Macos open url from command line.
I want to launch an app on OSX from a script.
Macos open url from command line Mar 8, 2024 · Many advanced Mac users spend a lot of time working from the command line with the Terminal application. Unfortunately, open doesn't accept command line args. I'm brand new to the Mac world and so have 0 experience with BSD. I use System. Jul 20, 2020 · Or you can put the following into a Bash or Zsh script, mark it executable, and run it from the command-line to return just the default browser name: #!/bin/zsh # return default browser name that would open the URL Oct 15, 2023 · In your macOS Terminal app type the name of the editor (e. Aug 11, 2018 · I'm working on a small personal project and could not find an answer anywhere. Upvoting indicates when questions and answers are useful. Mar 15, 2021 · Say I want to click a link on a web site (or run macos open command like open -a /Applications/Microsoft\ Remote\ Deskop. app <url>) What would I put for url in this case. Sep 3, 2012 · How can I start Safari with a given URL and get the handle to the Safari process (it is still beyond me why it can't just pass the URL as a command line argument to the Safari executable)? The open command accepts a -a option that allows us to specify which application we want to open. -n: Launch the application without activating it. Nov 16, 2017 · All you need to do in Terminal, no mater what the PWD, is use open -a Safari or open -a Google\ Chrome and if wanted, add the URL afterwards if you want to open the Browser to the given URL. What's reputation and how do I get it? Instead, you can save this post to reference later. app extension. May 5, 2020 · You'll need to complete a few actions and gain 15 reputation points before being able to upvote. ~/bin/chrome) edit the file ~/bin/chrome, and put the following in it open -a "Google Chrome" "$*" make the file executable by running the following in a terminal chmod 700 ~/bin/chrome then run the following to open a file in chrome from the terminal chrome /path/to/some/file Pulled from here Feb 16, 2017 · You can learn more about using Terminal and the shell on macOS in my my book: “macOS Terminal and Shell” — Thank you! Most Terminal users will know that $ open . Dec 24, 2018 · Explains how to run Mozilla firefox from the command prompt (bash shell) under Linux, macOS, *BSD, or UNIX like operating systems. 9. You do not need the type the pathname or the . 157 From the macOS Terminal, use open with the -a flag and give the name of the app you want to open. apple. To open a new browser window from the terminal with a specific URL, you would use the open command in the terminal. Nov 23, 2021 · How to open an URL with Google Chrome from command-line with a specific profile? I've so far come up with the following but the --args --profile-directory="Profile 22" part does not seem to Feb 6, 2022 · It's time for adventures in the open command! Most admins know the open command. Mar 9, 2024 · Set macOS Default Browser Using CLI Every time I attempt to switch the default web browser on macOS, I get this prompt: With the help of defaultbrowser command-line tool, I am able to quickly I want to launch an app on OSX from a script. Feb 10, 2025 · Basic MacOS Terminal Commands The Terminal in macOS is a gateway to the underlying UNIX system, allowing users to perform tasks and manage their systems with command-line instructions. It’s particularly useful for automating tasks, integrating command-line usage into workflows that require graphical applications, and simplifying the user’s interaction with macOS’s graphical interface. This article shows you how to open specific System Settings panes from the command line on macOS. Nonetheless, in modern May 18, 2023 · Our Mac Terminal Commands Guide features a comprehensive list of macOS commands alongside a downloadable PDF cheat sheet for easy reference. The open command opens a file (or a folder or URL), just as if you had double-clicked the file’s icon. Mar 12, 2017 · The bigger picture is quite complicated: I'm actually trying to run the browser from command-line . GitHub Gist: instantly share code, notes, and snippets. Feb 1, 2007 · But open is much more powerful than that. specifics and options can be found using Sep 14, 2022 · Type “open -a ApplicationName” and hit enter. NET class to run the command and I have to be able to control the process (get process Id, check if it's active, kill it if necessary, etc. For that, you can refer to the accepted answer, as the problem is kind of pointless in Linux because applications are normally available in your PATH already. However there are quite a few additional features beyond the May 28, 2025 · Is there a way to open and override the URL of an installed web app on macOS using the command line? Attempts were made using the --api-id and --app-launch-url-for-shortcuts-menu-item command flags, but they were unsuccessful. While the accepted answer is correct, it has the unwanted artifact of flashing a console window when running from a non-console application. app" ' http://translate. It is typically used to launch applications or open files directly from the command line. However, this one seemed to work correctly. app --args -remote "openURL(www The ‘open’ command in macOS is a powerful tool that extends the command line’s capabilities to interact seamlessly with the graphical user interface. So if you just want to open Google Chrome from the command line, it’s as simple as this: open -a "Google Chrome" This will do nothing more than bring the Google Chrome window into focus. You can use base64 <<< string and base64 -D <<< string to encode and decode a string in the terminal, or base64 -in file and base64 -D -in file to encode and decode a file. In the place of ApplicationName, put the application you want to open, like Word or Notes. 