MacOS-Config

Disclaimer

Use at your own risk and when you know what you're doing!
I am not responsible for any weird behaviour or other problems you may run into after using any of those settings.

Undo changes

If you want to revert some settings, in most cases (all commands that start with defaults write), you can use the defaults delete command:

defaults delete domain key

Alternatively you can just toggle the flag you defined from true to false or vice versa.

But now just have a look at the huge list of possible tweaks and settings and pick the stuff you need.

Terminal commands

Gatekeeper

Readd download option "Anywhere" in security system settings:

sudo spctl --master-disable

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Disable the “Are you sure you want to open this application?” dialog for specified app:

Replace /Applications/PhpStorm.app with the app u need.

sudo xattr -d com.apple.quarantine /Applications/PhpStorm.app

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Disable the “Are you sure you want to open this application?” dialog globally:

defaults write com.apple.LaunchServices LSQuarantine -bool false

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Dock

Hide non-active apps in your Dock:

defaults write com.apple.dock static-only -bool true
killall Dock

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Dull hidden apps in the Dock:

defaults write com.apple.Dock showhidden -bool true
killall Dock

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Enable highlight hover effect for the grid view of a stack:

defaults write com.apple.dock mouse-over-hilite-stack -bool true
killall Dock

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Set the icon size of Dock items to 36 pixels:

defaults write com.apple.dock tilesize -int 36
killall Dock

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Change minimize/maximize window effect:

defaults write com.apple.dock mineffect -string "scale"
killall Dock

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Minimize windows into their application’s icon:

defaults write com.apple.dock minimize-to-application -bool true
killall Dock

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Don’t animate opening applications from the Dock:

defaults write com.apple.dock launchanim -bool false
killall Dock

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Show indicator lights for open applications in the Dock:

defaults write com.apple.dock show-process-indicators -bool true
killall Dock

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Automatically hide and show the Dock:

defaults write com.apple.dock autohide -bool true
killall Dock

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Remove the auto-hiding Dock delay:

defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-delay -float 0
killall Dock

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Remove the animation when hiding/showing the Dock:

defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-time-modifier -float 0
killall Dock

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Mission Control

Speed up Mission Control animations:

defaults write com.apple.dock expose-animation-duration -float 0.1

---

Don’t group windows by application in Mission Control:

defaults write com.apple.dock expose-group-by-app -bool false

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Dashboard

Disable Dashboard:

defaults write com.apple.dashboard mcx-disabled -bool true

---

Don’t show Dashboard as a Space:

defaults write com.apple.dock dashboard-in-overlay -bool true

---

Don’t automatically rearrange Spaces based on most recent use:

defaults write com.apple.dock mru-spaces -bool false

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Enable Dashboard dev mode (allows keeping widgets on the desktop):

defaults write com.apple.dashboard devmode -bool true

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Launchpad

Disable the Launchpad gesture (pinch with thumb and three fingers):

defaults write com.apple.dock showLaunchpadGestureEnabled -int 0

---

Add iOS & Watch Simulator to Launchpad:

sudo ln -sf "/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Applications/Simulator.app" "/Applications/Simulator.app"
sudo ln -sf "/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Applications/Simulator (Watch).app" "/Applications/Simulator (Watch).app

---

Finder

Allow quitting via ⌘ + Q, also hides desktop icons:

defaults write com.apple.finder QuitMenuItem -bool true

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Disable window and Get Info animations

defaults write com.apple.finder DisableAllAnimations -bool true

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Set desired path as the default location for new Finder windows:

defaults write com.apple.finder NewWindowTarget -string "PfLo"
defaults write com.apple.finder NewWindowTargetPath -string "file:///full/path/here/"

---

Set Desktop as the default location for new Finder windows:

defaults write com.apple.finder NewWindowTarget -string "PfDe"
defaults write com.apple.finder NewWindowTargetPath -string "file://${HOME}/Desktop/"

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Show hidden files:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool TRUE
killall Finder

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Show all file extensions:

defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleShowAllExtensions -bool true
killall Finder

---

Disable the warning when changing a file extension:

defaults write com.apple.finder FXEnableExtensionChangeWarning -bool false
killall Finder

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Avoid creating .DS_Store files on network or USB volumes:

defaults write com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteNetworkStores -bool true
defaults write com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteUSBStores -bool true
killall Finder

