Configure certain per-machine settings typically configured in the System Preferences application.
The systemsetup command requires at least "admin" privileges to run.
Syntax systemsetup [-getdate] [-setdate mm:dd:yy] [-gettime] [-settime hh:mm:ss] [-gettimezone] [-listtimezones] [-settimezone timezone] [-getusingnetworktime] [-setusingnetworktime on | off] [-getnetworktimeserver] [-setnetworktimeserver timeserver] [-getsleep] [-setsleep minutes] [-getcomputersleep] [-setcomputersleep minutes] [-getdisplaysleep] [-setdisplaysleep minutes] [-getharddisksleep] [-setharddisksleep minutes] [-getwakeonmodem] [-setwakeonmodem on | off] [-getwakeonnetworkaccess] [-setwakeonnetworkaccess on | off] [-getrestartpowerfailure] [-setrestartpowerfailure on | off] [-getrestartfreeze] [-setrestartfreeze on | off] [-getallowpowerbuttontosleepcomputer] [-setallowpowerbuttontosleepcomputer on | off] [-getremotelogin] [-setremotelogin on | off] [-getremoteappleevents] [-setremoteappleevents on | off] [-getcomputername] [-setcomputername computername] [-getstartupdisk] [-liststartupdisks] [-setstartupdisk path] [-getwaitforstartupafterpowerfailure] [-setwaitforstartupafterpowerfailure value] [-getdisablekeyboardwhenenclosurelockisengaged] [-setdisablekeyboardwhenenclosurelockisengaged yes | no] [-getkernelbootarchitecturesetting] [-setkernelbootarchitecture i386 | x86_64 | default] [-version] [-help] [-printCommands] Key: -getdate Display the current date. -setdate mm:dd:yy Set the current month, day, and year. -gettime Display the current time in 24-hour format. -settime hh:mm:ss Set the current time. The provided time argument should be in 24-hour format. -gettimezone Display current time zone. -listtimezones List all time zones supported by this machine. -settimezone timezone Set the local time zone. Use "-listtimezones" to list valid timezone arguments. -getusingnetworktime Display whether network time is on or off. -setusingnetworktime on | off Set whether using network time is on or off. -getnetworktimeserver Display the currently set network time server. -setnetworktimeserver timeserver Designate a network time server. Enter the IP address or DNS name for the network time server. -getsleep Display amount of idle time until machine sleeps. -setsleep minutes Set amount of idle time until computer sleeps. Specify "Never" or "Off" for computers that should never sleep. Important: if you set the system to sleep, you will not be able to administer the server remotely while it is sleeping. -getcomputersleep Display amount of idle time until computer sleeps. -setcomputersleep minutes Set amount of idle time until computer sleeps. Specify "Never" or "Off" for never. -getdisplaysleep Display amount of idle time until display sleeps. -setdisplaysleep minutes Set amount of idle time until display sleeps. Specify "Never" or "Off" for never. -getharddisksleep Display amount of idle time until hard disk sleeps. Specify "Never" or "Off" for never. -setharddisksleep minutes Set amount of idle time until hard disk sleeps. Specify "Never" or "Off" for never. -getwakeonmodem Display whether wake on modem is on or off. -setwakeonmodem on | off Use this command to specify whether or not the server will wake from sleep when modem activity is detected. -getwakeonnetworkaccess Display whether wake on network access is on or off. -setwakeonnetworkaccess on | off Use this command to specify whether the server wakes from sleep when a network admin packet is sent to it. -getrestartpowerfailure Display whether restart on power failure is on or off. -setrestartpowerfailure on | off Specify whether the server should automatically restart after a power failure. -getrestartfreeze Display whether restart on freeze is on or off. -setrestartfreeze on | off Specify whether the server should restart automatically after the system freezes. -getallowpowerbuttontosleepcomputer Enable or disable whether the power button can sleep the computer. -setallowpowerbuttontosleepcomputer on | off Enable or disable whether the power button can sleep the computer. -getremotelogin Displays whether remote login (SSH) is on or off. -setremotelogin [-f] on | off Set remote login (SSH) to either on or off. Important If you turn off remote login, you won’t be able to administer the server using remote command line tools and SSH. To turn remote login back on, you’ll need to connect a monitor and keyboard to the server to administer it locally. Use "setremotelogin -f off" to suppress prompting when turning remote login off. -getremoteappleevents Display whether remote apple events are on or off. -setremoteappleevents on | off Set whether the server responds to events sent by other computers (such as AppleScripts). -getcomputername Display computer name. -setcomputername computername Sets computer name to computername. This name is used by AFP. -getlocalsubnetname Display local subnet name. -setlocalsubnetname name Set local subnet name to name. -getstartupdisk Display current startup disk. -liststartupdisks List all valid startup disks on this computer. -setstartupdisk path Set current startup disk to the indicated path. Valid arguments can be listed using "-liststartupdisks." -getwaitforstartupafterpowerfailure Get the number of seconds after which the computer will start up after a power failure. -setwaitforstartupafterpowerfailure seconds Set the number of seconds after which the computer will start up after a power failure. The seconds value must be a multiple of 30 seconds. -getdisablekeyboardwhenenclosurelockisengaged Get whether or not the keyboard should be disabled when the X Serve enclosure lock is engaged. -setdisablekeyboardwhenenclosurelockisengaged yes | no Set whether or not the keyboard should be disabled when the X Serve enclosure lock is engaged. -getkernelbootarchitecturesetting Gets the Kernel Architecture setting from the com.apple.Boot.plist. -setkernelbootarchitecture i386 | x86_64 | default Set the kernel to boot in 32 or 64 bit mode on next boot. default removes the setting. -version Displays version of systemsetup tool. -help Displays a list of all the commands available in the System Setup Tool, with explanatory information. -printCommands Displays a list of systemsetup commands with no detail.
Files: /usr/sbin/systemsetup
Get the computer name:
$ sudo systemsetup -getcomputername
Set the date/time:
$ sudo systemsetup -setdate 12:31:17
$ sudo systemsetup -settime 16:20:00
List the Available Timezones:
$ sudo systemsetup -listtimezones
$ sudo systemsetup -settimezone US/Pacific
$ sudo systemsetup -setnetworktimeserver time.apple.com
Alternatively set the time zone automatically using current location:
$ sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.timezone.auto.plist Active -bool false
DIsplay the restart@system freeze feature, by default this is on:
$ sudo systemsetup -getrestartfreeze
Turn the restart@system freeze feature off, useful for debugging:
sudo systemsetup -setrestartfreeze off
"Some old wounds never truly heal, and bleed again at the slightest word" ~ George R.R. Martin
Local man page: systemsetup - Command line help page on your local machine.
networksetup - Configuration tool for network settings.
installer - System software and .pkg package installer tool.
HT111336 - Connect to a Mac with Apple silicon (which USB-C port to use) systemsetup -setstartupdisk.