Small utilities for macOS

Building

To build the utilities, you need to have Xcode or CommandLine Tools installed. Then, run the following command in the terminal inside the mac-utils directory:

runfg

Run any command ensuring that the process won't be sent to the Apple Silicon efficiency cores.

• runfg.swift
• runfg (compiled binary)

runbg

Run any command pinned to the Apple Silicon efficiency cores.

• runbg.swift
• runbg (compiled binary)

VerticalMonitorLayout

Arrange the external monitor above the MacBook display.

• VerticalMonitorLayout.swift
• VerticalMonitorLayout (compiled binary)

HorizontalMonitorLayout

Arrange the external monitor to the left or right of the MacBook display.

• HorizontalMonitorLayout.swift
• HorizontalMonitorLayout (compiled binary)

SwapMonitors

• SwapMonitors.swift
• SwapMonitors (compiled binary)

In a MacBook with 2 monitors setup, swap the external monitors around.

MirrorMacBookToMonitor

In a MacBook with 1 monitor setup, mirror the MacBook display contents to the external monitor.

• MirrorMacBookToMonitor.swift
• MirrorMacBookToMonitor (compiled binary)

ToggleHDR

Enable/disable HDR for a monitor where the High Dynamic Range checkbox is available in Display Preferences.

• ToggleHDR.swift
• ToggleHDR (compiled binary)

RotateDisplay

Change rotation of a display from the command line.

• RotateDisplay.swift
• RotateDisplay (compiled binary)

SetNativeBrightness

Set brightness for Apple native displays from the command line.

• SetNativeBrightness.swift
• SetNativeBrightness (compiled binary)

Works for the built-in MacBook and iMac screen, and Apple vendored displays like:

• Studio Display
• Pro Display XDR
• LG Ultrafine for Mac
• LED Cinema
• Thunderbolt Display

SetKeyboardBacklight

Set keyboard backlight brightness from the command line.

• SetKeyboardBacklight.swift
• SetKeyboardBacklight (compiled binary)

IsNowPlaying

Prints true (or exits with code 0 on -q) if the Mac is currently playing any media.

Prints now playing media information with -v if the Mac is currently playing any media.

• IsNowPlaying.swift
• compiled binary
  • com.apple.controlcenter.mac-utils.IsNowPlaying (for macOS 15.4+)
  • IsNowPlaying (for macOS 15.3 and older)

On macOS 15.4 and newer, the compiled binary has the Control Center bundle ID as a prefix to work around a restriction added in that macOS version.

To keep using the IsNowPlaying command on macOS 15.4 and newer, you can symlink the binary to IsNowPlaying:

ln -s com.apple.controlcenter.mac-utils.IsNowPlaying IsNowPlaying

IsCameraOn

Prints true (or exits with code 0 on -q) if the Mac camera is in use by any application.

• IsCameraOn.swift
• IsCameraOn (compiled binary)

ReferencePreset

Activate presets for reference monitors like the Pro Display XDR or the MacBook Pro 2021 screen.

• ReferencePreset.swift
• ReferencePreset (compiled binary)

ApplyColorProfile

Apply .icc color profiles to any display. It works even if the display does not have a color profile setting in System Settings.

• ApplyColorProfile.swift
• ApplyColorProfile (compiled binary)

SendMediaKey

Send media key events such as play/pause, next, previous, volume up, volume down, mute, etc.

• SendMediaKey.swift
• SendMediaKey (compiled binary)

ALS

Read the ambient light sensor (lux) value from your Mac. Useful for automating brightness and color temperature adjustments.

• ALS.swift
• ALS (compiled binary)