TinkerTool running on macOS Mojave with 'General' preferences pane open. | |
Initial release | December 7, 2010 |
---|---|
Stable release | |
Operating system | macOS |
Available in | Multilingual |
Type | Utilities |
License | Freeware |
Website | www.bresink.com/osx/TinkerTool.html |
Usage |
TinkerTool is a freeware application for macOS that allows the user to customise the system by exposing hidden preferences to a graphical user interface (GUI).[1] It is developed by German developer Marcel Bresink Software-Systeme. Its latest release is version 7.4.2, which is optimised for macOS Catalina and many features that came with it.[2]
Features[edit]
- Feb 25, 2020 About TinkerTool TinkerTool is a powerful system settings maintenance tool for macOS, which is used to help users modify some hidden properties in system, such as system interface font, showing hidden and system files, the deeply customized system configuration and more.
- Oct 17, 2019 You can download the application TinkerTool at no charge. It is offered without implied warranty of merchantibility or fitness for a particular purpose. Distributing the software without prior written permission is prohibited.
- TinkerTool works by interacting with hidden preferences; these normally can only be changed by firing up a Terminal window and using the “defaults write” command. (Why does Apple hide preferences?
TinkerTool gives users access to hidden system and application preferences that Apple has built into macOS, but not integrated into GUI preferences menus. Although users can typically access these through Terminal operations, TinkerTool assembles them and provides a GUI similar to Apple’s System Preferences application for easier access.
Oct 17, 2019 TinkerTool is an application that gives you access to additional preference settings Apple has built into macOS. This allows to activate hidden features in the operating system and in some of the applications delivered with the system.
By using Apple’s hidden preferences, the application only commits changes that are reversible and affect the preferences of the current user account. Administrative privileges or background processing are not required. The application also supports a reset option to reset all preferences to Apple's defaults, or to the state that existed before using the application.
Apple Tinkertool Park
History[edit]
Initially, TinkerTool worked with all versions of macOS. However, over the years, compatibility with particular versions of macOS was spun off into separate applications: TinkerTool Classic, TinkerTool Classic Generation 2, TinkerTool 4, TinkerTool 5, TinkerTool 6, and the current TinkerTool. Support therefore goes back to Mac OS X 10.1 Puma and later.[3]
Versions[edit]
TinkerTool versions are specific to versions of macOS and are not backward compatible. The program will not work correctly if used with an OS for which it was not designed.
- Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar: TinkerTool Classic, v3.9.5
- Mac OS X 10.3 Panther: TinkerTool Classic, v3.9.5
- Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger: TinkerTool Classic Generation 2, v4.5
- Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard: TinkerTool Classic Generation 2, v4.5
- Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard: TinkerTool 4, v4.97
- Mac OS X 10.7 Lion: TinkerTool 4, v4.97
- OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion: TinkerTool 4, v4.97
- OS X 10.9 Mavericks: TinkerTool 5, v5.7
- OS X 10.10 Yosemite: TinkerTool 5, v5.7
- OS X 10.11 El Capitan: TinkerTool 5, v5.7
- macOS 10.12 Sierra: TinkerTool 6, v6.5
- macOS 10.13 High Sierra: TinkerTool 6, v6.5
- macOS 10.14 Mojave: TinkerTool, v7.4.2
- macOS 10.15 Catalina: TinkerTool, v7.4.2
The macOS Catalina (10.15) build is actively maintained. However, all previous versions in support of past operating systems are still available for download from the developer's website
See also[edit]
References[edit]
![Apple Apple](https://www.devsurvival.com/static/0377c71e68c413870c54cf74e60c7572/8508a/tinkerToolDMG.png)
- ^Bresink, Marcel. 'TinkerTool: Description'. Software-Systeme. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
- ^Bresink, Marcel. 'TikerTool: What's new?'. Software-Systeme. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
- ^TinkerTool versions
External links[edit]
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=TinkerTool&oldid=947604277'
On the weekends, I bring you OS X Power Tips, which usually involve using the Terminal app and a command line to execute a feature or function of OS X that isn't normally exposed within the Mac's graphical user interface. If you're not big on Terminal, however, I'd like to bring your attention to some third-party apps that unlock a lot of these same features and more. The best news is for cheapskates: Some of these apps are free.
TinkerTool
Marcel Bresink's TinkerTool is a utility that gives you access to features and preferences built into the Mac that aren't obvious and that aren't accessible through System Preferences or tools in individual apps. There are a total of nine categories of apps and tools that TinkerTool manages: The Finder, Dock, general system settings, the Desktop, Applications, Fonts, Safari, iTunes, and QuickTime.
TinkerTool helps you access dozens of preferences that affect OS X system and app behavior, so if there are pet peeves of yours — for example, you hate the fact that Help windows are always in the foreground, or you'd really like to change the default fonts used in Safari, you can manage all these things (and much more) using TinkerTool.
- Free - Download now
Titanium Software's Onyx provides you with access to a lot of the same features and functionality that TinkerTool does, but it also gives you access to a lot more.
![Tinkertool Tinkertool](/uploads/1/2/6/1/126104684/185912353.jpg)
Onyx divides its activities into Maintenance, Cleaning, Automation, Utilities, Parameters, and Info. It also keeps track of its own actions in a log.
Maintenance lets you read and repair disk permissions; execute weekly maintenance scripts; rebuild caches; and more. Cleaning can delete caches used by the system; your web browser; fonts; and other features. Automation can force the execution of automatic scripts, while the Utilities feature delves in deep with main pages (the text-based help files included with many Unix utilities); showing and hiding disks and folders; managing screen sharing, network diagnostics and other tools; and more. Parameters lets you set a variety of features of commonly used apps.
There are specific versions of Onyx for each major release of OS X since 10.2 'Jaguar,' so make sure to download the one that's right for your Mac.
- Free - Download now
Apple Tinkertool Price
Cocktail is commercial software developed by Swedish developer Maintain: It's long been a standby for individuals and system admins at big companies alike. You can use it to run scripts, purge memory, clear caches, repair disk permissions, tweak network settings, and manage hidden settings of Apple apps including Safari, Mail, and iTunes.
Apple Tinkertool Store
Cocktail is available as a downloadable demo; you must register and pay for it by its tenth launch or it deactivates itself. Family, business, and multipack licenses are available.
- $19 - Download now
MacPilot sports a lot of the same features I've described in utilities elsewhere in this roundup, but adds a lot more too. Koingo Software says that MacPilot sports more than 1000 features designed to help tweak and customize your Mac use. You can download a trial version for free; student and household licenses are available, as well as business licenses.
There's also a MacPilot Lite version available for download from the Mac App Store, but Koingo had to extensively tailor it for release because of Apple's sandboxing restrictions for Mac App Store apps. Just go straight to the vendor's site for the latest version, unencumbered by Mac App Store restrictions.
- $29.95 - Download now
Your pick?
I've had my say. What am I leaving off the list that you think is an excellent choice for tweaking OS X? Let me know in the comments.