---

Expand File Info panes:

Expand "General":

defaults write com.apple.finder FXInfoPanesExpanded -dict General -bool true
killall Finder

Expand "Open with":

defaults write com.apple.finder FXInfoPanesExpanded -dict OpenWith -bool true
killall Finder

Expand "Privileges":

defaults write com.apple.finder FXInfoPanesExpanded -dict Privileges -bool true
killall Finder

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Set default view in all Finder windows by default:

Set list view:

defaults write com.apple.finder FXPreferredViewStyle -string "Nlsv"
killall Finder

Set icon view:

defaults write com.apple.finder FXPreferredViewStyle -string "icnv"
killall Finder

Set column view:

defaults write com.apple.finder FXPreferredViewStyle -string "clmv"
killall Finder

Set Cover FLow view:

defaults write com.apple.finder FXPreferredViewStyle -string "Flwv"
killall Finder

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Show status bar:

defaults write com.apple.finder ShowStatusBar -bool true
killall Finder

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Show path bar:

defaults write com.apple.finder ShowPathBar -bool true
killall Finder

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Display full POSIX path as Finder window title:

defaults write com.apple.finder _FXShowPosixPathInTitle -bool true
killall Finder

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Keep directories on top when sorting by name:

defaults write com.apple.finder _FXSortFoldersFirst -bool true
killall Finder

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When performing a search, search the current directory by default:

defaults write com.apple.finder FXDefaultSearchScope -string "SCcf"
killall Finder

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Automatically open a new Finder window when a volume is mounted:

defaults write com.apple.frameworks.diskimages auto-open-ro-root -bool true
defaults write com.apple.frameworks.diskimages auto-open-rw-root -bool true
defaults write com.apple.finder OpenWindowForNewRemovableDisk -bool true
killall Finder

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Show the /Volumes directory:

sudo chflags nohidden /Volumes
killall Finder

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Show the ~/Library directory:

chflags nohidden ~/Library
killall Finder

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Disable the warning before emptying the trash:

defaults write com.apple.finder WarnOnEmptyTrash -bool false
killall Finder

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Hide all icons on desktop:

defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop -bool false
killall Finder

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Disable animations when opening a Quick Look window:

defaults write -g QLPanelAnimationDuration -float 0
killall Finder

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Enable text selection in Quick Look windows:

defaults write com.apple.finder QLEnableTextSelection -bool true
killall Finder

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Icons

Show item info near icons on the desktop and in other icon views:

/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :DesktopViewSettings:IconViewSettings:showItemInfo true" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :FK_StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:showItemInfo true" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:showItemInfo true" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist

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Show item info to the right of the icons on the desktop:

/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set DesktopViewSettings:IconViewSettings:labelOnBottom false" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist

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Enable snap-to-grid for icons on the desktop and in other icon views:

/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :DesktopViewSettings:IconViewSettings:arrangeBy grid" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :FK_StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:arrangeBy grid" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:arrangeBy grid" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist

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Increase grid spacing for icons on the desktop and in other icon views:

/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :DesktopViewSettings:IconViewSettings:gridSpacing 100" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :FK_StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:gridSpacing 100" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:gridSpacing 100" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist

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Increase the size of icons on the desktop and in other icon views:

/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :DesktopViewSettings:IconViewSettings:iconSize 80" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :FK_StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:iconSize 80" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:iconSize 80" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist

---

Airdrop

Enable AirDrop over Ethernet and on unsupported Macs running Lion and higher:

defaults write com.apple.NetworkBrowser BrowseAllInterfaces -bool true

---

Spring loading

What is spring loading? Check this - very old but still up to date - video: (Spring-loaded Folders (Youtube)[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9kdAxGe9SE]

Enable spring loading for directories in Finder:

defaults write NSGlobalDomain com.apple.springing.enabled -bool true
killall Finder

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Remove the spring loading delay for directories:

defaults write NSGlobalDomain com.apple.springing.delay -float 0
killall Finder

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Enable spring loading for all Dock items:

defaults write com.apple.dock enable-spring-load-actions-on-all-items -bool true
killall Dock

