Prefs Editor for MAC
Free Mac app for editing application and system preferences in a simple table: a graphical version of the defaults command.
Prefs Editor Overview
Prefs Editor is a free macOS app that edits application and system preferences in a simple table. Its developer describes it as a graphical version of the Terminal's defaults command, or a Registry Editor for macOS. You choose a preferences domain, filter the list by typing part of an app's name, or drag in a plist file or an app. You then see its keys and values, and you can edit values, add or delete entries, copy and paste, and undo.
Because it goes through the system's preferences functions rather than editing plist files directly, changes take effect at once and there is no Save command. Prefs Editor is made by Thomas Tempelmann and is free to use; only an outdated version's source code is published. It is a universal app for Apple Silicon and Intel and needs Mac OS X 10.10 or later, and version 1.2.4 is offered for 10.6 to 10.9. Take care: changing the wrong values can make an app malfunction, and some apps only notice changes after a restart. It edits real application preferences only, not general plist files, and dragging rows to move or copy them is not supported.
Key Features
Prefs Editor makes hidden preferences easy to reach.
- Table view: see each preference as a key and a value.
- Any domain: open the preferences of apps and the system, with a filter to find them.
- Drag and drop: drop a plist file or an app on the window or the Dock icon.
- Edit freely: change values, add new ones and delete items.
- Nested values: add entries inside arrays and dictionaries.
- Instant changes: no Save command, updates are applied immediately.
- Undo: reverse your changes with Command-Z.
- Copy a command: put a defaults write command on the pasteboard for a selected item.
What’s New in Version 1.4.2
Prefs Editor 1.4.2 adds new copy commands and an option for stubborn apps.
- New menu commands Copy Value and Copy Key.
- The Copy command now works in the Data (hex) editor.
- New option Updates all Entries on Edit in the File menu, which may help some apps register changes at once.
Prefs Editor FAQ
Is Prefs Editor free?
Yes. The developer lists Prefs Editor as free.
What is Prefs Editor used for?
It edits application and system preferences in a table, including secret keys that apps do not show in their own settings. It does the same job as the defaults command in Terminal.
Which macOS version does Prefs Editor need?
Mac OS X 10.10 or later. Version 1.2.4 is available for 10.6 to 10.9.
Does Prefs Editor run on Apple Silicon?
Yes. It is a universal app that runs natively on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
Is it safe to change preferences with Prefs Editor?
Only if you know what you are changing. Wrong values can make the app that owns them malfunction. You can undo changes, or delete all of an app's entries and restart it so it returns to its defaults.
Why does an app ignore my change in Prefs Editor?
Some apps notice changes immediately, others need a restart and may reset your change if they are running. If in doubt, quit the app first.
Do I need to save in Prefs Editor?
No. There is no Save command. Changes are applied immediately.
Can Prefs Editor edit any plist file?
No. It edits only actual application preferences. For general plist files the developer points to Xcode, PrefEdit or BBEdit.
Can I install Prefs Editor with Homebrew?
Yes. Run brew install --cask prefs-editor.
Where does the Prefs Editor download on prefs-editor.FULLMAC.app come from?
The download button leads to the official Prefs Editor page at https://apps.tempel.org/PrefsEditor/. prefs-editor.FULLMAC.app does not change or repackage the app.
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FULLMAC.app does not host this app. Download buttons lead to the developer’s own pages.