macOS - How to open System Preferences from Terminal - MacOS X Software https://www.tweaking4all.com/forum/macos-x-software/macos-how-to-open-system-preferences-from-terminal/ Tweaking4All.com Discussion Board en-US Wed, 17 Jun 2026 03:53:08 +0000 wpForo 60 RE: macOS - How to open System Preferences from Terminal https://www.tweaking4all.com/forum/macos-x-software/macos-how-to-open-system-preferences-from-terminal/#post-6320 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:11:38 +0000 You can use as an URL in Terminal: 

open /System/Library/PreferencePanes/Keyboard.prefPane

or

open -b com.apple.systempreferences /System/Library/PreferencePanes/Keyboard.prefPane

 Is this what you were looking for?

]]> MacOS X Software Hans https://www.tweaking4all.com/forum/macos-x-software/macos-how-to-open-system-preferences-from-terminal/#post-6320 RE: macOS - How to open System Preferences from Terminal https://www.tweaking4all.com/forum/macos-x-software/macos-how-to-open-system-preferences-from-terminal/#post-6319 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 08:59:32 +0000 MacOS X Software sunflo https://www.tweaking4all.com/forum/macos-x-software/macos-how-to-open-system-preferences-from-terminal/#post-6319 RE: macOS - How to open System Preferences from Terminal https://www.tweaking4all.com/forum/macos-x-software/macos-how-to-open-system-preferences-from-terminal/#post-5245 Tue, 19 Dec 2023 19:27:52 +0000 You got me curious so I just HAD to look for it haha 😊 

]]> MacOS X Software Hans https://www.tweaking4all.com/forum/macos-x-software/macos-how-to-open-system-preferences-from-terminal/#post-5245 RE: macOS - How to open System Preferences from Terminal https://www.tweaking4all.com/forum/macos-x-software/macos-how-to-open-system-preferences-from-terminal/#post-5244 Tue, 19 Dec 2023 16:03:15 +0000 Wow, that was fast! Many thanks, Hans

]]> MacOS X Software Anonymous https://www.tweaking4all.com/forum/macos-x-software/macos-how-to-open-system-preferences-from-terminal/#post-5244 RE: macOS - How to open System Preferences from Terminal https://www.tweaking4all.com/forum/macos-x-software/macos-how-to-open-system-preferences-from-terminal/#post-5239 Tue, 19 Dec 2023 10:11:54 +0000 Did you try this - it open software update for me on Sonoma? 😊 

open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preferences.softwareupdate"

Not sure if this is what you're looking for.

I found a ton of them in this (deprecated) list:

com.apple.ClassroomSettings
com.apple.Localization
com.apple.preference.datetime
com.apple.preference.desktopscreeneffect
com.apple.preference.digihub.discs
com.apple.preference.displays
com.apple.preference.dock
com.apple.preference.energysaver
com.apple.preference.expose
com.apple.preference.general
com.apple.preference.ink
com.apple.preference.keyboard
com.apple.preference.mouse
com.apple.preference.network
com.apple.preference.notifications
com.apple.preference.printfax
com.apple.preference.screentime
com.apple.preference.security
com.apple.preference.sidecar
com.apple.preference.sound
com.apple.preference.speech
com.apple.preference.spotlight
com.apple.preference.startupdisk
com.apple.preference.trackpad
com.apple.preference.universalaccess
com.apple.preferences.AppleIDPrefPane
com.apple.preferences.appstore
com.apple.preferences.Bluetooth
com.apple.preferences.configurationprofiles
com.apple.preferences.extensions
com.apple.preferences.FamilySharingPrefPane
com.apple.preferences.icloud
com.apple.preferences.internetaccounts
com.apple.preferences.parentalcontrols
com.apple.preferences.password
com.apple.preferences.sharing
com.apple.preferences.softwareupdate
com.apple.preferences.users
com.apple.preferences.wallet
com.apple.prefpanel.fibrechannel
com.apple.prefs.backup
com.apple.Xsan

