How to delete zshrc file in mac. oh-my-zsh/ – Main install directory ~/.
How to delete zshrc file in mac Nov 27, 2025 · This post gives you a full guide about how to create a zshrc file on Mac and how to edit and located it on your Mac. bashrc file and gives each user a link of it to their home dir, you can copy the file instead of link and the start adding content to it) 4 days ago · Where Is . This configuration file is not created by default in Mac OS. zshrc is, why you need it, and how to customize it with real-world examples for developers. zshrc file located in your home directory. I went for the file name . Oct 30, 2023 · Step 5 – Optional: Remove Hidden Files Behind the scenes, Oh My Zsh stores your settings in some hidden files and folders: ~/. To get the contents of the . To modify or append environment variables, this file needs to be Dec 2, 2020 · $ touch ~/. This file is loaded before Terminal loads your shell environment and contains all the startup configuration and preferences for your command line interface. txt end? Jan 11, 2024 · If you delete the two, the default settings stored in Z shell's system file at the /etc/zshrc will be used. Apr 17, 2020 · Order of Operations This is the order in which these files get read. zshenv → . Introduction Mar 13, 2024 · Using Mac OS 10. To remove an environment variable, you can use the unset command. zshrc file (or just zshrc file) is a file that zsh reads when it starts. Firstly, in all versions of macOS, /etc is a symbolic link to Aliases in a script file disappear after the script has been run (unless the script is called by another script, then the calling script has the new alias definition). zshrc file again or using the export command to change its value temporarily. zshrc file on your Mac is typically located in your home directory ( /Users/yourusername/ ), acting as a crucial configuration file for the Z shell (Zsh), but its absence may require you to create it. zshrc file is located on a Mac? If you’re a Mac command line user who is interested in using and customizing the zsh shell, or using something like Oh My Zsh, you may be curious to know what and where the . zshrc file after a misexecuted command, which contains several hundred lines of configs. zshrc, . zshrc file, crucial for z shell customizations, isn't created by default in macOS Catalina; you'll need to make it manually. Baiscally, Apple wishes to adopt a centralized way to manage PATH: /etc/paths: Contains the base system paths, one per line. Back up this file before making changes to avoid losing your current setup. (If you see any other . zshrc without backing it up first will cause you to lose all of your config. If the file does not exist, create it using a text editor. d/: A directory containing additional path files Each file in this directory contains one or more paths (one per line) Files are processed in alphabetical order Common May 11, 2024 · The zshrc file is a powerful tool in the arsenal of any Mac user. That's the path that zsh runs at startup, and you can run it, edit it (subject to file permissions; see discussion under ma11hew28's answer), etc under that path, but its actual location in the filesystem is a bit more complicated (and depends on the version of macOS you're using). Likely, you just need to open . zshrc file in MacOS terminal. But after your response, I searched for threads on "missing zshrc" and managed to create one. By editing this file, you can customize your terminal environment to suit your preferences and streamline your workflow. bashrc if you prefer) in your home directory. And yes this means that all of Is there a way to restore it with all the settings? Is there a bkp or do I need to start all over again? :( Feb 19, 2022 · None of these files (~/. How can I clean this up or what's the proper way to "reformat" all of this? Feb 2, 2025 · Thankfully, it’s pretty easy to configure and use aliases with zsh shell in macOS. zshrc Copy Now add the following line at the end. zshrc Jan 5, 2020 · Your configuration file already has something at appends the desired directory to PATH, and then you added another statement that does the same thing. zprofile Zsh New Shell Configuration . oh-my-zsh/ – Main install directory ~/. Open the Terminal app on your Mac. zshrc; clear in case you need to clear the screen contents after executing the command. Sep 23, 2023 · Otherwise, you have to manually create a configuration file called . zshrc config file. Is it necessary to use zsh shell options in the . bashrc, . The terminal will ask you to confirm y/n. zlogout Type and run at the zsh command line, open ~/. zshrc is the ZSH configuration file itself. aren't used within script files. zshrc file is so that when you start a New Terminal session, zsh gets all your settings in your various shell initialization files. Within it you can change your terminal