Mac change default shell to bash The obvious remedy is to choose /bin/bash as the command to open shells with (as below), but then it fails to load . " Way 2: Hide 'The default interactive shell is now zsh. Some Linux distributions have a list of valid shells located in /etc/shells and will disallow changing the shell until Nu is in the whitelist. Are you looking to enhance your terminal and command-line workflow on Mac? Then setting Zsh as the default shell is an impactful upgrade. app 's default shell to BASH? For some reason, my friend's Mac (10. For unpublished reason, which is speculated to be Bash’s license, Apple has decided to change the default shell to zsh. Now I think my command to change shell didn’t worked - it seems stuck with a key lock symbol. Jan 8, 2023 · Terminal Preferences are not required to set the default shell. So in this post, I will show you how to properly configure PowerShell with Oh My Posh as your default shell on macOS. bash_profile are not reflected in a shell run after you make the changes. 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. Tap on the link above to learn more. e. Changing the bash prompt involves modifying the PS1 environment variable. To create a new profile, run the Terminal: Select Default Profile command and activate the configure button on the right side of the shell to base it on. Aug 9, 2024 · Want to change your default Linux shell? Learn how to find your current shell and change it to another installed shell using various methods. It will run perfectly and even if it doesn't you can use something else to edit the file. List the available shells by running the following command in Change the default shell to Bash by running the command in your terminal chsh -s /bin/bash Change the default shell back to Zsh by using chsh -s /bin/zsh Jun 10, 2023 · overview. Nov 30, 2021 · 272 you can try chsh -s /bin/bash to set the bash as the default, or chsh -s /bin/zsh to set the zsh as the default. bash_profile (even if I give a --source or --rcfile parameter). Terminal will need a restart to take effect. Thanks! Go to the Terminal app on your Mac. As you can see above, I was on the bash shell ($) before and typing zsh switched me to Z Shell (%) ️ Since macOS Catalina Zsh is the default shell, you might see "The default interactive shell is now zsh. Find out how this impacts Terminal and your existing shell scripts. To set the login shell you can use the chsh command. There is a similar toolset for bash, called (not surprisingly) oh-my-bash. 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). To change the user's shell, first, let's find the current shell. bashrc and . But I’m the admin, no line to enter password. 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. For many users, the default shell that comes with macOS, zsh, is perfectly adequate for their needs. Some benefits of Bash: Press ESC twice to get a list of every Bash command, then issue a print to save as . Your login account is older, and has accordingly preserved use of bash. Default shell in my mac was bash. This post explain how to upgrade your Bash version on Mac from the command line. Personally I Mar 4, 2020 · MacOS comes with bash 3 as the default shell program; Apple doesn't want to upgrade to the later versions for intellectual property reasons. COMMAND-1 input Go to the Terminal app on your Mac. To change these settings in the Terminal app on your Mac, choose Terminal > Settings, then click General. By default, Apple switched the default shell from Bash to Zsh (Z shell) starting with macOS Catalina (10. How can I do that? I installed bash 4 on my MacBook. 7 Posted on Apr 17, 2023 11:11 AM ⚠️ In this tutorial we will learn to change default shell to bash on macOS Catalina 10. It acts as an intermediary between the user and the system, executing commands and facilitating the running of scripts. This means that some features of later versions of bash, like associative arrays, are not available with the default shell. I had a similar problem in doing the opposite on my system (OS X 10. The following sections explain both methods. But Catalina replaced it with zsh. According to How To Change Your Default Shell From Zsh To Bash on Mac, this change likely started with macOS Catalina: With macOS Catalina, Apple switched from using bash as the default terminal shell to Zsh. 2 days ago · 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. To configure iTerm2 with bash you have to open Preferences and change the COMMAND on General tab on your default profile. You can switch from zsh to bash on macOS Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, and Catalina after reading. 