Iterm2 mac terminal. It works in conjunction with user-defined Triggers. Why Do I Want It? Check out the impressive features and screenshots. Use different colors for light mode and dark mode When enabled, a second set of color 11 Best Terminal For Mac Here are the Best alternative Terminal Emulators for macOS. iTerm2 is a replacement for Terminal and the successor to iTerm Automatic Profile Switching iTerm2 can use information it knows about your current path, host name, user name, and foreground job name to change profiles. The options are: Regular - The standard macOS theme. If iTerm2 crashes or upgrades, the servers keep going. Show Changelog Terminal may change cursor blink If enabled apps running in the terminal can cause the cursor to start or stop blinking with a control sequence. I got bored with Apple's boring Terminal app, so I switched to iTerm2 for a more robust and feature-packed experience. It is modern and streamlined. If you're having problems, Regular keyboards don't have them, but the Touch Bar does. 3 or later. Even if you are an experienced user, take the time to read through the highlights section of this document. Step 1: Installing and Configuring iTerm2 iTerm2 is a replacement Unlike most macOS apps, iTerm2 can open a fullscreen window in the same desktop with no annoying animation if you disable Settings > General > Native full screen windows. 14 and later, there are two additional options: Regular - The standard iTerm2 supports several non-standard escape codes. For example, your window's background color or the terminal's character encoding could change when connecting to different hosts. Turn on Scripting Fundamentals Introduction Sessions, tabs, windows, and the iTerm2 application itself each have bits of information that are useful to users and script writers. Searching Profiles Each word in the search query must match at least one word in either the title or the tags of a profile in order for that profile to be matched by the query. We’ll be using iTerm2, Applescript iTerm2 has sophisticated Applescript support allowing one to write stand-alone scripts to launch the application and open multiple sessions with profiles into either new tabs or new windows. You can also set some other parameters for a session such as foreground and background colors, and transparency. It exists as a separate component to ensure that there's no way to accidentally send information from the terminal over the network. These may not work properly in tmux or screen, and may have unknown effects on other terminal emulators. , pressing Cmd-V). iTerm2's tmux integration solves these problems. That's where iTerm2 comes in. These were for the following characters when combined with Control: -, _, / ,?, 2, 6, [, and ]. It was derived from and has mostly supplanted the earlier "iTerm" application. Using a similar mechanism, it can also facilitate file transfers over any transport iTerm2 is a replacement for Terminal and the successor to iTerm Fortunately, there are tools to improve the terminal and experience considerably. Terminal may enable paste bracketing Paste bracketing is a feature that can be enabled by an app running in iTerm2 by sending a control sequence. Whether you’re a developer, sysadmin, or just love tinkering Captured Output iTerm2 has a feature called "Captured Output" which helps you find and track important lines of output from logs, build processes, and such. Other features include iTerm2 is a replacement for Terminal and the successor to iTerm iTerm2 is a replacement for Terminal and the successor to iTerm Preferences Profiles General Name Gives the name of the profile which is shown in menus, Settings, and the profiles window. 3 supported in a deviation from the standard. The Python API aims to provide a safe and reliable way for programs to control iTerm2. This serves as the default session name for sessions created with this profile, which is an interpolated string. Captured Output iTerm2 has a feature called "Captured Output" which helps you find and track important lines of output from logs, build processes, and such. High-Color Modes iTerm2 supports 256 color mode. For many Mac users, the built-in Terminal app is their gateway to the command line. If you don't like it you can revert to the system color picker by clicking the rectangular icon to the right of the eyedropper. And these are just the main attractions! Split Panes Divide a tab up into multiple panes, each one showing a different session. Contributions for other shells are Confirm Quit iTerm2 Command If selected, the Quit iTerm2 (cmd-Q) command will be confirmed if any terminal windows are open. The result is more iTerm2 is a free and open-source terminal emulator for macOS, licensed under GPL-2. In version 3. iTerm2 has the capability of rendering text with thin strokes to improve readability. Search Syntax When iTerm2 presents a list of profiles, it usually includes a search box. Proceed with caution. It works on Macs with Leopard or Snow Leopard. Shortcut key This shortcut can be used to open a new window or tab. iTerm2 is a replacement for Terminal and the successor to iTerm Fonts While iTerm2 does not require monospaced fonts, they look much better than proportionately spaced fonts. When you install Shell Integration from the iTerm2 > Install Shell Integration menu, you're asked if you'd like to install the Utilities Package as well. g. Setup Go to Settings > Profiles > Closing Quit when all windows are closed If selected, iTerm2 will automatically quit when its last terminal window is closed. iTerm2 manages the storage and communication of this Status Bar iTerm2 offers a configurable, scriptable status bar. If you spend a lot of time in a terminal, then you'll appreciate all the little things General Usage Tabs When you first start iTerm2, a window opens showing a terminal session. It provides necessary functionality for iTerm2 to make network requests. The search box uses a special syntax that letes you tailor your searches to quickly find what you're looking for. 0 and later. 