3 Easy Ways to Open a Terminal Window on a Mac

Download Article

Fastest ways to find and launch a Terminal window on your Mac or Macbook

Co-authored by Ken Colburn and Rain Kengly

Last Updated: October 17, 2023 Fact Checked

Download Article

Using Launchpad

|

Using Finder

|

Using Spotlight

|

Q&A

The Terminal provides Mac users a way to access and adjust settings of the operating system with text-based commands. This can be helpful when troubleshooting your computer or laptop. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to launch the Terminal app with and without keyboard shortcuts. This wikiHow will show you how to open a Terminal window on your Mac running macOS Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, or earlier.

Things You Should Know

To open the Terminal on Mac, open the Launchpad app. Type in "terminal" and click "Terminal".
Alternatively, open the Finder and click "Go" → "Utilities" → "Terminal".
You can also click the Spotlight icon in the top-right corner. Search "terminal" and click "Terminal".

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Launchpad

Download Article

Open the Launchpad. This looks like a square holding 9 colored tiles.
2
Type terminal in the search bar. If needed, click the search bar at the top first.
- Results will load as you type.
Advertisement
3
Click Terminal. The Terminal window will open.
- You can use the Terminal to open applications and troubleshoot your Mac.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Finder

Download Article

Open the Finder. This looks like the blue and silver face icon.
It's at the top of the screen. A drop-down menu will open.
3
Click Utilities. You can find this towards the bottom of the drop-down menu.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Alternatively, you can press ⇧ Shift+⌘+U to quickly open the Utilities folder.
4
Scroll down and double-click Terminal. The Terminal window will open.
- For quick access to the Terminal in the future, you can add it to the Dock.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using Spotlight

Download Article

1
Click the Spotlight icon. It's the magnifying glass in the upper-right corner of the screen.
- Alternatively, you can press ⌘+space to quickly open Spotlight.
Results will load as you type.
The Terminal window will open.

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

What's the use for spotlight?

Nuclearblowout

Community Answer

Spotlight is used mainly for finding apps quickly. It is much faster then the dock and to use it, just press command and space.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 3
Question

How do you find uninstalled apps?

Community Answer

You can find uninstalled apps that you purchased from the App Store by going clicking on your profile picture in the bottom left corner of the App Store and then by seeing purchases.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
Question

Terminal opens at login, how do I change this to make it stop?

Community Answer

It looks like you have it in Login items to startup on boot. To fix this, open System Preferences, then Users, then choose the User you log into, then Login items. It will display a bunch of apps. To change it, first click on bottom left padlock and enter password to be able to edit settings. Next, select Terminal and/or other apps and press the "-" sign just below the box. That's it. Try restarting and check.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1