prompt, change the colors of text, add aliases to functions you use all the time, and so Apr 10, 2023 · Open the . Apr 5, 2023 · Removing the line source oh-my-zsh. open ~/. Nov 18, 2021 · Wondering where the . zshrc file contains some commands to configure the newly opened shell. Understanding the different placeholders and variables used in zsh will help you achieve the desired customization. On starting a new shell just run the command source ~/. Aliases executed in startup files like "~/. zshrc file Open Terminal App, Open the . Jan 3, 2022 · Yet, by their choosing to add their defaults to /etc/zshrc and /etc/zshrc_Apple_Terminal Apple makes it more difficult for users to change zsh defaults. You need to find that and remove that. Follow the steps below: 1. /etc/paths. Use Bash built-ins like history -c to clear session and history -d to delete file. Mar 3, 2023 · Closed 2 years ago. There are several ways to create and edit the . The solution is to edit these files and remove the offending commands. zshrc in an editor and remove the extraneous statements that modify PATH. zshrc file, to manipulate how Apr 8, 2013 · If it's saying permission denied, perhaps the file is write-protected, a link to some other file (many organisations keep a master . z* files, delete those, too. To try to fix the problem without losing your config, edit your . zshrc by configuring in the Preferences -> Profiles -> Select Default Profile (default profile will be starred) -> General -> Command -> Select Login Shell -> Send text at start: Enter the value source ~/. zprofile has preference over . bash_profile Added the exports to that, saved and exited vi, closed and reopened term This article demonstrates how to permanently set variable in Mac Zsh shell. zsh_history (This opens TextEdit on my Mac. zshrc file, deleting this line will get rid of the alias permanently. May 24, 2020 · echo PATH However, I noticed that it was still preceding another path that I appended earlier in the . This comprehensive guide will walk you through configuring environment variables, managing shell profiles, and setting up aliases for optimal productivity. zshrc file by clicking it once and then pressing ⌘ ⌫ (Cmd-Backspace). zshrc file on Mac, but we will show you two of the most common ones: using a text editor or using the touch command. zshrc profile file. 15 - In terminal I edited my . bash_profile or . This is different than the . bash_profile, ~/. Nov 14, 2020 · The Anaconda Python distribution is setting the environment variable on shell startup. That is also true for another tab in terminal in mac os as it starts a new zsh shell. What if I accidentally set the wrong value for an environment variable? If you set the wrong value, you can update the variable by editing the . zshrc on Mac? Finding and Understanding Your Shell Configuration File The . zsh_history. zshrc For Bash (Default on macOS Mojave and earlier) Open . Mar 10, 2022 · In the terminal, run the following command. zprofile file which is executed when the user logs in. zshrc file using any text editor. You have some commands in your . However, by default, there's no user-specific zshrc file on your Mac but only a system-wide /etc/zshrc file, unless you have installed On My Zsh or created one yourself. 15. Go to the bottom of the file. Jan 14, 2024 · In this tutorial, i will show you the 3 different ways to open and edit . Thus we must edit that file to configure aliases. txt How do I remove the . Nov 27, 2025 · Learn what the . Now that you have the full details on how to customize the zsh prompt, experiment a little and make it your own. 2 days ago · How To Edit Zshrc On Mac: A Comprehensive Guide Learn how to edit Zshrc on Mac by opening it in a text editor, making the necessary changes, and saving the file; this allows you to customize your terminal environment to suit your needs. zshrc file is loaded and the related configuration is applied. zshrc file, nano ~/. All customizations are made in the ~/. zshrc – Oh My Zsh config ~/. May 7, 2020 · The system-wide zshrc is nominally /etc/zshrc. Keep in mind that it reads first from the system-wide file (i. The ~/ translates to your user’s home directory and the . zshrc file by adding this line. May 28, 2021 · I accidentally overwrote my . Apr 18, 2023 · You can do that by adding the deactivate command in the . Remember to run source ~/. ) This will put it into the trash, so you can always restore it later, if necessary. It is also not a good idea to be changing the /etc/ versions of the shell initialization files. Dec 4, 2023 · It scans your Mac looking for these junk files and, in just a few seconds, allows you to either delete them all with one click or review what it has found and choose what to delete yourself. zshrc file. zshrc copy' file to just '. The echo command combined with >> is just appending alias to the bottom