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. Jan 10, 2025 · How to Change the Default Shell to Bash on macOS macOS has come a long way in terms of shell usage and command-line operations. On macOS, the default shell is Zsh, introduced in macOS Catalina. Sep 29, 2009 · To do this using the Mac OS X GUI: Open “System Preferences. 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 · Zsh is the new default shell used in macOS Catalina and later. Because Bash v4. 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 When running bash scripts inside zsh-Terminal I want it to use the homebrew bash version 4 instead of the default 3 of OS X. shell. Whether you’re a developer, a system administrator, or simply someone who prefers the Bash shell over the Zsh shell (the default for macOS Catalina and later), this comprehensive guide will walk you through the process, explain the 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… Jan 15, 2021 · Every new Mac uses the (Zsh) by default, but you can quickly and easily switch the default shell back to Bash. So changing ~/. x has a . This page explains how to set up bash as your default login shell and interactive shell on macOS Catalina, “Big Sur” and above. Feb 15, 2023 · For many years following the launch of the first version of Mac OS X, the default shell in Terminal was the Bourne shell, also known as bash. Aug 28, 2024 · To switch your default shell back to zsh in the future, select “Default login shell” or change the path to “/bin/zsh” under the “ Shells open with” section described above. 10. Now when I am trying to check the shell type, I am getting different responses. external. So existing accounts on MacOS will still use Bash by Dec 18, 2018 · When you click on 'Terminal. I assume you mean that changes you make to ~/. Next to “Shells open with,” select “Command (complete path),” then enter the complete path to the shell you want to use. In this article, we are going to show how to change that default shell to any other shell in Linux systems. Obviously, the command nano ~/. Aug 29, 2023 · Apple now uses Zsh as the default shell on macOS, but the old Bash shell is still included and easily switchable. I want to change my default terminal from Windows PowerShell to Bash on Ubuntu (on Windows). Dec 3, 2023 · How to Change Zsh to Bash on Mac? Change the default terminal shell in macOS using the CLI or the System Preferences GUI. cat /etc/shells After that, you can choose any one of the shells and use them either as the shell that Terminal uses or change the default shell. Now Zsh is the default shell on MacOS Catalina. Actually, it doesn't set the default shell, just the one you use for that session. linux": "/bin/bash" I just can't seem to find the right path to use for zsh Aug 5, 2023 · This will allow the Terminal app to launch new sessions with zsh, however, if you later toggle back to the "Default Login shell" option, then it will revert back to the bash shell and you will continue to get the notice about zsh being the new default interactive shell. However, for those who prefer the bash shell, changing the default shell on macOS is a relatively simple process. Terminal. But the trusty old Bash shell is still included with macOS, and you can quickly switch back to Bash if you prefer. Discover how to change from zsh to bash effortlessly. This tutorial will help you for switching between Zsh and Bash on macOS systems. If I do the following, then things seem to be as I expect: ssh myhost bash source ~/. Is said that Apple is changing the default shell to zsh due to licensing issues. Dec 5, 2020 · Use the system preferences to change the scripting language click apple icon in the upper right corner > System Preferences > Users & Groups > Click the lock to make changes > Right click on the account > Advances Options > switch login shell。 This way can also switch the default scripting language. Apple has shipped the Bourne Again Shell (i. If you prefer to use Bash as your default login and interactive shell, follow the steps below: Open the Terminal application on your macOS Catalina. Aug 7, 2021 · Look here for the excellent explanation and solution posted by @mklement0 [in relation to a bash upgrade problem. (eg, sudo can use powershell then) Nov 27, 2020 · 11 If your default system is zsh, your Terminal should start with it. Mar 24, 2025 · accidental deletion of the referenced login shell, destruction of the /opt/homebrew/bin/bash symlink, which normally points to a specific version of bash, malicious software that may exchange the symlink and replace it with a Bitcoin miner etc. Actually, macOS used to default to bash a long time ago, but due to the change of bash’s license to GPLv3, Apple had to replace it. However, Apple replaced Bourne Again SHell with Z shell for licensing reasons. You have to enter /bin/bash or whatever shell you want. I'm kinda preferring bash lately to fish, and I'm wondering if I can change it back. Apr 17, 2023 · How to change the default shell in MacOS How to run chsh -s /bin/zsh [Re-Titled by Moderator] MacBook Air 13″, macOS 11. Your default shell should now be set to bash (or other specified shell). 