macfig — macOS Defaults Manager

Browse macOS hidden defaults:

!macfig list $ARGUMENTS 2>&1 || echo "macfig not installed — brew install lu-zhengda/tap/macfig"

Analyze the output above. If showing categories, explain what each controls. If showing settings, explain each and its current value. Offer to change settings or apply presets. Always recommend macfig backup before changes.

Commands

Command	Purpose	Example
macfig list	List preset categories	macfig list
macfig list <category>	Show settings in category with current values	macfig list dock
macfig get <domain> <key>	Read a specific defaults value	macfig get com.apple.dock autohide
macfig set <domain> <key> <value>	Write a defaults value	macfig set com.apple.dock autohide true
macfig preset <name>	Apply a named preset bundle	macfig preset dev-setup
macfig backup	Backup all tracked settings to JSON	macfig backup
macfig restore <file>	Restore from backup file	macfig restore ~/.config/macfig/backup.json
macfig reset <domain> <key>	Delete a key (restore macOS default)	macfig reset com.apple.dock autohide
macfig search <query>	Search keys across all domains	macfig search animation
macfig diff <backup>	Compare current state against a backup	macfig diff ~/.config/macfig/backup.json
macfig export [file]	Export all tracked defaults to JSON	macfig export defaults.json
macfig import <file>	Import and apply defaults from JSON	macfig import defaults.json
macfig watch <domain> <key>	Monitor a defaults key for changes	macfig watch com.apple.dock autohide

Diff and Migration

Compare current settings against a backup to see what changed:

macfig backup
# ... make changes ...
macfig diff ~/.config/macfig/backup.json

Export and import defaults for machine migration:

# Export from old machine
macfig export my-defaults.json

# Import on new machine
macfig import my-defaults.json

Watch Mode

Monitor a specific defaults key for live changes:

macfig watch com.apple.dock autohide

Useful for debugging preference changes made by apps or System Settings.

JSON Output

Add --json to any read command for machine-readable output:

macfig list --json
macfig list dock --json
macfig get com.apple.dock autohide --json
macfig search animation --json
macfig diff backup.json --json
macfig export --json

Built-in Presets

Preset	Effect
dock-speed	Faster Dock animations and autohide delay
finder-dev	Show hidden files, extensions, path bar, status bar
keyboard-fast	Faster key repeat rate and shorter delay
no-animations	Disable most macOS animations
privacy	Disable analytics, Siri suggestions, ad tracking
dev-setup	Combined developer-friendly defaults

Safety Guidelines

• Always backup first: Run macfig backup before applying presets or bulk changes
• Use presets over raw set: Presets handle type inference and process restart automatically
• Use search to discover: Run macfig search <term> instead of guessing domain/key pairs
• Revert with restore: If something breaks, macfig restore <backup-file> reverts all changes
• Diff before import: Run macfig diff to preview changes before applying an import

TUI Mode

Launch macfig without arguments for interactive mode — browse categories, toggle settings, and preview changes.