macOS Tweaks

Index:

- How to make the print dialogue always show the full printer settings
- How to decrease the time it takes for the dock to pop up
- How to enable or disable Auto boot on lid open
- How to reset NVRAM
- How to reset the System Management Controller (SMC)

How to make the print dialogue always show the full printer settings:

When you want to print something, you only get the basic print dialogue box but you need to click on Show Details to get to the full printer settings. Now I know it's only 1 click but if you print a lot you may wanna have the full details shown by default.

To enable this, open up Terminal and copy/paste the following command then hit Enter:

Code:

defaults write -g PMPrintingExpandedStateForPrint -bool TRUE

You need to reboot for the changes to take effect.

If you decide that you wanna go back to the default basic print dialogue box window, then you can reverse this by copy/pasting the following command:

Code:

defaults write -g PMPrintingExpandedStateForPrint -bool FALSE

You need to reboot for the changes to take effect.

Basic print dialogue box:



Full print dialogue box:



How to decrease the time it takes for the dock to pop up:

If you wanna decrees the time it takes for the dock to pop up from the time you move your mouse cursor to the bottom of the screen, simply copy/paste this command in Terminal:

Code:

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

If you want, you can also disable the dock's animation for an even snappier experience (optional) using the following command:

Code:

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

 

How to enable or disable Auto boot on lid open:

When you open the lid of your MacBook, it will automatically turn on and boot. If you want to disable this, here are the commands to turn it off or on.

To Disable Auto Boot, run the following command in Terminal:

Code:

sudo nvram AutoBoot=%00

To re-enable it, run the following command in Terminal:

Code:

sudo nvram AutoBoot=%03

How to reset NVRAM or PRAM:

If your Mac has issues related to settings stored in NVRAM or PRAM, resetting it might help.

Shut down your Mac, then turn it on and immediately press and hold these four keys together: Option, Command, P, and R. You can release the keys after about 20 seconds, during which your Mac might appear to restart.

• On Mac computers that play a startup sound, you can release the keys after the second startup sound.
• On Mac computers that have the Apple T2 Security Chip, you can release the keys after the Apple logo appears and disappears for the second time.

Source

How to reset the System Management Controller (SMC)

Spoiler: What the SMC does

The SMC is responsible for these and other low-level functions on Intel-based Mac computers:

Spoiler: What the SMC does

• 
  
  
  • Responding to presses of the power button
  • Responding to the display lid opening and closing on Mac notebooks
  • Battery management
  • Thermal management
  • Sudden Motion Sensor (SMS)
  • Ambient light sensing
  • Keyboard backlighting
  • Status indicator light (SIL) management
  • Battery status indicator lights
  • Selecting an external (instead of internal) video source for some iMac displays

Spoiler: How to know if you need to reset the SMC

These symptoms might mean that an SMC reset is necessary:

Spoiler: How to know if you need to reset the SMC

• 
  
  
  • Your computer's fans run at high speed, even though it isn't under heavy usage and is properly ventilated.
  • The keyboard backlight behaves incorrectly.
  • The status indicator light, if present, behaves incorrectly.
  • Battery indicator lights, if present, behave incorrectly on Mac notebooks with a non-removable battery.
  • The display backlight doesn't respond correctly to ambient light changes.
  • Your Mac doesn't respond when you press the power button.
  • Your Mac notebook doesn't respond properly when you close or open the lid.
  • Your Mac sleeps or shuts down unexpectedly and you can't turn it back on.
  • The battery doesn't charge properly.

• 
  
  
  • Your MacBook or MacBook Pro doesn't charge through its built-in USB-C port.
  • Your MacBook or MacBook Pro doesn't recognize external devices that are connected to its built-in USB-C port.
  • The MagSafe power adapter LED, if present, doesn't indicate the correct charging activity.
  • Your Mac performs unusually slowly, even though its CPU isn't under an abnormally heavy load.
  • A Mac that supports target display mode doesn't switch into or out of target display mode as expected, or it switches into or out of target display mode at unexpected times.
  • The illumination around the I/O ports on a Mac Pro (Late 2013) doesn't turn on when you move the computer.

Spoiler: Before you reset the SMC

Try each of these steps in this order before you reset the SMC. Test the issue after each step to see if the issue still occurs.

Spoiler: Before you reset the SMC

1. 
   
   
   • If your Mac isn't responding, press and hold the power button until it shuts down. You'll lose unsaved work in any open applications. Then press the power button again to turn on your Mac.
   • Press Command-Option*-Escape to force quit any application that's not responding.
   • Put your Mac to sleep by choosing Apple () menu > Sleep. Wake the computer after it's gone to sleep.
   • Restart your Mac by choosing Apple menu > Restart.
   • Shut down your Mac by choosing Apple menu > Shut Down, then press the power button again to turn on your Mac.

If you're using a Mac notebook that's having power or battery issues, follow these steps:

1. 
   
   
   • Unplug the power adapter from your Mac and the electrical outlet for several seconds, then plug it back in.
   • Choose Apple menu > Shut Down and wait for your Mac to shut down.
   • Remove and re-insert the battery if it's removable.
   • Press the power button again to turn on your Mac.

If the issue still isn't resolved, you might need to reset the SMC using the steps below.

How to reset the SMC on Mac notebooks without a T2 chip:

If the battery is non-removable:

1. 
   
   
   • Choose Apple menu > Shut Down and wait for your Mac to shut down.
   • Press Shift-Control-Option on the left side of the built-in keyboard, then press the power button at the same time. Hold these keys and the power button for 10 seconds. If you have a MacBook Pro with Touch ID, the Touch ID button is also the power button.
   • Release all keys.
   • Press the power button again to turn on your Mac.

If the battery is removable:

1. 
   
   
   • Shut down your Mac.
   • Remove the battery. If you need help removing the battery, contact an Apple Authorized Service Provider or Apple Retail Store.
   • Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds.
   • Reinstall the battery.
   • Press the power button again to turn on your Mac.

Mac notebook computers with the T2 chip

Try this first:

1. Choose Apple menu > Shut Down and wait for your Mac to shut down.
2. Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds.
3. Release the power button, then wait a few seconds.
4. Press the power button again to turn on your Mac.

If that doesn't resolve the issue, follow these steps:

1. Choose Apple menu > Shut Down and wait for your Mac to shut down.
2. Press and hold the right Shift key, the left Option key, and the left Control key for 7 seconds. Your Mac might turn on and show the Apple logo on its display. Keep holding those keys while you also press and hold the power button for another 7 seconds. If your Mac turned on when you first pressed the keys, it turns off at this point.
3. Release all three keys and the power button, then wait a few seconds.
4. Press the power button again to turn on your Mac.

Source