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. bash_profile actually "works". Nov 18, 2023 · In this step-by-step tutorial, learn how to easily switch from the default ZSH (Z shell) to BASH (Bourne Again Shell) on your Mac. Discover how to download a bash terminal for mac os and enhance your coding journey. 6) defaults to using TCSH instead of BASH. app' on a stock MacOS system, your connected to the systems pseudo TTY which in turn launches your users default shell. This will add a new entry to your settings that can be tweaked manually in your settings. bash_profile But normally that Go to the Terminal app on your Mac. You can use chsh to change a user's shell. ” Open the “Accounts”/“Users & Groups” preference pane and unlock the preference pane if applicable. Dec 26, 2020 · I had been putting off the change, but recently got around to making this change. You can ignore Oct 25, 2019 · A Unix shell is a program that accepts Unix commands and executes them. Regardless, since the adoption, Terminal would display a short warning and a method to switch over to zsh. Even before the switch to zsh an ancient version of bash would be shipped with macOS so it was not uncommon to change the default shell already. In particular, if you're joined to a Microsoft Active Directory, you can use the Directory Utility to change the default shell, as described here. 2 inclusive, switched the default login shell for newly-created logins from tcsh to bash starting with OS X 10. Aug 25, 2020 · oh-my-zsh is not a shell. Alternatively, you can change the default shell graphically in System Settings under Users & Groups by Ctrl-Clicking your profile picture and selecting "Advanced Go to the Terminal app on your Mac. 15) Apple started shipping with Z Shell. Tagged with macos, cli, bash. I have no idea how well it compares to the zsh version. 6. With the release of macOS Catalina 10. Sep 25, 2009 · I have a . 2) from 2007 to current. This post is going to describe how to switch from the zsh shell to the bash shell. Dec 26, 2024 · In most Linux systems, the default shell is bash but we can change that to any other shell-like zsh, fish, sh, and any other. Could you give more information and some examples of things in the profile that are not Go to the Terminal app on your Mac. 3, it’s generally considered to be the de facto shell standard in the unix world. Dec 29, 2021 · Recent versions of macOS now use zsh as the default command line shell. Via Terminal Using the terminal to switch from Zsh to Bash on macOS is a short and straightforward procedure. 30 using Homebrew (why is Apple shipping Yosemite with an old Jan 11, 2017 · Explains how to set or change shell to bash (Bourne-again shell) on a Linux, macOS, FreeBSD, and Unix-like OS using the chsh command. Why? Can I switch it back? If so, how? Does it make sense to do so? Any gotchas? To change your shell to Bash on a Mac, you can use the following command in the Terminal: chsh -s /bin/bash Understanding Shells on macOS A shell is a program that provides an interface for users to interact with the operating system. 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: To be clear: to set up Homebrew, you do not need to install bash manually or anything. 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. ' 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 Aug 28, 2024 · Change shell in Terminal Settings 6. 10 How can I change Terminal. bash_profile doesn't help; you either need to change your zsh profile through open ~/. I am running El Capitan 10. Choose Terminal > Settings, then click General. , bash) as the default shell for macOS for as long as I can remember but, starting with macOS Catalina (v10. For example, you may need to be using the bash shell to . Sep 6, 2023 · I felt comfortable using bash shell on MacOS. If the change shell command didn't work, something is blocking it. I tried this command: chsh -s /bin/bash but closing the terminal and reopening it does not restore it to bash, b Navigate the world of command lines effortlessly. 