How to Open the Terminal on a Mac (4 Ways)

Whether you need to dig deep into system settings, troubleshoot common errors and bugs, or make any kind of changes to the OS, this is where Terminal steps in. As most of you are aware, Mac’s Terminal is similar to “Command Prompt” on Windows. Mac’s Terminal is a Command-Line system, a default app that comes embedded along with macOS that quickly allows you to take control of the system. So, it offers you text-based access to the operating system. Using Terminal, you can run and execute commands and perform developer-level tasks on your Mac.

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In this post, we have listed 4 unique ways to open Terminal on Mac. Without further ado, let’s learn how you can use Terminal on macOS.

Here you go!

Also read: How to Use the Terminal Command-Line in macOS

How to Open the Terminal on a Mac

1. Using Spotlight Search

One of the quickest methods to open Terminal on Mac is by using the Spotlight search. Mac’s Spotlight search allows you quick access to find apps, documents, emails, pictures, videos, or any other item that is stored on your device. Well, wait there’s more. You can even use the Spotlight search to get updates about weather, traffic conditions, and other real-time events.

To use Spotlight search for launching Terminal, follow these steps:

Press the magnifier icon placed on the top menu bar.

Alternatively, you can hit the “Command + Space”  key combination to use Spotlight search on macOS.

In the Spotlight search window, type “Terminal” and press the Return key to launch the app.

Also read: How To Enable Hidden Features Using Terminal On Mac?

2. Via Launchpad

Launchpad is another easy way to find and open apps on your Mac. So, yes, you can even use Mac’s Launchpad to open Terminal on Mac. By default, the Launchpad icon (rocket-shaped) is placed in the Dock for easy access.

Tap on the Launchpad icon placed in the Dock, or hit the F4 key to open Launchpad.

Once the Launchpad opens, use its search bar to search for Terminal. Hit the Return key to launch Terminal.

3. Use the Applications Folder

The third unique way to open Terminal on Mac is by navigating through the Applications folder on Mac. You can head on to the Application folder’s location using Go> Finder.

In the Applications folder, tap on “Utilities”.

A new window will appear on the screen. Look for “Terminal” in the list utility icons and then double-tap on it to launch Terminal.

Also read: How To Customize Default Shell On Terminal?

4. Use Siri

Well, yes, if you’re fond of using Siri to accomplish simple tasks on Mac, here’s a useful tip.

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Activate Siri on macOS and use the microphone to say the “Open Terminal” command out loud to launch Terminal.

Also read: How To Fix “Hey Siri Not Responding On Mac”

Add the Terminal Icon to your Mac’s Dock

If you use Terminal frequently, then you can also add the Terminal icon or its shortcut to the dock for easy access.

To add the Terminal icon to your Mac’s dock, follow these steps:

Use the spotlight search to locate the Terminal app on Mac. Right-click on its icon and then select “Options” and then tap on “Keep in Dock”.

Once you follow these steps, the Terminal icon will be automatically added to your Mac’s Dock for quick access. So, now whenever you need to use the Terminal app on Mac, you can just open it with one click instantly.

Conclusion

Here were 4 simple ways to open Terminal on Mac. You can use any of the above-listed ways to launch the Terminal command-line app on macOS. Mac’s Terminal is a useful tool that allows you to quickly make changes to the OS by running simple text-based commands.

Which method do you usually prefer to launch Terminal on Mac? Also, if you have any free tips or handy Terminal commands in mind, feel free to share your thoughts with our readers.