1. iTerm2 for Mac 🖥️ is a professional terminal emulator designed to enhance the macOS command-line experience. app，但 iTerm2 是更好用的替代方案。 iTerm2 官網 對自己的介 Appearance General Theme Allows you to select the theme. Terminal may enable paste bracketing Paste bracketing is a feature that can be enabled by an app running in This is normal – macOS needs your permission to install system-wide tools. What is iTerm2? iTerm2 is a replacement for Terminal and the successor to iTerm. iTerm2 has a custom color picker. To open iTerm2 when you try to open default Terminal app on macOS, you have to do the following: Create a bash file called open_iterm. iTerm2 is a replacement for Terminal and the successor to iTerm. Its focus is on performance, internationalization, and supporting innovative features that make your life better. 13 and earlier, the options are Light, Dark, Light High Contrast, and Dark High Contrast. To enter or exit Copy Mode, select Edit > Copy Mode. Inline Images Protocol iTerm2 is able to display images within the terminal. If you want to use Consolas, you'll need to correct its baseline offset as described at how to fix Consolas baseline. While it's serviceable and gets the job done, anyone who spends significant time in Terminal has likely found themselves wishing for more functionality. You can also enter copy mode by pressing Shift+Arrow key immediately after making a selection with the mouse. Every conceivable desire a terminal user might have has been foreseen and solved. It will familiarize you with some features of iTerm2 that you may not have seen in other terminal emulators that can make a real difference in the way you work. If you want to open more that one session at a time, you have a few options: You can create a new window (Shell > New Window), you can create a new tab (Shell > New Tab), or you can split the current session into two panes (Shell > Split Horizontally, Shell > Split Vertically), each of iTerm2 is a replacement for Terminal and the successor to iTerm Copy Mode Copy Mode allows you to make selections using the keyboard. The purpose of the status bar is to show up-to-date information about the environment you're working in and to offer useful interactions where appropriate. 4. The theme affects how the areas outside the main terminal view are drawn, including colors and fonts. Fonts While iTerm2 does not require monospaced fonts, they look much better than proportionately spaced fonts. 13 (OS 10. 5. For many users, a terminal multiplexer would be a great way to work, but they don't want to accept the drawbacks. What does it do? Captured Output is a tool that may be added to iTerm2's toolbelt (a view on the right side of terminal windows). It will download and run a shell script as described below. iTerm2 The first Terminal on this list is iTerm2. The data in iTerm2 is particularly sensitive because a compromise would affect not only the local machine but also on remote hosts that you connect to with ssh. Note that while title reporting is required for these tests to succeed, terminal emulators are not required to implement title reporting for the sake of this feature. Confirm Quit iTerm2 Command If selected, the Quit iTerm2 (cmd-Q) command will be confirmed if any terminal windows are open. iTerm2 manages the storage and communication of this Supercharge Your Mac Terminal: A Step-by-Step Guide to iTerm2, Oh My Zsh & Powerlevel10k Setting up my new Mac today, I found myself iTerm2 may be integrated with the unix shell so that it can keep track of your command history, current working directory, host name, and more--even over How To Enable Shell Integration The easiest way to install shell integration is to select the iTerm2>Install Shell Integration menu item. In this article, you will learn how to do that with the Beautify Your Mac Terminal with iTerm2, Zsh, and Starship Do you spend a lot of time in the terminal and want to make it more visually appealing and productive? In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to transform your Mac terminal into a beautiful and efficient workspace using iTerm2, Zsh, and Starship. Badges iTerm2 version 3 introduces the concept of a Badge. Designed as a powerful alternative, iTerm2 offers a suite of features and enhancements that Preferences Profiles Colors Clicking on any of the color wells opens a color picker that lets you change the setting for the selected color. Switches between dark and light mode automatically based on the system setting. iTerm2 is a replacement for Terminal on macOS, offering advanced features and improved functionality. iTerm2 should require little explanation for users accustomed to terminal emulators. It’s a In this article, I’ll be sharing exactly how I set up my mac terminal to look much cooler and get a much better experience. iTerm2 是什麼？ 雖然 macOS 內建有自己的終端機工具 terminal. It works on Macs with macOS 10. For example: a session has a working directory, a tab or a window may have a custom title, and the iTerm2 process has a theme such as light or dark mode. To enable this for csh shells, set your terminal to xterm-256color (under Settings > Profiles > Terminal > Report Terminal Type). By default, it opens a new tab, but if you hold down the option key while Status Bar iTerm2 offers a configurable, scriptable status bar. Session Context The following variables are defined in the context of a session: Session Name autoNameFormat - This is an interpolated string from which the autoName variable is computed. If Semantic History is set to "Open with default app," then files are passed to the OS to be opened with whatever is associated. A badge is user-defined text that goes in the top-right of your terminal behind its content and iTerm2 is a replacement for Terminal and the successor to iTerm. While in Copy Mode, the session's contents will iTerm2 is a replacement for Terminal and the successor to iTerm Python API Security Note: This document applies to iTerm2 version 3. 