4. The correct syntax would be open -a Safari --args example. In that post I introduced a script using JXA to set the default application for a given url s… Jun 30, 2023 · Did you know you can open specific settings panes directly from the command line? This is particularly useful for power users who often use the command line. com Jul 18, 2011 · Using the command line open tool, you can immediately launch any URL from the Terminal into the default web browser of Mac OS X. Open up Terminal on your MacOS or Linux machine and type this Learn how to configure custom URL handlers on OS X with step-by-step guidance and practical tips. Tools such as xdg-open attempt to emulate the functionality of this command across platforms. /index. Every command i've tried have Jul 15, 2025 · The Mac Terminal is a powerful tool that allows you to interact with your macOS system through commands, giving you more control over your device than ever before. There is presently no mechanism to do this– you can edit the Edge shortcuts pinned to your desktop or taskbar, and edit launch arguments for file associations inside the Windows Registry, but such changes won’t Mar 14, 2025 · A while back I wrote a post on the Jamf Tech Thoughts blog about managing the default browser on macOS. txt in your folder My_Folder using the following command: Apr 7, 2019 · Sending HTTP Requests from your Command Line As you may or may not know, using your command line to interact with an API is a cinch. com I had issues with URL parameters with the other solutions. g. Mar 2, 2012 · You should use AppleScript. com/thread/… Nov 19, 2022 · Command line users may encounter situations where they’d like to open the Google Chrome web browser directly from the Terminal on the Mac. open command is for general purpose only: it opens that file (s) with that application, nothing more. If you just type ‘open’ at the command prompt, you’ll return the basic help file with details on how to properly use the command with a variety of flags and syntax. I'm just looking to make it so that when a condition You can use open -a "Google Chrome" index. com I have tried: open /Applications/Firefox. For both files and folders, you can use absolute or relative paths. You may pass it a file or URL you want it to open with. ). From managing files and directories to troubleshooting Oct 4, 2018 · When compared to the macOS open, the main difference is that here you can't specify an specific application to use from the command line. You should then move the safari shell script to a directory located within 46 To open a URL with the default browser, you can execute: rundll32 url. Syntax open [options] [file/url/application] Options/Flags -a: Specify the application to use to open the file. . This command provides several options to enhance the browsing experience by allowing specific configurations like private modes, proxy settings, and developer tools. They'll use it in bash scripts or as part of an item in Self Service to open a file, an application, a URL, or a System Preference Pane (among other things). html or, to put it in a shell script (e. Relative paths are relative to the current directory of the command prompt where you run code. Apr 4, 2025 · While not a Linux command by default, it is important to recognize open as the default URL opener in MacOS. dll,FileProtocolHandler https://www. open is included with MacOSx. -g: […] Or you could use the Shortcuts URL scheme in a task manager for running a shortcut as one step in a project. URL schemes can be used anywhere a URL can be used—your own app, in a web browser, or in the command line. May 7, 2022 · Open URL on macOS via command line Asked 3 years, 6 months ago Modified 2 years, 3 months ago Viewed 2k times Here’s a step-by-step guide to achieving this. , nano) followed by a space and the filename to open. Jan 5, 2022 · Can I set the “Default” command-line? Sometimes, users would like to set a “default” command line for Edge to enable or disable options every time the browser is launched. google. In this case "Google Chrome". Jun 17, 2014 · base64 command is available by default on my OS X 10. The solution I found works best, which is only mentioned here in a comments to the question, is the following command line: explorer. Here’s the syntax to use: See full list on howchoo. Dec 6, 2012 · Does any one know how to modify a Plist file from command line using defaults? Currently there are two Dictionaries under the URL types array; I need to add another. MacOS terminal, I will input command line like below open -a "/Applications/Google Chrome. com ' --input "myWebInput" I am expecting it returns an opened URL, with my input ready in the input box, and the translation is ready there Jul 6, 2010 · This essay describes how to quickly open a file, directory, or URL from the command line in various platforms. I need to pass some command line arguments. The command to launch Safari is straightforward and utilizes