 2023 · If you’ve just upgraded macOS and seen a message that says, 'The default interactive shell is now zsh', we’ll tell you why and what to do about it. Dec 27, 2023 · As a long-time Mac user, chances are you‘ve been using Zsh as your standard shell for interacting with macOS via the command line. To update your account to use zsh, please run `chsh -s /bin/zsh`. zshrc files. 2 was released in 2007. 15 Catalina the default shell will be zsh. Oct 24, 2022 · fish is a smart and user-friendly command line shell for macOS, Linux, and the rest of the family. In this comprehensive 2800+ word […] May 5, 2012 · I am trying to set ZSH as my default shell, however it keeps reverting back to bash. Regardless, since the adoption, Terminal would display a short warning and a method to switch over to zsh. shell. Each user account has its own default shell preference. zshenv: export SHELL=/bin/zsh, or better export SHELL==zsh if you want to play around with different zsh versions. I Apr 24, 2020 · This is a quick mini-tutorial on how to change your shell from Bash to Zsh (and vice versa). linux": "/bin/bash" I just can't seem to find the right path to use for zsh Feb 17, 2021 · Apple’s desire to remain a technology leader also drove their decision to develop an intuitive user interface. Change the default shell in Terminal on Mac The default shell is zsh. PDF and have a complete listing at your fingertips history -c networkQuality Numerous other commands that don't work in ZSH Why has Apple decided to Jan 17, 2022 · What is an easy way to change terminal from zsh to bash, powershell or preferably node? If this change is made will it in any way corrupt or constrict my Apple native apps? I need to run an app called Visual Studio Code for NFT creation. 15): zsh uses the . Jan 11, 2024 · macOS lets you customize the zsh prompt in Terminal to make it stand out and suit your preferences. com/kb/HT208050. integrated. Privacy Policy Change the default shell in Terminal on Mac The default shell is zsh. zshrc configuration file controls all ZSH behavior and customization Oct 10, 2021 · You don't have to change anything. In the Terminal app on your Mac, type chsh -s $ (which zsh) to change to zsh shell as default or chsh Jan 15, 2021 · Every new Mac uses the (Zsh) by default, but you can quickly and easily switch the default shell back to Bash. Checking Your Current Shell Before diving into configuration, verify which shell you Mar 26, 2024 · Zsh is the default login and interactive shell on Mac. If you’d like to use zsh as the default shell in Terminal for Mac OS rather than bash, you can do so rather easily with taking the following steps: Aug 5, 2025 · This post guide you to change the default shell from zsh to bash on Mac step by step. Bash didn't disappear from macOS, it is available. If you prefer using bash over the default zsh shell in macOS, this step-by-step guide will show you how to change your default shell quickly and effortlessly. I managed to get a command line by clicking 2 fingers on mousepad. 1. Aug 7, 2021 · If you need to have SHELL set to zsh, do it in your ~/. You could try setting the default shell in your user account. You’d have to type echo $SHELL or something to figure out what you’re running. However, Apple replaced Bourne Again SHell Jun 21, 2025 · Understanding macOS Shell Evolution macOS has undergone a significant change in its default shell environment. apple. Sep 23, 2023 · How to configure zsh theme from scratch on a mac, set up oh my zsh, install zsh plugins like autosuggestions and syntax-highlighting Change the default shell in Terminal on Mac The default shell is zsh. 11 (El Capitan). As I use zsh, can anyone giv Feb 2, 2025 · With zsh becoming the default shell in Terminal for MacOS, and a widely used shell in general thanks to Oh-My-Zsh, you may be wondering how to configure and use aliases with zsh shell. To change your default shell from Zsh to Bash, simply run the "chsh -s /bin/bash" command in Terminal and reopen it. But when I enter echo $SHELL I get the reply /bin/bash. Jun 4, 2019 · Apple is moving away from the bash shell on macOS. See full list on tecadmin. If the change shell command didn't work, something is blocking it. Get ready to enhance productivity, streamline workflow, and make a statement with a customized Mac zsh terminal prompt. To put that in perspective, the version of Bash used on your Mac was new when the Aug 2, 2023 · How to Change Zsh to Bash on Mac? Change the default terminal shell in macOS using the CLI or the System Preferences GUI. I have Updated my login shell to zsh in System Preferences, Users and Groups Done the same in Terminal preferences Run chsh But still my login shell is bash, as shown by ps 1788 s000 Ss 0:00. alvinwanjala. There are several reasons you might want to do this. 17 Whenever I run sudo su from my normal zsh (which uses the oh-my-zsh framework), I'm forced to use the old Bourne shell (sh) by default (obviously; this is standard behaviour on most *nix-like systems). If you decide to use zsh instead, you need to know that, as would be expected, zsh uses different configuration files, and you need to act accordingly, using files like . The following steps work with multiple versions of Mac OS X through at least 10. zshrc profile to store all the changes and settings you want in the zsh prompt. Some benefits of Bash: Press ESC twice to get a list of every Bash command, then issue a print to save as . The easiest way to change the default shell is to set your SHELL user environment variable. Aug 4, 2025 · Key Takeaways ZSH provides significant productivity improvements over default