1): making bash the default login shell again after I had installed oh-my-zsh, which made zsh the default, and then upgrading bash from 3. 3. Of note, this location is Jun 3, 2021 · Quick and simple instructions to change default shell to bash macOS Big Sur instead of the zsh. Jun 4, 2019 · Apple is moving away from the bash shell on macOS. From macOS, Big Sur Apple is shipping zsh as the default shell but there is still an option available to use the bash shell. Go to the Terminal app on your Mac. Apr 18, 2020 · 0 Since macOS Catalina, zsh is the default shell instead of bash. The above is a simple tutorial about how to change zsh to bash in terminal on Mac OS. If you're joined to an Open Directory sever, or any other directory server, the default shell will have to be specified there. If you prefer the classic BASH terminal experience or need it for Oct 19, 2019 · On Oct 19, 2019 With macOS Catalina, Apple is now using Zsh as the default shell. While Zsh offers many modern Apr 26, 2025 · The latest macOS systems comes with Z Shell (Zsh) as default shell, but who still preferred to use bash can still use it by switching the default shell. Oct 22, 2019 · With the release of MacOS Catalina, Apple has also changed the default shell for macOS Catalina. json file. Mar 26, 2024 · Zsh is the default login and interactive shell on Mac. Profiles can be created using either a path or a source, as well as a set of optional arguments. In macOS Catalina, the default changed to the Z shell, also known as zsh. There are several reasons you might want to do this. Oct 10, 2021 · Vickie Emswiler wrote: I keep getting this message when I log into my administrator account on my MacBook 2020 running catalina - is this something that I need to do for the mac to work properly? Why am I getting this message? ? Seems straight forward— Use zsh as the default shell on your Mac Prior to Catalina, Apple’s default was Bash (v3. You could try setting the default shell in your user account. osxExec": "iTerm. This guide provides simple steps and tips to make your shell transition smooth and swift. Next to “Shells open with”, select “Command (complete path)”, then enter the complete path to the shell you want to use. 15. I immediately switched it back to BASH. There w Mar 30, 2025 · Apple used tcsh as the default shell from OS X 10. " message when you switch from zsh to bash. 53 to 4. Apr 11, 2020 · Although I had set my default login shell to a new version of bash, it was still using the old version at /bin/bash because terminal was set to open with Command which was set to /bin/bash. Change General settings in Terminal on Mac Use General settings in Terminal to change the default window settings and the type of shell that’s used when a new window is opened in Terminal. This is typically set by the default bash prompt, which many users find useful but may want to customize for a more personalized or informative terminal experience. When it comes to using the command line on macOS, the default shell is often a matter of personal preference. 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. Jun 8, 2023 · For a long time, the bash was a default shell in macOS. 3 with bash version 3. I managed to get a command line by clicking 2 fingers on mousepad. It acts as a bridge between the user and the system’s services. Before Starting You should be familiar with using the macOS Terminal command line. Jan 13, 2020 · Install the latest Bash shell on macOS with Homebrew and make it your default shell. In macOS, Bash was the default shell for a long time, but it was replaced with Z shell due to licensing reasons. 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. 15). However, you can switch to bash from zsh, if you prefer. x so I decided to update bash via: brew install bash Brew places the new bash under /usr/local/Cellar/bash: brew info bash bash: stable 4. That said, there are some people who prefer to use the tcsh shell, or perhaps you just want to break away from the norm. Zsh became the default in macOS Catalina and higher version of macOS. 2. In the example it sets the default terminal to be the iTerm app: "terminal. bash_profile in my home directory, but it isn't getting run on login. Figure 1: PowerShell on macOS Install PowerShell I won’t waste too much time here, as Microsoft already has an excellent article with popular options. Nov 23, 2021 · After upgrading to MacOS Monterey, I was stunned that Apple would switch my default shell to ZSH. List the available shells by running the following command in 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. It covers an overview of both shells, the steps for setting them up, Dec 27, 2023 · In this comprehensive guide, you‘ll learn: The history behind shells on Mac OSX and why Zsh became the default Key reasons for switching from Zsh to Bash Step-by-step instructions for changing shells How to customize Bash to suit your workflows Tips for avoiding issues down the road Ready to unlock the power of Bash on Mac? Let‘s get started! A Brief History of Shells on MacOS To Mar 26, 2024 · Zsh is the default login and interactive shell on Mac. app" I want to run zsh so i need to change the default linux bash shell "terminal. 