π System Performance Boosters
1. Reduce WindowServer Lag (Smoother Animations & Faster UI)
The WindowServer process handles macOS graphics, and too many UI effects slow it down.
Fix it by disabling unnecessary effects:
- Turn Off Transparency Effects (Big FPS Boost for UI) arduinoCopyEdit
defaults write com.apple.universalaccess reduceTransparency -bool true
- Speeds up Mission Control, Dock animations, and window movements.
- Reduce Window Animations for Snappier UI arduinoCopyEdit
defaults write -g NSAutomaticWindowAnimationsEnabled -bool false
- Windows open instantly instead of animating.
- Speed Up Dock Animation (Makes Apps Open Faster) arduinoCopyEdit
defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-time-modifier -float 0.1 defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-delay -float 0 killall Dock
- Removes Dock delay and makes it appear instantly.
2. Unlock Pro-Level CPU & GPU Performance
A. Disable macOS CPU Throttling for Maximum Speed
csssudo pmset -a dps 0
- Prevents macOS from underclocking the CPU, useful for gaming & video editing.
B. Force Mac to Use High-Performance GPU (For Dual-GPU Macs)
csssudo pmset -a gpuswitch 0
- Ensures macOS always uses the dedicated GPU instead of the power-saving one.
C. Enable Turbo Boost Always On (Intel Macs)
nginxsudo sysctl -w machdep.cpu.turbo_enabled=1
- Runs CPU at max power, useful for rendering & gaming.
3. Prevent macOS From Randomly Sleeping (Great for Downloads & Long Tasks)
bashsudo pmset -a sleep 0
- Stops auto-sleeping during long downloads, rendering, or remote access.
4. Secret Finder Tweaks (Boost File Browsing & Navigation Speed)
A. Enable Hidden βQuit Finderβ Option (Like Any App)
arduinodefaults write com.apple.finder QuitMenuItem -bool true
killall Finder
- Lets you fully quit Finder like a normal app.
B. Make Finder Show Hidden System Files
arduinodefaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES
killall Finder
- Reveals system files Apple hides by default (be careful what you delete!).
C. Change Default Screenshot Format (PNG β JPG, PDF, etc.)
luadefaults write com.apple.screencapture type jpg
killall SystemUIServer
- Changes screenshot format (JPG is smaller than PNG).
- Other formats: png, pdf, gif, tiff.
π¨ Hidden UI & Dock Customizations
5. Remove Useless MacBook Startup Sound
perlsudo nvram SystemAudioVolume=%80
- Mutes Mac startup chime permanently.
6. Enable Hidden Dark Mode Terminal Theme
swiftosascript -e 'tell application "Terminal" to set current settings of window 1 to settings set "Pro"'
- Applies hidden Pro theme in Terminal.
7. Center Mac Dock (Looks Like Windows 11)
luadefaults write com.apple.dock orientation -string bottom
defaults write com.apple.dock pinning -string middle
killall Dock
- Moves Dock icons to the center.
8. Hide Dock Completely (Only Appears When Needed)
arduinodefaults write com.apple.dock autohide -bool true
defaults write com.apple.dock showhidden -bool true
killall Dock
- Keeps Dock hidden until you move your mouse to the bottom.
π₯ Hidden Display & Scaling Tricks
9. Enable HiDPI Mode for Non-Retina Displays (Makes Text Look Sharper)
arduinosudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver DisplayResolutionEnabled -bool true
- Improves text sharpness on external monitors.
10. Set Any Custom Resolution for External Monitors
- App Needed: BetterDisplay
- Lets you unlock hidden resolutions and enable HiDPI mode.
11. Reduce External Display Input Lag (For Gaming)
arduinodefaults write com.apple.CoreGraphics DisableVSYNC -bool true
- Disables V-Sync, reducing input delay on external monitors (may cause tearing).
π Hidden Safari & Browser Speed Boosts
12. Enable Safari’s Secret Developer Features
arduinodefaults write com.apple.Safari IncludeInternalDebugMenu -bool true
- Unlocks hidden Developer Debug Menu in Safari.
13. Remove Delays in Safari for Faster Browsing
arduinodefaults write com.apple.Safari WebKitInitialTimedLayoutDelay 0.25
- Reduces rendering delays, making Safari load pages faster.
π Hidden Battery & Power Tweaks
14. Check Battery Health & Cycle Count
perlsystem_profiler SPPowerDataType | grep "Cycle Count"
- If the count is over 1000, your battery may need replacing.
15. Limit Maximum Charge to 80% (Extends Battery Lifespan)
- Use AlDente (Download Here)
- Prevents overcharging, increasing battery life.
π― Hidden Productivity Tweaks
16. Automatically Lock Mac When You Step Away
arduinodefaults write com.apple.screensaver askForPassword -int 1
defaults write com.apple.screensaver askForPasswordDelay -int 0
- Locks instantly when the screensaver starts.
17. Prevent USB Devices From Waking Your Mac
csssudo pmset -a hibernatemode 25
- Stops USB devices from randomly waking your Mac (great for MacBooks).
π How to Undo These Tweaks?
If you ever want to reset any setting, just replace true
with false
, or use this:
pgsqldefaults delete com.apple.[name]
killall Finder/Dock/SystemUIServer
Example:
pgsqldefaults write com.apple.dock autohide-time-modifier -float 0
killall Dock
Restores Dock animation to default.
π Final Setup for an Optimized Mac
β
Enable HiDPI scaling for sharp text
β
Reduce UI animations for speed
β
Optimize CPU/GPU performance for gaming
β
Use hidden Safari tweaks for faster browsing
β
Use battery hacks to extend lifespan