shells through auto-completion, syntax highlighting, and plugin support Installation is straightforward across all major operating systems using package managers Setting ZSH as your default shell requires the chsh command and a session restart The . Change the default shell in Terminal on Mac The default shell is zsh. The macOS Terminal is a ZSH terminal shell (aka Z shell) which runs on a Unix-like operating system (macOS, Linux, BSD, Windows/WSL2). But Catalina replaced it with zsh. Z shell (Zsh) is a Unix shell built on top of bash (the default shell for macOS) wi Change the default shell in Terminal on Mac The default shell is zsh. See Apple Support page, Use zsh as the default shell on your Mac. To confirm, Last login: Mon Apr 17 13:26:21 on ttys000 Restored session: Mon Apr 17 13:26:18 PDT 2023 john@iMac28 ~ % ps PID TTY TIME CMD 14707 ttys000 0:00. app" I want to run zsh so i need to change the default linux bash shell "terminal. May 10, 2024 · The transition from bash to zsh as the default shell for macOS has been a significant change for many Mac users. Apr 17, 2023 · iMac28:~ john$ chsh -s /bin/zsh Changing shell for john. 15 Catalina, Bash was the default shell. However, you can switch to bash from zsh, if you prefer. If you launch a zsh shell and go to install Homebrew, Homebrew's install script calls /bin/bash for you so you don't have to do anything. Aug 12, 2022 · How can I make sure . This post is going to describe how to switch from the zsh shell to the bash shell. zprofile (or similar) is executed when the user initially logs in via something like a desktop manager. I have tried to change my login shell to zsh. 07 -zsh john@iMac28 ~ % Done. However, due to licensing considerations, Apple switched to Zsh (Z Shell) as the default for all new user accounts starting with Catalina. Thanks! Change the default shell in Terminal on Mac The default shell is zsh. The main technique is to use the chsh program, which stands for “change shell”. Apple has been using the Bash shell since OS X Jaguar but hasn’t updated Bash since version 3. Aug 5, 2025 · Now that you have managed to change default interactive shell on Mac to zsh, you will no longer receive the messages saying, "The default interactive shell is now zsh. com2025 Copyright | All Rights Reserved. json by pressing ⌘ + , (comma) on Mac or Ctrl + , (comma) on Windows. For a long time, the bash was a default shell in macOS. Actually, it doesn't set the default shell, just the one you use for that session. Aug 8, 2025 · How to Change Default Shell to Zsh by Rian Bash had been the staple of CLI shell for macOS until macOS Catalina in 2019. However, you may be feeling limited by Zsh or simply missing the familiarity of Bash from previous Linux or coding experience. You can change the shell that new Terminal windows and tabs open with. Prior to macOS 10. If you're one of them, you might be wondering how to make the switch as smooth as possible. Surprisingly this doesn't work with the command line tools as one would expect. In this comprehensive, beginner-friendly guide, we‘ll walk through how to install Z shell (ZSH), customize it with Oh My ZSH, add useful plugins and beautiful themes, and enable […] Jun 8, 2023 · I noticed that my default shell set to zsh on Macos Catalina/Big Sur/Monterey/Ventura. Since I am joined to a Microsoft Active Directory, I tried changing the shell in the Active Directory, as described in this Apple support article. Dec 12, 2024 · As a programmer who spends a lot of time in the terminal, having a powerful and visually pleasing command line interface can greatly improve productivity and enjoyment. osx": "/bin/zsh" The path for zsh might be different on your computer, be sure Discover seamless ways to switch from bash to zsh and enhance your command line experience. How to change the default shell in Terminal on Mac OS1. This guide is filled with techniques, tips, and tricks to help you unleash your creativity and modify Mac Terminal as per your requirements. Mar 24, 2021 · I am using using macOS Big Sur; How to change my default interactive shell to "zsh"?. I really hope it is possible to change the Login s Mar 13, 2018 · By rajaraodv In this blog I’ll cover installing ITerm2, ZSH shell, “oh my ZSH”, Themes, ITerm2 color schemes, “oh my ZSH” plugins and enable “ligature” support to help create a beautiful and powerful Terminal. Using zsh as an example (the default shell on macOS since 10. Dec 29, 2018 · Zsh, or z shell, is a popular shell alternative to bash and tcsh, complete with many improvements and customization options offered through the Oh-My-ZSH project. ” Open the “Accounts”/“Users & Groups” preference pane and unlock the preference pane if applicable. I immediately switched it back to BASH. I just want to run a command to reset my bluetooth module. zshrc Since you seem to be unaware of this, I suggest you keep things as they are. Follow the steps below to replace Zsh with Bash: 1. Nov 10, 2019 · In macOS Catalina, Apple is switching the default shell to Z Shell from Bash. Apr 15, 2017 · Bash comes pre-installed on most terminals, but its not the best shell out there. Jun 5, 2019 · Apple has announced that in macOS 10. Feb 15, 2024 · Second problem: after running chsh -s /bin/zsh and entering password I get the message "Changing shell for abc". Sep 24, 2021 · What SHELL contains is relatively unimportant, and you could change it with SHELL=/bin/zsh if you wanted to. This guide simplifies the transition while spotlighting zsh's powerful features. 2qgw1jg i9zm okovc vrht xin 92ta elugv ptfa w1irqod hdi0
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