3, and switched new logins from bash to zsh starting with macOS 10. Apr 6, 2024 · A step-by-step illustrated guide on how to change the default terminal in Visual Studio Code, on Windows, macOS and Linux. 11. You can always just add zsh to your bash profile so it gets called on logon as a workaround. Quit and restart the Terminal app. Bash is still included in macOS Catalina and if you are a fan of Bash, you can switch back to it easily by following these steps: Note: Zsh is the default shell only on newly created user accounts. If you like oh-my-zsh, why not switching your interactive shell to zsh? Although different from bash in severaly ways, it is sufficiently similar that you will feel at home soon. To change your current shell to Bash, you can use the following command in your terminal: chsh -s /bin/bash Understanding Shells What is a Shell? A shell is a user interface that allows us to interact with the operating system. Mar 2, 2024 · Here is the message: The default shell for newly-created accounts switched from bash to zsh at macOS 10. We love Zsh, but the trusty old Bash shell is still included with macOS, and you can quickly switch back to Bash if you prefer. If you want to view a list of all the shells that are available run the following command in Terminal. I have tried to change it into ZSH by command chsh -s /bin/zsh. Oct 25, 2019 · A Unix shell is a program that accepts Unix commands and executes them. 15 on 7th October 2019 Apple made zsh as the default shell. How can I do that? Dec 20, 2024 · Hi, just a couple of things. View the list of available shells on the system by typing: cat /etc Jun 6, 2009 · What is the correct OSX way of changing a users default shell? When I googled for it I found several references to an application called NetInfo Manager but I couldn't find it on my system. Your shell did not change. I just want to run a command to reset my bluetooth module. While Zsh is a powerful and feature-rich shell, some users might prefer Bash for its simplicity, familiarity, or compatibility with existing scripts and tools Nov 21, 2022 · Table of Contents Apple is now using Zsh as the default shell on macOS. app can be told to launch a process other than your users default shell (eg, powershell), but there are a few cases where if you might want to replace your shell system-wide. 2 days ago · This post guide you to change the default shell from zsh to bash on Mac step by step. Apr 19, 2023 · Did you know that you can change the shell that you use in Terminal on your Mac? Learn how in this guide. 42 ( Go to the Terminal app on your Mac. Sep 26, 2020 · MacOS comes with an outdated version Bash which can be limiting in shell scripts. 5. 0 to 10. Jan 10, 2025 · How to Change the Default Shell to Bash on macOS Changing the default shell to Bash on macOS is a task that many users may need to perform for various reasons. brew install bash Feb 27, 2007 · Bash is the default shell in Mac OS X and has been since 10. I typically use the bash shell on Linux servers, so I prefer using it on my Mac. Follow the steps below to replace Zsh with Bash: 1. Jul 22, 2019 · There are other shells besides Bash and Zsh available on macOS. The terminal prompt in macOS displays information like the username, hostname, and current directory. integrated. Jun 8, 2017 · I am using Visual Studio Code on my Windows 10 PC. While I am using more and more macOS and PowerShell, the need of enriching the look-and-feel starts to reveal. To change your default shell from Zsh to Bash, simply run the "chsh -s /bin/bash" command in Terminal and reopen it. zshrc change your default shell to bash through chsh -s /bin/bash It's also possible to do this via the GUI but if you're already in Terminal, this is quicker. You’ll see on the Terminal that “The default Dec 15, 2023 · By default, your Mac uses either zsh or bash as the command-line interpreter for the login shell and interactive shell: zsh (Z shell) is the default shell for all newly created user accounts, starting with macOS Catalina. imsko qerpp cqv tundph yvbbpzb iafnn ysmhl npk eqa ethmf emi xcljvp bagxri tfqg wqskt