You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Trying to use zsh as the default shell (first time) on your iMac w/Catalina; WHERE do I find "Terminal" to complete online instructions??

Trying to use zsh as the default shell (first time) on your iMac w/Catalina; WHERE do I find "Terminal" to complete online instructions??

iMac 21.5", macOS 10.15

Posted on Nov 25, 2019 2:05 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 25, 2019 8:52 PM

Umm, the default shell is zsh on Catalina, you don't need to change it. What exactly are you trying to do?


https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208050


"Starting with macOS Catalina, your Mac uses zsh as the default login shell and interactive shell. You can make zsh the default in earlier versions of macOS as well. By default, your Mac uses either zsh or bash as the command-line interpreter for the login shell and interactive shell:



zsh is highly compatible with the Bourne shell (sh) and mostly compatible with bash, with some differences. For more about zsh and its

comprehensive command-line completion system, enter man zsh in Terminal."

6 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 25, 2019 8:52 PM in response to WoodlandiMac

Umm, the default shell is zsh on Catalina, you don't need to change it. What exactly are you trying to do?


https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208050


"Starting with macOS Catalina, your Mac uses zsh as the default login shell and interactive shell. You can make zsh the default in earlier versions of macOS as well. By default, your Mac uses either zsh or bash as the command-line interpreter for the login shell and interactive shell:



zsh is highly compatible with the Bourne shell (sh) and mostly compatible with bash, with some differences. For more about zsh and its

comprehensive command-line completion system, enter man zsh in Terminal."

Nov 25, 2019 2:22 PM in response to WoodlandiMac

Thanks! I found TERMINAL, but when I clicked on it, I got this reply: [Note: must go to an appt, so will try later. THANKS!]

Last login: Mon Nov 25 13:51:45 on ttys000

/Volumes/03204/0001/01/I0010001 ; exit;

The default interactive shell is now zsh.

To update your account to use zsh, please run `chsh -s /bin/zsh`.

For more details, please visit https://support.apple.com/kb/HT208050.

iMac:~ wendyh$ /Volumes/03204/0001/01/I0010001 ; exit;

-bash: /Volumes/03204/0001/01/I0010001: cannot execute binary file

logout

Saving session...

...copying shared history...

...saving history...truncating history files...

...completed.

[Process completed]


Nov 25, 2019 6:59 PM in response to WoodlandiMac

Please navigate to the Mac App Store or navigate to www.Etrecheck.com and download the free version of EtreCheck. Once you have you downloaded the app and installed it, please run the report and save it. This report will help us get a good idea what has been installed on your system and help us be able to diagnose what may be wrong.


When you have your report, you can attach it when you reply to this message and we can then review it and help you determine what is needed to get your system running well again. 


For instructions on how to download your EtreCheck report and attach it to your reply to this message please click https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-250000211


Trying to use zsh as the default shell (first time) on your iMac w/Catalina; WHERE do I find "Terminal" to complete online instructions??

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.