How to Install iTerm2 on Mac

Edited 3 days ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

iTerm2MacInstallationTerminalSoftware SetupDownloadsConfigurationGetting StartedSetup

iTerm2 is a replacement for the terminal emulator that comes pre-installed with macOS. It includes a lot of convenient features that make it a popular choice among developers and other power users. In this guide, we will walk you step by step through the entire process of installing iTerm2 on your Mac.

Why use iTerm2?

Before jumping into the installation process, it is essential to understand why iTerm2 might be a better option for you than the default Terminal app.

• Customization: iTerm2 offers a high level of customization, allowing you to change the appearance, control transparency, and more.
• Split panes: You can split a single window into multiple panes, allowing you to run different commands simultaneously.
• Search: iTerm2 has a flexible search function that lets you quickly search through your logs.
• Keyboard shortcuts: There are many keyboard shortcuts available to increase your productivity.
• Session management: The ability to save sessions and profiles can be useful for recurring tasks.

Prerequisites

Before you install iTerm2, make sure you meet the following prerequisites:

• You need a Mac computer running macOS.
• Make sure you have an active internet connection to download iTerm2.
• You don't need administrative rights because iTerm2 does not require installation into protected directories.

Steps to install iTerm2

Here are the detailed steps to install iTerm2 on your Mac:

Step 1: Download iTerm2

The first step in the installation process is to download iTerm2 from its official website. Follow these instructions:

1. Open your current web browser, such as Safari, Google Chrome, or Firefox.
2. Go to the official iTerm2 website.
3. Once you reach the website, go to the “Downloads” section.
4. Find the version of iTerm2 that matches your macOS version and click the download button.
5. Wait for the download to complete. The file will download as .zip archive.

Step 2: Extract the archive

After downloading the .zip file, you need to unzip it to access .app file.

1. Find the downloaded .zip file in your Downloads folder.
2. Double-click on the .zip file to extract the archive. This will automatically create a file called iTerm.app on your system.

Step 3: Move iTerm2 to the Applications folder

It is always a good practice to move applications to the “Applications” folder for easy access. Follow these steps:

1. Open your Finder window and go to the location where iTerm.app is stored (usually the Downloads folder).
2. Click and drag iTerm.app to the "Applications" folder. This can be accessed via the sidebar in Finder.

Step 4: Open iTerm2

Now that you've moved the iTerm2 application to your Applications folder, it's time to open it:

1. Go to the Applications folder within Finder.
2. Scroll down or search for iTerm2.
3. Double-click iTerm2 to launch the application.

Set up iTerm2 for best use

Configuring preferences

iTerm2 is highly customizable, and setting it up to your preferences can significantly increase your productivity. Here are some basic configuration steps:

1. With iTerm2 open, go to the "iTerm" menu and click "Preferences" (⌘ + ,).
2. Check out the different tabs: General, Appearance, Profiles, Keys, Mouse, etc.
3. Under “Profiles,” you can set up individual profiles with specific settings like window transparency or command customization.
4. In the “Keys” tab, you can set keyboard shortcuts to suit your workflow.

Adding shortcuts

Knowing your keyboard shortcuts can greatly speed up your workflow:

• Switch between panes with ⌥ + ⌘ + Direction Arrow.
• Create a new tab with ⌘ + T.
• Close a tab with ⌘ + W
• Enter fullscreen with ⌘ + F.

Enabling Zsh and themes

Zsh is a powerful shell, and enabling it can improve your command-line experience:

1. To start using Zsh, open iTerm2 and type zsh in the terminal window, then press Enter.
2. Install Oh My Zsh, a framework for managing Zsh configuration, by entering the following command in the terminal:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh/master/tools/install.sh)"

This will download and install Oh My Zsh.

1. To change the theme, go to the ~/.zshrc file and update ZSH_THEME variable with your preferred theme name.
2. Save the file and restart iTerm2 to implement the theme.

Conclusion

iTerm2 is a powerful tool that can transform your command-line experience in macOS. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you should now have a working installation of iTerm2 on your Mac, ready for use with customized settings that meet your needs. Explore its more in-depth features, and make the most of this fantastic terminal emulator.

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