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Screenshots

Change default file name of screenshots:

defaults write com.apple.screencapture name "newscreenshotname"
killall Finder

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Disable drop shadows on screenshots:

defaults write com.apple.screencapture disable-shadow -bool true
killall Finder

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Set location where to store screenshots:

defaults write com.apple.screencapture location [path]
killall SystemUIServer

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Save screenshots on users desktop (default):

defaults write com.apple.screencapture location -string "${HOME}/Desktop"
killall SystemUIServer

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Set screenshot format:

Save screenshot as BMP:

defaults write com.apple.screencapture type -string "bmp"

Save screenshot as JPG:

defaults write com.apple.screencapture type -string "jpg"

Save screenshot as PDF:

defaults write com.apple.screencapture type -string "pdf"

Save screenshot as TIFF:

defaults write com.apple.screencapture type -string "tiff"

Save screenshot as PNG (default):

defaults write com.apple.screencapture type -string "png"

---

General UI/UX

Scrollbar visibility:

Always show scrollbars:

defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleShowScrollBars -string "Always"

Show scrollbars on scroll:

defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleShowScrollBars -string "WhenScrolling"

Automatic mode:

defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleShowScrollBars -string "Automatic"

---

Disable smooth scrolling (e.g. on older Macs)

defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSScrollAnimationEnabled -bool false

---

Windows:

Disable animations when opening and closing windows:

defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticWindowAnimationsEnabled -bool false

Accelerated playback when adjusting the window size (Cocoa applications):

defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSWindowResizeTime -float 0.001

---

Expand save panel by default:

defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSNavPanelExpandedStateForSaveMode -bool true
defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSNavPanelExpandedStateForSaveMode2 -bool true

---

Disable Notification Center and remove the menu bar icon:

sudo launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.notificationcenterui.plist 2> /dev/null

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OS related

Require password immediately after sleep or screen saver begins:

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

---

Add info to login screen:

Show basic system info on login screen:

sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow AdminHostInfo HostName

Add a message to login screen:

sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow LoginwindowText "Live Long & Prosper"

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Make your Mac automatically restart after a crash:

sudo systemsetup -setrestartfreeze on

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Disable the sound effects on boot

sudo nvram SystemAudioVolume=" "

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Never go into computer sleep mode

sudo systemsetup -setcomputersleep Off > /dev/null

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Printer

Expand print panel by default:

defaults write NSGlobalDomain PMPrintingExpandedStateForPrint -bool true
defaults write NSGlobalDomain PMPrintingExpandedStateForPrint2 -bool true

---

Automatically quit printer app once the print jobs complete:

defaults write com.apple.print.PrintingPrefs "Quit When Finished" -bool true

---

iCloud

Stop apps from saving to iCloud by default:

defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSDocumentSaveNewDocumentsToCloud -bool false

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Typing/Keyboard

Enable full keyboard access for all controls (e.g. enable Tab in modal dialogs)

defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleKeyboardUIMode -int 3

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Make holding down a key repeat characters:

defaults write -g ApplePressAndHoldEnabled -bool false

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Disable automatic capitalization:

defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticCapitalizationEnabled -bool false

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Disable smart dashes:

defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticDashSubstitutionEnabled -bool false

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Disable automatic period substitution:

defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticPeriodSubstitutionEnabled -bool false

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Disable smart quotes:

defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticQuoteSubstitutionEnabled -bool false

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Disable auto-correct:

defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticSpellingCorrectionEnabled -bool false

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Trackpad

Enable tap to click for this user and for the login screen:

defaults write com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad Clicking -bool true
defaults -currentHost write NSGlobalDomain com.apple.mouse.tapBehavior -int 1
defaults write NSGlobalDomain com.apple.mouse.tapBehavior -int 1

---

Map bottom right corner of trackpad to right-click:

defaults write com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad TrackpadCornerSecondaryClick -int 2
defaults write com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad TrackpadRightClick -bool true
defaults -currentHost write NSGlobalDomain com.apple.trackpad.trackpadCornerClickBehavior -int 1
defaults -currentHost write NSGlobalDomain com.apple.trackpad.enableSecondaryClick -bool true

---

Bluetooth

Increase sound quality for Bluetooth headphones/headsets:

defaults write com.apple.BluetoothAudioAgent "Apple Bitpool Min (editable)" -int 40