com.apple.ClassroomSettings
com.apple.Localization
com.apple.preference.datetime
com.apple.preference.desktopscreeneffect
com.apple.preference.digihub.discs
com.apple.preference.displays
com.apple.preference.dock
com.apple.preference.energysaver
com.apple.preference.expose
com.apple.preference.general
com.apple.preference.ink
com.apple.preference.keyboard
com.apple.preference.mouse
com.apple.preference.network
com.apple.preference.notifications
com.apple.preference.printfax
com.apple.preference.screentime
com.apple.preference.security
com.apple.preference.sidecar
com.apple.preference.sound
com.apple.preference.speech
com.apple.preference.spotlight
com.apple.preference.startupdisk
com.apple.preference.trackpad
com.apple.preference.universalaccess
com.apple.preferences.AppleIDPrefPane
com.apple.preferences.appstore
com.apple.preferences.Bluetooth
com.apple.preferences.configurationprofiles
com.apple.preferences.extensions
com.apple.preferences.FamilySharingPrefPane
com.apple.preferences.icloud
com.apple.preferences.internetaccounts
com.apple.preferences.parentalcontrols
com.apple.preferences.password
com.apple.preferences.sharing
com.apple.preferences.softwareupdate
com.apple.preferences.users
com.apple.preferences.wallet
com.apple.prefpanel.fibrechannel
com.apple.prefs.backup
com.apple.Xsan

com.apple.Accessibility-Settings.extension
com.apple.AirDrop-Handoff-Settings.extension
com.apple.Battery-Settings.extension
com.apple.BluetoothSettings
com.apple.CD-DVD-Settings.extension
com.apple.ClassKit-Settings.extension
com.apple.Classroom-Settings.extension
com.apple.ControlCenter-Settings.extension
com.apple.Date-Time-Settings.extension
com.apple.Desktop-Settings.extension
com.apple.Displays-Settings.extension
com.apple.ExtensionsPreferences
com.apple.Family-Settings.extension
com.apple.Focus-Settings.extension
com.apple.Game-Center-Settings.extension
com.apple.Game-Controller-Settings.extension
com.apple.HeadphoneSettings
com.apple.Internet-Accounts-Settings.extension
com.apple.Keyboard-Settings.extension
com.apple.Localization-Settings.extension
com.apple.Lock-Screen-Settings.extension
com.apple.LoginItems-Settings.extension
com.apple.Mouse-Settings.extension
com.apple.Network-Settings.extension
com.apple.NetworkExtensionSettingsUI.NESettingsUIExtension
com.apple.Notifications-Settings.extension
com.apple.Passwords-Settings.extension
com.apple.Print-Scan-Settings.extension
com.apple.Screen-Time-Settings.extension
com.apple.ScreenSaver-Settings.extension
com.apple.Sharing-Settings.extension
com.apple.Siri-Settings.extension
com.apple.Software-Update-Settings.extension
com.apple.Sound-Settings.extension
com.apple.Startup-Disk-Settings.extension
com.apple.Time-Machine-Settings.extension
com.apple.Touch-ID-Settings.extension
com.apple.Trackpad-Settings.extension
com.apple.Transfer-Reset-Settings.extension
com.apple.Users-Groups-Settings.extension
com.apple.WalletSettingsExtension
com.apple.Wallpaper-Settings.extension
com.apple.settings.Storage
com.apple.systempreferences.AppleIDSettings
com.apple.wifi-settings-extension

 

]]> MacOS X Software Hans https://www.tweaking4all.com/forum/macos-x-software/macos-how-to-open-system-preferences-from-terminal/#post-5239 RE: macOS - How to open System Preferences from Terminal https://www.tweaking4all.com/forum/macos-x-software/macos-how-to-open-system-preferences-from-terminal/#post-5235 Mon, 18 Dec 2023 18:18:48 +0000 This was a handy tip and when I found it a few years ago I started using it in Jamf policies to open specific System Preference panes for users. Unfortunately, in macOS Sonoma I can no longer open directly to Software Updates with it -- it only takes you as far as the General panel.

Still poking around, but if I find a workaround I'll post it.

]]> MacOS X Software Anonymous https://www.tweaking4all.com/forum/macos-x-software/macos-how-to-open-system-preferences-from-terminal/#post-5235 macOS - How to open System Preferences from Terminal https://www.tweaking4all.com/forum/macos-x-software/macos-how-to-open-system-preferences-from-terminal/#post-552 Thu, 10 Oct 2019 09:42:09 +0000 There are a few tricks to open a specific pane in the "System Preferences", from Terminal. 
I found this to be the most effective:

open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security"

but this works as well:

open -b com.apple.systempreferences /System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane

(to find more preference panes, look at /System/Library/PreferencePanes)

The first one though offers the ability to open a specific tab on given pane as well.

This for example opens "System Preferences" -> "Security & Privacy" and then activates the "Privacy" tab:

open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy"
]]> MacOS X Software Hans https://www.tweaking4all.com/forum/macos-x-software/macos-how-to-open-system-preferences-from-terminal/#post-552