15+) This is the recommended build for most users. iTerm2 has a lot of features. Minimal - This is inspired by the appearance of Electron apps. About iTerm2 is a terminal emulator for Mac OS X that does amazing things. Built on April 10, 2025. Applescript iTerm2 has sophisticated Applescript support allowing one to write stand-alone scripts to launch the application and open multiple sessions with profiles into either new tabs or new windows. How do I use Smart Selection? A quad-click (four clicks of the left mouse button in quick succession) activates Smart Selection at the mouse cursor's position. General Theme Allows you to select the theme. You should do this on every host you ssh to as well as your local machine. Notice how inactive panes are iTerm2 should require little explanation for users accustomed to terminal emulators. iTerm2 allows you to assign multiple hotkeys to a single profile or even a single hotkey to multiple profiles. When iTerm2 restarts, it searches for running servers and connects to them. iTerm2 brings the terminal into the modern age with features you never knew you always wanted. iTerm2 is a replacement for Terminal and the successor to iTerm What is iTerm2 for Mac iTerm2 for Mac is a command-line tool that replaces the default Terminal command line once installed on the computer. When enabled, iTerm2 transmits a control sequence before and after paste operations (e. You can slice vertically and horizontally and create any number of panes in any imaginable arrangement. One of them is Guake – a drop-down terminal tool. If you want to open more that one session at a time, you have a few options: You can create a new window (Shell > New Window), you can create a new tab (Shell > New Tab), or you can split the current session into two panes (Shell > Split Horizontally, Shell > Split Vertically), each of iTerm2 should require little explanation for users accustomed to terminal emulators. sh Back to top What is iTerm2? iTerm2 is a replacement for Terminal and the successor to iTerm. The following shells are supported: tcsh, zsh, bash, and fish 2. On macOS 10. There’s no macOS version of it but luckily there’s a way to get terminal with similar The current working directory for each line in the terminal is tracked to help find files. sh 1. 14 or newer. Utilities iTerm2 has a collection of shell scripts that help you take advantage of some of its unique features. Confirm closing multiple sessions If selected, commands that close one session will not be confirmed, but commands that close multiple sessions (such as clicking the red button on a window with two or more tabs) will be confirmed with an alert box. It can be modified by changing the "Session Name" field in Edit Session, by a trigger that sets the session name, or by an OSC control sequence that sets the icon title. 0-or-later. iTerm2 supports operating system features such as window transparency, full-screen mode, split panes, Exposé Tabs, Growl notifications, and standard keyboard shortcuts. iTerm2 is a replacement for Terminal and the successor to iTerm iTerm2 should require little explanation for users accustomed to terminal emulators. This page describes these utilities. The Terminal comes pre-installed on every MacBook iTerm2 is a replacement for Terminal and the successor to iTerm iTerm2 is a replacement for Terminal and the successor to iTerm How can I make my terminal better? Unleash your inner iTerminator with iTerm2! Blast custom commands, beam up customizations, The macOS terminal has improved recently, but iTerm2 is still the customization king. A Trigger whose action is Capture Output iTerm2 supports several non-standard escape codes. It is initialized to the While macOS’ built-in Terminal has lots to offer, it does have its limitations. Setup Go to Preferences > Profiles > Session. iTerm2 may be integrated with the unix shell so that it can keep track of your command history, current working directory, host name, and more--even over iTerm2 is a replacement for Terminal and the successor to iTerm In its simplest form, it's a system-wide terminal window that you can open with a hotkey. But, what's the difference between these two shell terminals on earth? For me, they are the same, I didn't see any difference except the different colors. A Trigger whose action is Capture Output Scripting Fundamentals Introduction Sessions, tabs, windows, and the iTerm2 application itself each have bits of information that are useful to users and script writers. We take a look at iTerm2, a free alternative to Apple’s built-in General Usage Tabs When you first start iTerm2, a window opens showing a terminal session. Smart Selection iTerm2 offers a Smart Selection feature that simplifies making selections on semantically recognizable objects. How to Install Download the package and unzip it. Confirm Terminal and iTerm2 are the two most popular command line interfaces on macOS. A special cursor rendered as a downward-pointing arrow is visible while in Copy Mode. For a General Theme Allows you to select the theme. esctest Terminal emulators should pass the following tests to advertise this feature. 4 of iTerm2, CSI u mode adheres to the standard and does away with some backward compatibility control sequences that 3. By default, the following kinds of strings are recognized: iTerm2 is a replacement for Terminal and the successor to iTerm Session Restoration Session restoration works by running your jobs within long-lived servers rather than as child processes of iTerm2. Even if you are an experienced user, take the time to read through iTerm2 AI Plugin This is an optional component you can install to enable generative AI features in iTerm2. It combines powerful features, advanced customization This guide will help you create a modern, feature-rich terminal environment that will make you more productive and – dare I say it – make iTerm2 is a customizable terminal emulator for macOS, offering iTerm2 is a free and open-source terminal emulator for macOS, licensed under GPL-2. . Place in iTerm2 3. Shell Integration Required I have seen lots of programmers use iTerm2 instead the default Terminal on Mac.