---

Apps

Safari:

Privacy: don’t send search queries to Apple:

defaults write com.apple.Safari UniversalSearchEnabled -bool false
defaults write com.apple.Safari SuppressSearchSuggestions -bool true

Press Tab to highlight each item on a web page:

defaults write com.apple.Safari WebKitTabToLinksPreferenceKey -bool true
defaults write com.apple.Safari com.apple.Safari.ContentPageGroupIdentifier.WebKit2TabsToLinks -bool true

Show the full URL in the address bar:

defaults write com.apple.Safari ShowFullURLInSmartSearchField -bool true

Set home page to about:blank for faster loading:

defaults write com.apple.Safari HomePage -string "about:blank"

Prevent Safari from opening ‘safe’ files automatically after downloading:

defaults write com.apple.Safari AutoOpenSafeDownloads -bool false

Allow using Backspace key to go to the previous page in history:

defaults write com.apple.Safari com.apple.Safari.ContentPageGroupIdentifier.WebKit2BackspaceKeyNavigationEnabled -bool true

Hide bookmarks bar by default:

defaults write com.apple.Safari ShowFavoritesBar -bool false

Remove useless icons from bookmarks bar:

defaults write com.apple.Safari ProxiesInBookmarksBar "()"

Hide sidebar in Top Sites:

defaults write com.apple.Safari ShowSidebarInTopSites -bool false

Disable thumbnail cache for History and Top Sites:

defaults write com.apple.Safari DebugSnapshotsUpdatePolicy -int 2

Make Safari’s search banners default to Contains instead of Starts With:

defaults write com.apple.Safari FindOnPageMatchesWordStartsOnly -bool false

Enable debug menu:

defaults write com.apple.Safari IncludeInternalDebugMenu -bool true

Enable the Develop menu and the Web Inspector:

defaults write com.apple.Safari IncludeDevelopMenu -bool true
defaults write com.apple.Safari WebKitDeveloperExtrasEnabledPreferenceKey -bool true
defaults write com.apple.Safari com.apple.Safari.ContentPageGroupIdentifier.WebKit2DeveloperExtrasEnabled -bool true

Add a context menu item for showing the Web Inspector in web views:

defaults write NSGlobalDomain WebKitDeveloperExtras -bool true

Enable continuous spellchecking:

defaults write com.apple.Safari WebContinuousSpellCheckingEnabled -bool true

Disable auto-correct:

defaults write com.apple.Safari WebAutomaticSpellingCorrectionEnabled -bool false

Disable autofill from Adress Book:

defaults write com.apple.Safari AutoFillFromAddressBook -bool false

Disable autofill of passwords:

defaults write com.apple.Safari AutoFillPasswords -bool false

Disable autofill of credit card data:

defaults write com.apple.Safari AutoFillCreditCardData -bool false

Disable autofill of miscellaneous forms:

defaults write com.apple.Safari AutoFillMiscellaneousForms -bool false

Warn about fraudulent websites:

defaults write com.apple.Safari WarnAboutFraudulentWebsites -bool true

Block pop-up windows:

defaults write com.apple.Safari WebKitJavaScriptCanOpenWindowsAutomatically -bool false
defaults write com.apple.Safari com.apple.Safari.ContentPageGroupIdentifier.WebKit2JavaScriptCanOpenWindowsAutomatically -bool false

Enable “Do Not Track”:

defaults write com.apple.Safari SendDoNotTrackHTTPHeader -bool true

Update extensions automatically:

defaults write com.apple.Safari InstallExtensionUpdatesAutomatically -bool true

Disable the standard delay in rendering a Web page:

defaults write com.apple.Safari WebKitInitialTimedLayoutDelay 0.25

---

Mail:

Disable send and reply animations:

defaults write com.apple.mail DisableReplyAnimations -bool true
defaults write com.apple.mail DisableSendAnimations -bool true

Copy email addresses as [email protected] instead of Foo Bar <[email protected]>:

defaults write com.apple.mail AddressesIncludeNameOnPasteboard -bool false

Activate shortcut ⌘ + Enter to send email:

defaults write com.apple.mail NSUserKeyEquivalents -dict-add "Send" "@\U21a9"