of the . The . bashrc config file instead of . xonshrc) exist by default in macOS, so if the Anaconda setup is the only thing there, it's safe to just delete them. zshrc file into a file it creates called ~/. BTW Open -a TextEdit ~/. You can also remove ~/. zshrc shell configuration file. bash_profile (or . I then deleted the redundant lines and now it all works fine! Thanks again! Nov 28, 2021 · Running that command will not only remove Oh-My-Zsh, but it will also return your shell to the default and previous configuration of either zsh or bash. Jul 5, 2020 · I am trying to set two environment variables on macOS version 10. zsh_history but feel free to set this to whatever you prefer, it also doesn't need be located in your home director. REFERENCE All of that said, I don't know which macOS version you're running, and as my macOS is 10. Since macOS Catalina, Apple has made Zsh the default shell, replacing Bash. export PATH= "/bin/zsh" Now I cannot open the . Delete the line that says `alias python=/usr/bin/python3" Save and exit. zshrc' however when I ls -a it shows as . bashrc. zshrc file from the home directory and deleting the . 5, I've opened a terminal and tried: vi ~/. ) Delete any lines in the file Save and close the file Close/Exit the Zsh completely and restart the Zsh (this step is important!) Now, open zsh and the history command does not show the lines that you deleted Nov 13, 2023 · The history file is ~/. It can be found in your home directory, which will change depending on the system and platform you're using. ) them; it might be worth grepping all the dotfiles in your home directory for occurrences of those filenames. Run the following command to create or edit the file with vi: vi ~/. Like all files whose names start with a period, it is normally hidden, so you won't see it in the Finder, or by doing a normal "ls" command in the Terminal. Voila. profile, /etc/profile and so on. May 20, 2024 · Step 5: Clean Up Zsh Configurations It’s a good practice to clean up any remaining Zsh configurations and files. (never copy it from any unknown source) Nov 7, 2021 · To reset your Zsh settings to default, delete your . After confirming, restart the terminal. zshrc file and it was locked, so essentially created a copy, then edited and deleted the original . zshrc" etc. zsh_history – History file The uninstall script removes most of these for you, but you may want to double check and delete any leftover hidden files. If you've modified your . zlogin → . By understanding where to find the file and how to use it, you can take full advantage of the features and capabilities of the Zsh shell to improve your workflow and productivity. cshrc, . zprofile → . a) Open with Vim editor b) Open with Nano editor c) Open with TextEdit app 1) Open and edit . zshrc with vim editor: VIM allows you to create and edit text files on your Mac. zshrc, this was the only line in the file and everything I had before was deleted. zshrc file back, open both files in the editor you prefer and copy your old configurations from ~/. Dec 19, 2024 · Learn what is Zsh Alias and how to add aliases to Zsh on Mac, how to delete or use Zsh Alias on Mac, troubleshoot common issues, etc. 15 Catalina, I couldn't verify my answer will work on your system. Nov 5, 2022 · A (very) quick primer on . Just for my understanding: am I correct in assuming that . Oct 1, 2024 · . How to Create an Alias in zsh Zsh aliases are stored in the users zshrc file within the home directory, which is prefixed with a period to signify that it is hidden. Over time, I've added bunches of stuff to my PATH and it's lookin' pretty awful. zshrc? Also, wouldn't it be wiser to add all paths to . zshrc file, where you can set the desired prompt structure. Jun 21, 2025 · Setting up your macOS shell environment properly is crucial for an efficient development workflow. zshrc, and ~/. It is a shell script that Zsh runs whenever you start a new terminal session. Sep 19, 2021 · On macOS, there is a sessions directory that combines commands from multiple zsh sessions into a single history file. If that doesn't solve it, remove ~/. zshrc file prior to installing Oh My Zsh, it will be restored in this process. I typed: history -c and I got a response: history: bad option: -c I searched the internet but I couldn't find any source which resolved this issue? I am not able to clear the terminal history (both current session history and entire history). Use the down arrow key to view the recent commands you ran. I cannot use ls command or sudo. With one slight caveat: it's possible some other file/script will assume they exist and try to source (or . zshrc" file with any text editor and pasted it and then restart the terminal. Mar 6, 2015 · The ~/. Can someone please help me in understanding if I can revert back to what I had before I made this change? Jan 25, 2025 · To find