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cfprefsd

Changing preferences isn’t so simple

Before you try editing or trashing that preference file, ask whether macOS in the form of cfprefsd isn’t going to undo your work.

November 25, 2022 Macs, Technology

Explainer: Property lists and preferences

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They’re XML, structured into dictionaries and arrays containing key-value pairs. Preference plists are managed, and need special treatment.

July 17, 2021 Macs, Technology

Last Week on My Mac: Obsolescent preferences

UserDefaults and cfprefsd manage the preference system, an amorphous database spread across hundreds of files which can only be controlled in Terminal. It’s time for a change.

January 24, 2021 Macs, Technology

Preference settings and Finder misbehaviour

Something wrong with the Finder or an app, and you want to trash its preferences? Don’t: macOS will defeat you. Here’s how to do that so it works.

January 19, 2021 Macs, Technology

Unsticking stuck preference settings

When nothing seems able to get that preference setting right, don’t abandon hope – follow this instead.

August 4, 2020 Macs, Technology

Working safely and effectively with preferences in Mojave

Preference files are involved in many Mac problems, and are often their solution. Using them now isn’t simple: here is some guidance.

August 22, 2019 Macs, Technology

Getting the best out my apps’ auto-update system

Helpful info and advice for all those using recent versions of my more popular free apps and utilities, about security and auto-updates.

June 21, 2019 Macs, Technology

Last Week on My Mac: Making a mess of preferences

The current macOS implementation of preferences is appalling design in every respect, and is essentially undocumented even for developers. Is this the way that macOS is heading?

July 9, 2017 Macs, Technology

Sticky preferences: why trashing or editing them may not change anything

Have you ever tried removing or editing a preference file, to no effect? This explains why that happens, and how to get changes to work properly.

July 6, 2017 Macs, Technology
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