Display emails in threaded mode, sorted by date (oldest at the top):

defaults write com.apple.mail DraftsViewerAttributes -dict-add "DisplayInThreadedMode" -string "yes"
defaults write com.apple.mail DraftsViewerAttributes -dict-add "SortedDescending" -string "yes"
defaults write com.apple.mail DraftsViewerAttributes -dict-add "SortOrder" -string "received-date"

Disable inline attachments (just show the icons):

defaults write com.apple.mail DisableInlineAttachmentViewing -bool true

Disable automatic spell checking:

defaults write com.apple.mail SpellCheckingBehavior -string "NoSpellCheckingEnabled"

---

iTerm 2:

Disable the annoying prompt when quitting iTerm:

defaults write com.googlecode.iterm2 PromptOnQuit -bool false

---

Time Machine:

Prevent Time Machine from prompting to use new hard drives as backup volume:

defaults write com.apple.TimeMachine DoNotOfferNewDisksForBackup -bool true

Disable local Time Machine backups:

hash tmutil &> /dev/null && sudo tmutil disablelocal

---

Activity Monitor:

Show the main window when launching Activity Monitor:

defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor OpenMainWindow -bool true

Visualize CPU usage in the Activity Monitor Dock icon:

defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor IconType -int 5

Show all processes in Activity Monitor:

defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor ShowCategory -int 0

Sort Activity Monitor results by CPU usage:

defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor SortColumn -string "CPUUsage"
defaults write com.apple.ActivityMonitor SortDirection -int 0

---

Address Book:

Enable the debug menu in Address Book:

defaults write com.apple.addressbook ABShowDebugMenu -bool true

---

TextEdit:

Use plain text mode for new TextEdit documents:

defaults write com.apple.TextEdit RichText -int 0

Open and save files as UTF-8 in TextEdit:

defaults write com.apple.TextEdit PlainTextEncoding -int 4
defaults write com.apple.TextEdit PlainTextEncodingForWrite -int 4

Disk Utility:

Enable the debug menu in Disk Utility:

defaults write com.apple.DiskUtility DUDebugMenuEnabled -bool true`<br>`$ defaults write com.apple.DiskUtility advanced-image-options -bool true

---

Mac App Store:

Enable the WebKit Developer Tools in the Mac App Store:

defaults write com.apple.appstore WebKitDeveloperExtras -bool true

Enable Debug Menu in the Mac App Store:

defaults write com.apple.appstore ShowDebugMenu -bool true

Enable the automatic update check:

defaults write com.apple.SoftwareUpdate AutomaticCheckEnabled -bool true

Check for software updates daily instead of weekly:

defaults write com.apple.SoftwareUpdate ScheduleFrequency -int 1

Download newly available updates in background:

defaults write com.apple.SoftwareUpdate AutomaticDownload -int 1

Install System data files & security updates:

defaults write com.apple.SoftwareUpdate CriticalUpdateInstall -int 1

Automatically download apps purchased on other Macs:

defaults write com.apple.SoftwareUpdate ConfigDataInstall -int 1

Turn on app auto-update:

defaults write com.apple.commerce AutoUpdate -bool true

Allow the App Store to reboot machine on macOS updates:

defaults write com.apple.commerce AutoUpdateRestartRequired -bool true

---

Photos:

Prevent Photos from opening automatically when devices are plugged in:

defaults -currentHost write com.apple.ImageCapture disableHotPlug -bool true

---

Google Chrome & Google Chrome Canary:

Disable backswipe on trackpads:

defaults write com.google.Chrome AppleEnableSwipeNavigateWithScrolls -bool false
defaults write com.google.Chrome.canary AppleEnableSwipeNavigateWithScrolls -bool false

Disable backswipe on Magic Mouse:

defaults write com.google.Chrome AppleEnableMouseSwipeNavigateWithScrolls -bool false
defaults write com.google.Chrome.canary AppleEnableMouseSwipeNavigateWithScrolls -bool false

Use the system-native print preview dialog:

defaults write com.google.Chrome DisablePrintPreview -bool true
defaults write com.google.Chrome.canary DisablePrintPreview -bool true

Expand the print dialog by default:

defaults write com.google.Chrome PMPrintingExpandedStateForPrint2 -bool true
defaults write com.google.Chrome.canary PMPrintingExpandedStateForPrint2 -bool true