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    2 min read 7 stepsApril 2, 2026Verified April 2026

    Mac Terminal Basics for Beginners

    Learn useful Terminal commands that make your Mac more powerful and efficient.

    In this guide (7 steps):

    1. 1.Open Terminal
    2. 2.Navigate the file system
    3. 3.File operations
    4. 4.Useful everyday commands
    5. 5.Show hidden files
    6. 6.Clear DNS cache
    7. 7.Safety first
    1

    Open Terminal

    ~15s
    Go to Applications > Utilities > Terminal. Or press ⌘+Space, type "Terminal," and press Enter. You'll see a window with a blinking cursor waiting for commands.
    2

    Navigate the file system

    ~15s
    pwd: shows your current location. ls: lists files in the current folder. cd Documents: moves into Documents. cd ..: moves up one folder. cd ~: goes to your home folder.
    3

    File operations

    ~15s
    cp file.txt copy.txt: copies a file. mv file.txt Documents/: moves a file. mkdir NewFolder: creates a folder. rm file.txt: deletes a file (permanent, no Trash). Use with caution.
    4

    Useful everyday commands

    ~15s
    open .: opens current folder in Finder. open file.pdf: opens a file with its default app. top: shows running processes (like Activity Monitor). killall Finder: restarts Finder if it freezes.
    5

    Show hidden files

    ~15s
    Type: defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool true && killall Finder. This reveals hidden system files in Finder. Reverse with "false" instead of "true."
    6

    Clear DNS cache

    ~15s
    Type: sudo dscacheutil -flushcache && sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder. Useful when websites aren't loading properly after DNS changes. Enter your password when prompted.
    7

    Safety first

    ~15s
    Never run commands from untrusted sources. Commands starting with "sudo" have full system access. "rm -rf" deletes files permanently with no confirmation. When in doubt, don't run it.

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    Official Resources

    Apple SupportHow-To Geek — MacApple Support YouTube

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    Mac Terminal Basics for Beginners — Step-by-Step Guide | TekSure