the built-in `open` command, which interacts with macOS applications. com, however Safari doesn't seem to have any documented example for opening a URL per discussions. If that happens to be the case: where is this documented? Dec 17, 2024 · The open command in macOS is a versatile utility that allows users to open files, directories, and applications from the command line. Apr 4, 2014 · Context I want to open a Firefox browser from the command line and have it go to youtube. It provides the flexibility to open files, directories, and URLs, and to control which applications are used to open them. May 28, 2025 · Is there a way to open and override the URL of an installed web app on macOS using the command line? Attempts were made using the --api-id and --app-launch-url-for-shortcuts-menu-item command flags, but they were unsuccessful. Here you can find the right way: Open a local html file with url params through applescript Mar 23, 2022 · How to Open Browser Tab From the Command Line on Mac Seamlessly switch to the browser from your terminal I was recently playing around with some bash script ideas when I had to figure out how to Opening applications via the terminal in macOS can enhance efficiency, especially for advanced users. exe "microsoft-edge:<URL>" Keep in mind that if contains the % sign you will need to type %% as Windows uses the symbol Dec 7, 2020 · open edge in terminal on macos. html the open command opens a file (or directory, or URL). Process . will open the current w… Jul 27, 2021 · Mac OS X Bug and Workaround to Open a “file:” URL with Parameters from Command-Line July 27, 2021 Dec 17, 2024 · For Windows users, the command can also be invoked using msedge. Aug 18, 2019 · I'm looking for a universal way to open provided URL from the command line in default browsers incognito mode. It wouldn't be surprising if Chrome simply refuses to as a matter of user protection. For instance, if you wanted Notes opened, you’d enter: open -a Notes However, command prompts can be different for certain versions of Max OS X, so you can also type the word open in the command prompt to get a help file explaining more detailed ways to Nov 21, 2012 · The installer command is used to install Mac OS X installer packages to a specified domain or volume. Whether you're a beginner exploring basic commands or an advanced user looking to streamline tasks, mastering Mac Terminal commands can significantly increase your productivity. The installer command installs a single package per invocation, which is specified with the -package parameter ( -pkg is accepted as a synonym). As a fall back scenario, I'm ok with some specific browser like Chromium, Firefox or Mar 10, 2020 · 0 What I try to do is 1. NET application (which is running using mono). Dec 9, 2018 · Is there a way to open chrome:// URL's (such as chrome://bookmarks/) in this manner? When I try to open a chrome:// URL from the shell, chrome simply opens an empty browser tab. Learn how to use Terminal on your Mac to interact with macOS using the command line. The command line offers ways to interact with various settings in MacOS through defaults commands and other tricks, so it’s a reasonable question to wonder if you can set or change the default web browser on a Mac by using the Terminal. Nov 26, 2016 · open . While the open command exists in all versions of Mac OS X, the abilities vary somewhat depending on what version of MacOS / Mac OS X the Mac is running. open is a versatile command used in the UNIX command line for Mac that allows you to invoke various types of applications or files, including web URLs. The only option I can think of is to use nohup myApp Visual Studio Code command-line interface (switches). If you specify more than one folder at the command line, VS Code will create a Feb 7, 2013 · I'm using git on a Mac, and I'd like to know if there's a command to open the remote repository (origin) in a browser from the terminal. Opening a Specific URL or File (with examples) Code: Jul 6, 2010 · This essay describes how to quickly open a file, directory, or URL from the command line in various platforms. Open a file with an application or open a file/folder in finder. If you specify more than one file at the command line, VS Code will open only a single instance. Overview The open command is a powerful tool for interacting with files, folders, and applications on macOS. Its importance cannot be overstated, as it provides direct access to system functions and tools for advanced file management, system monitoring, and network operations, which are often more cumbersome or simply Learn how to configure custom URL handlers on OS X with step-by-step guidance and practical tips. Learn how to use the open command to launch files, directories, and URLs with their associated applications from the command line in macOS and Linux. In other words, you’re launching the specified site into a GUI browser from the command line. For example, run the following command to open my_file. Mar 22, 2021 · Safari does not have similar command line options like Google Chrome, however, here is a way to roll your own: In Terminal, run the following compound command: touch safari; open -e safari; chmod +x safari Copy and paste the example AppleScript code, shown further below, into the opened safari document, then save it. qdahhkdjayzaloligkmoerbrlzvgpncaicvoqcbgswkbswqtqetgovynoawpwkvpxogswuxmbeluruo