Discovering the Best macOS Console Commands for Newbies

If you're new to macOS and curious about the Terminal (also known as the console), you're in the right place. macOS is built on a Unix-based system, which means there's a lot of power hidden under the hood — and much of it can be accessed through simple console commands.

In this guide, we’ll walk through some of the best macOS console commands that are beginner-friendly, practical, and even a little fun. No coding experience required!

🌟 What Is the macOS Console (Terminal)?

The Terminal is an app that lets you interact with your Mac using text commands. It might seem intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it, you'll find it’s a powerful way to speed up tasks, access system information, and customize your Mac.

To open Terminal:

• Press Command + Space, type “Terminal,” and hit Enter.

🛠️ Essential macOS Console Commands for Beginners

Here are some handy commands every Mac newbie should know:

1. pwd – Show Where You Are This stands for “print working directory.” It tells you your current folder location.

pwd

2. ls – List Files in a Folder This shows all the files and folders in your current location.

ls

Add -l for more details:

ls -l

3. cd – Change Directory Move between folders.

cd Documents

Go back one level:

cd ..

4. mkdir – Create a New Folder

Make a new folder quickly:

mkdir MyNewFolder

5. touch – Create a New File Instantly create a blank file:

touch notes.txt

6. open . – Open the Current Folder in Finder Very useful to quickly switch to graphical view:

open .

7. top – View Running Processes Like Activity Monitor, but in text form. It shows what’s using your CPU and memory.

top

🔐 Bonus: Safe System Info Commands

These won’t change anything but give you helpful info.

Check Disk Usage

df -h

Check Free Memory

vm_stat

Show System Info

system_profiler SPHardwareDataType

👶 Tips for Newbies

• Don’t be afraid to try commands, but avoid using sudo unless you know what you’re doing.
• You can press the Tab key to auto-complete file or folder names.
• Use the up arrow to repeat previous commands.

Final Thoughts

Learning macOS console commands opens up a new way to use your Mac — faster, smarter, and with more control. Start small, explore safely, and soon you’ll be navigating Terminal like a pro.