How to Open Terminal on Mac: 7 Easy Ways

What Is Terminal on Mac?

Terminal is a built-in macOS app that lets you interact with your Mac through a command-line interface (CLI). Instead of using buttons and menus, you enter text commands to perform tasks and run tools.

Most everyday Mac tasks can be completed through Finder or System Settings, so you do not need Terminal for normal use. However, Terminal is useful for troubleshooting, development, file management, and tasks that require command-line tools.

Terminal comes preinstalled with macOS. Its default location is "Applications > Utilities > Terminal", but you can open it more quickly with Spotlight or use one of the other methods below.

How to Open Terminal on Mac?

There are several ways to access Terminal on Mac. Spotlight is usually the fastest method, while Finder and Launchpad are useful if you prefer to locate the app manually.

Method 1: Open Terminal with Spotlight

Using Spotlight is one of the quickest ways to start Terminal on Mac because you do not need to browse through folders.

• Press Command + Space to open Spotlight.

• Type "Terminal" in the search field.

  

• Select "Terminal" and press Return.

A Terminal window should open immediately.

Method 2: Launch Terminal from Finder

If you are wondering where Terminal is on Mac or want to find the app manually, you can locate it in the Utilities folder inside Applications.

• Open "Finder".

• Select "Applications" and open the "Utilities" folder.

• Double-click "Terminal".

  

The default location of the Terminal app is:

/Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app

This method is also useful if you cannot find Terminal on Mac with Spotlight.

Method 3: Access Terminal from Launchpad

You can also open Terminal on Mac through Launchpad without navigating to the Utilities folder manually.

• Open "Launchpad" from the Dock.

• Type "Terminal" in the search field.

• Click the "Terminal" app to open it.

  

This gives you the same Terminal app as the Finder and Spotlight methods.

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Method 4: Start Terminal with Siri

Siri provides another quick way to access Terminal on Mac without searching for the app manually.

Activate Siri using your usual method and say: Open Terminal.

Siri should launch the Terminal app directly. This can be convenient if you prefer using voice commands to open an app on your Mac.

Method 5: Create a Keyboard Shortcut to Open Terminal

macOS does not provide a default keyboard shortcut that opens Terminal directly. Command + Space opens Spotlight, where you can then search for Terminal.

If you use Terminal frequently, you can create your own keyboard shortcut with the Shortcuts app:

• Open the "Shortcuts" app on your Mac and create a new shortcut.

• Add the "Open App" action.

• Select "Terminal" as the app you want to open.

• Open the shortcut's settings and assign a keyboard shortcut.

• Press your new key combination to test it.

Choose a key combination that does not conflict with an existing macOS or app shortcut.

Method 6: Open Terminal in a Specific Folder

If you plan to run commands in a particular folder, you can open Terminal directly at that folder. This saves you from opening Terminal first and then navigating to the folder with a command.

• Open "Finder" and go to the folder you want to use.

• Choose "View > Show Path Bar" if the path bar is not visible.

• Control-click the folder in the path bar.

• Select "Open in Terminal".

  

A new Terminal window will open with that folder set as the current working directory.

For example, opening Terminal normally may start you in your home folder:

~

Opening it directly at Downloads could instead start you at:

~/Downloads

You can also use "Services > New Terminal Tab at Folder" to open the folder in a new Terminal tab.

Method 7: Open Terminal in macOS Recovery

Terminal is also available in macOS Recovery. This can be useful when troubleshooting a Mac or when you need to run a command outside the normal macOS environment.

The way you enter macOS Recovery depends on your Mac model.

For a Mac with Apple silicon:

• Shut down your Mac.

• Press and hold the power button until startup options appear.

• Select "Options", then click "Continue".

• After macOS Recovery opens, choose "Utilities > Terminal" from the menu bar.

For an Intel-based Mac:

• Restart or turn on your Mac.

• Immediately press and hold Command + R during startup.

• Release the keys when you see the Apple logo or another startup screen.

• In macOS Recovery, choose "Utilities > Terminal".

You can now use Terminal within the recovery environment. Commands entered here can affect your system, so only run commands you understand or that come from a trusted source.

What to Do If Terminal Won't Open on Mac?

If Terminal won't open on your Mac, first try a different way to launch it. For example, if Terminal does not appear in Spotlight, go directly to "Finder > Applications > Utilities > Terminal".

When Terminal still does not open, try these basic fixes:

• Restart your Mac: A restart can clear temporary macOS or app problems.
• Update macOS: Go to "System Settings > General > Software Update" and install any available updates.
• Try Safe Mode: If Terminal works in Safe Mode, login items or third-party software may be interfering with the app.
• Check whether other apps are affected: If multiple built-in apps fail to open, the problem may be related to macOS rather than Terminal alone.

If Terminal opens but a specific command does not work, the issue may be with the command, permissions, path, or tool rather than the Terminal app itself.

How to Recover Files Accidentally Deleted in Terminal?

When using Terminal, commands such as rm can accidentally delete important files without sending them to the Trash. If you have a Time Machine or other backup, check it first. If no backup is available, 4DDiG Mac Data Recovery can help recover files deleted through Terminal without requiring command-line operations.

It can scan internal SSDs and external storage devices for deleted documents, photos, videos, and other common file types. The recovery process is straightforward:

• Download and open 4DDiG. Select the drive where the files were deleted through Terminal, then start the scan.

  

• Wait while 4DDiG scans the selected drive for deleted files. Use the file type filters or search to quickly locate the files you deleted in Terminal.

  

• Preview the files found by the scan and confirm the files you want to restore. Select them, then click the "Recover" button.

  

• Save the recovered files to a different drive or safe location instead of the drive where the Terminal deletion occurred.

  

FAQs About Opening Terminal on Mac

What is the shortcut to open Terminal on Mac?

There is no default keyboard shortcut that opens Terminal directly on a Mac. The fastest option is to press "Command + Space" to open Spotlight, type "Terminal", and press "Return". You can also create a custom keyboard shortcut if you use Terminal frequently.

Where is Terminal located on Mac?

Terminal is located in the "Utilities" folder inside Applications. Open "Finder > Applications > Utilities > Terminal". Its default path is /Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app.

Does Mac have Terminal built in?

Yes. Terminal comes built into macOS, so you do not need to download or install it. It provides a command-line interface for running commands, tools, and scripts on your Mac.

How do I open a new Terminal window or tab on Mac?

When Terminal is already open, press "Command + N" to open a new Terminal window. Press "Command + T" to open a new tab in the current Terminal window.

Conclusion

If you are wondering how to open Terminal on Mac, Spotlight is the fastest option for everyday use. You can also use Finder, Launchpad, Siri, or macOS Recovery depending on how and where you need to access Terminal.

Whichever method you use, be careful with commands that modify or delete files. If a Terminal command accidentally deletes important data, check your backups first. If no backup is available, 4DDiG Mac File Recovery can help scan for and recover files deleted in Terminal.