the . /etc/zshenv) then from the file in your home directory (~/. zprofile and delete . zshrc file is the configuration file for the Zsh shell, a popular alternative to Bash, and the default Jul 15, 2017 · 0 I have an easy and safe method to that ,I my case I am using Kali linux, so I copied the zshrc file from there official gitlab repo and opend the "~/. Or you can manually execute the export command from a zsh shell prompt. bash_profile If you are on macOS Catalina or later and still using Bash, you may need to switch to using . zshrc file does not exist by default on Mac, so you need to create it manually if you want to use it. oh-my-zsh directory. zshrc → . Update HISTFILESIZE and HISTSIZE variables in the ~/. This includes removing the . zshrc file is located in your home folder. Feb 15, 2025 · But what exactly is it, and why should you care? In this guide, we’ll break down what ~/. How to View the ZSH History? To view the commands stored in the ZSH history, you can run this command: less ~/. See be Sep 2, 2024 · Step 2: Edit the Zsh Configuration File Zsh stores user configuration settings in the . bashrc: Open . It is wonderful, fast and free. zprofile and . Jan 13, 2023 · The . In this guide, we will walk you through the process of Mar 30, 2021 · So you need to set it yourself in your ~/. sh from your zshrc should do the trick. zshrc doesn’t exist by default in macOS so you need to create it. e. zshrc a lot in the meantime since you installed ohmyzsh, simplying removing ~/. Today I stumbled upon bash history command on mac and I tried clearing the history of zsh shell. bashrc to reload Bash and apply history changes. Few important commands we should know to work with vim: Type Vim <filename> - if file Feb 22, 2024 · I messed with my zshrc file and empited it while setting up flutter what to do my device is mac m2 air. zshrc file with nano. Introduction: Customizing Your Terminal Experience The . zshrc After sourcing your file, your ZSH history should be enabled. Sep 3, 2022 · The . Please help [Re-Titled by Moderator] The . conda deactivate Copy Reload the Zsh shell by either typing zsh or, source ~/. If you had a previously configured . zshrc are files that are read when your shell starts, and contain commands to be executed. Jan 23, 2022 · When I opened . If you unset them in console then it will be set again next time you start a shell. Conclusion Uninstalling Zsh may seem like a daunting task, but with the right steps, it can be a smooth process. zshrc. This article guides you through locating, understanding, and managing your Zsh configuration. Usually, these may reside in . zsh_history Use the up arrow key to view the earlier commands that you ran. zshrc, or is that not so smart? Many thanks in advance, gurus Jun 8, 2023 · How to Create Permanent Environment Variables in ZSH To make an environment variable persist in ZSH, add it to the . zshrc file on your Mac, open a Finder window, go to your home directory, and press Command + Shift + Period to reveal hidden files. Apr 26, 2025 · Apply Changes: Save the file and apply the changes by running: source ~/. bash_history instead of Zsh‘s . zshrc Then file will be opened in text editor. Regardless, you can take the following steps to create an alias in Zsh. zshrc file is a powerful configuration file that can be used to customize the behavior of the Zsh shell on Mac. Then you can easily add/delete content and save file with the help of menu options available in Texteditor app. However, I still have 5 terminals that had zsh open before this incident, and a Apr 12, 2023 · When installing Oh-My-Zsh framework, it moves all contents of the existing . zsh folder if it exists. You can make the Finder show hidden files by pressing Command-Shift-period (and press again to toggle this off). zshrc file in your user home directory. pre-oh-my-zsh file and place it in ~/. To run any command, open a new terminal window so the changes take Jan 23, 2021 · Thank you so much! I couldn't find the zshrc file in my Mac OS. zshrc When a new terminal or shell is opened the ~/. . zshrc files that call homebrew, and that is not installed. Disable (base) env using . zshrc file is, where to find it on your Mac, and how to open, edit, save, and exit it. pre-oh-my-zsh. zshenv) as it goes through the following order. I have renamed my '. zshrc file is located, and how to access it so that you can customize your shell. Mar 28, 2023 · source ~/. Dec 24, 2022 · The . zshrc for Mac users There is a hidden file in your Mac's user directory named . zshrc Copy You will see that the base prefix is gone!. Jun 9, 2022 · to get zsh to re-read your . Nov 27, 2025 · Read the sections on path_helper and see if you like Apple's way of managing your PATH. zshrc file with Nov 27, 2025 · How to add alias in Zsh on Mac? Zsh aliases are kept in the . I had to edit my . You may add source ~/.