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TinkerTool for Mac

Expanded preference settings for OS X.

Free
In English
4.5
Based on 79 user rates

TinkerTool overview

TinkerTool is an application that gives you access to additional preference settings Apple has built into Mac OS X. This allows to activate hidden features in the operating system and in some of the applications delivered with the system.

The tool makes sure that preference changes can only affect the current user. You don't need administrative privileges to use the tool. With this design, it is no problem to use TinkerTool in professional networks where users have restricted permissions. The program will never change any component of the operating system, so the integrity of your system is not put at risk, and there will be no negative effect on system updates.

All preference settings changed by TinkerTool can be reset to Apple's defaults, or to the state that existed before using the tool. No dangerous background processes are used for TinkerTool's operation. You may send bug reports here.

What’s new in version 10.0

  • Added full support for macOS 15 Sequoia.
  • Added new Finder setting to let the widths of columns in column display mode automatically adapt to the listed file names.
View older TinkerTool versions

TinkerTool for Mac

Free
In English
Version 10.0

What users say about TinkerTool

Uncoy
By Uncoy on Oct 17 2021 for v.8.2

Value: 5.0

TinkerTool offers a consistent interface to tweak OS X hidden preferences for over a decade now across a dozen OS X versions. You can count on Marcel Bresink and his team to find and safely share ways to tweak and customize OS X. TinkerTool is free. It's companion TinkerTool 2 allows a user to easily perform advanced maintenance and is always an inexpensive purchase between €5 and €9. I recommend Bresink's utilities over anything else as Bresink is dedicated just to these system level tweaking and is very careful to make sure the customisations he includes won't break your OS. In TinkerTool 2 it's easier to break the OS but you'll be warned several times before you do so. The other customisation utilities are mostly fly-by-night or built by marketers not engineers. I've used TinkerTool and TinkerTool 2 without adverse incident for over ten years.

Features: 5.0

I'm being forced to leave negative feedback on what needs to be improved. Nothing needs to be improved. Everything is in its place. I've checked Design but there's nothing wrong with the functionalist design.

Reliability: 5.0

Many of the comments here suggest that TinkerTool is not compatible with their OS. TinkerTool as it directly works with system preferences is OS specific. You must download the version which matches your OS. "For macOS 11 Big Sur, use TinkerTool. The program with the standard name TinkerTool is always designed to be compatible with the latest official version of Apple's operating systems. For macOS 10.14 Mojave and macOS 10.15 Catalina, use TinkerTool 7. For macOS 10.12 Sierra and macOS 10.13 High Sierra, use TinkerTool 6. For OS X 10.9 Mavericks, OS X 10.10 Yosemite, and OS X 10.11 El Capitan, use TinkerTool 5. For Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, Mac OS X 10.7 Lion and OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, use TinkerTool 4." Download them from here: https://www.bresink.com/osx/0TinkerTool/issues.html

Other user ratings:

Ease of use | 5.0
Customer support | 5.0
Write a detailed review about TinkerTool

What customer like

Performance
Stability
Price

What needs improvements

Design

TinkerTool qualities

Value
5.0
Ease of use
5.0
Features
5.0
Reliability
5.0
Customer support
5.0

Write your thoughts in our old-fashioned comment

MacUpdate Comment Policy. We strongly recommend leaving comments, however comments with abusive words, bullying, personal attacks of any type will be moderated.
4.5

(121 Reviews of TinkerTool)

  • Comments

  • User Ratings

Derekcurrie
Derekcurrie
Nov 20 2022
9.0
5.0
Nov 20 2022
5.0
Version: 9.0
NOTE: v8.6 is the current version for those of us waiting for Apple to mature macOS 13.x Ventura, (as of 13.0.1 I still recommend waiting). To find it, click on the link "TinkerTool Version Overview" above. Earlier versions are available there as well.
Satcomer
Satcomer
Jul 4 2022
8.5
5.0
Jul 4 2022
5.0
Version: 8.5
MacUpdate the application is now Universal!
ERNEST UNGUREANU
ERNEST UNGUREANU
Jun 16 2022
8.5
0.0
Jun 16 2022
0.0
Version: 8.5
I have been using this wonderful app for years. To my knowledge, it's the only one that is able to change the size of fonts used by applications, including OSX.
hmfwic47
hmfwic47
Jun 20 2021
8.1
0.0
Jun 20 2021
0.0
Version: 8.1
You have macOS 10.15.7. The application requires macOS 11.0 or later. Wish I could use this app.
DragonMaster
DragonMaster
Nov 3 2019
7.42
5.0
Nov 3 2019
5.0
Version: 7.42
Fine, fine. fine!!! I love it so much I can hardly say!.
iLeopard
iLeopard
Jul 29 2023
9.4
4.0
Jul 29 2023
4.0
Version: 9.4
kom
kom
Jul 26 2023
9.4
4.0
Jul 26 2023
4.0
Version: 9.4
didifri
didifri
Jan 6 2023
9.12
5.0
Jan 6 2023
5.0
Version: 9.12
Satcomer
Satcomer
Jul 3 2022
8.5
5.0
Jul 3 2022
5.0
Version: 8.5
Derekcurrie
Derekcurrie
Jun 17 2022
8.5
5.0
Jun 17 2022
5.0
Version: 8.5
aguycalledkwest
aguycalledkwest
Nov 15 2021
8.3
4.0
Nov 15 2021
4.0
Version: 8.3
PauloFut
PauloFut
Oct 28 2021
8.3
5.0
Oct 28 2021
5.0
Version: 8.3
DragonMaster
DragonMaster
Nov 3 2019
5.0
Nov 3 2019
5.0
Version: null
Ervins Strauhmanis
Ervins Strauhmanis
Oct 27 2018
5.0
Oct 27 2018
5.0
Version: null
makareim
makareim
Oct 15 2018
5.0
Oct 15 2018
5.0
Version: null
vrgs
vrgs
Jun 3 2018
4.5
Jun 3 2018
4.5
Version: null
Bruce-y
Bruce-y
Feb 11 2018
5.0
Feb 11 2018
5.0
Version: null
jhensley
jhensley
Jan 26 2018
5.0
Jan 26 2018
5.0
Version: null
MicheleB
MicheleB
Aug 12 2017
4.0
Aug 12 2017
4.0
Version: null
Andrew8042
Andrew8042
Feb 18 2017
5.0
Feb 18 2017
5.0
Version: null
jonas-12
jonas-12
Aug 20 2016
3.5
Aug 20 2016
3.5
Version: null
freevito
freevito
Jun 23 2016
5.0
Jun 23 2016
5.0
Version: null
SteveGosselin
SteveGosselin
Sep 7 2015
5.0
Sep 7 2015
5.0
Version: null
Bento de Espinosa
Bento de Espinosa
Jul 4 2015
5.0
Jul 4 2015
5.0
Version: null
Mike-Grace
Mike-Grace
Oct 23 2014
2.5
Oct 23 2014
2.5
Version: null
Spandmassse
Spandmassse
Aug 13 2014
5.0
Aug 13 2014
5.0
Version: null
CZap
CZap
Aug 7 2014
5.0
Aug 7 2014
5.0
Version: null
Sixbillships
Sixbillships
Jul 26 2014
5.0
Jul 26 2014
5.0
Version: null
Psychiatry
Psychiatry
Jul 20 2014
5.0
Jul 20 2014
5.0
Version: null
anonymous-squirrel-2096
Mar 17 2014
4.0
Version: null
SmilieKing
SmilieKing
Mar 3 2014
5.0
Mar 3 2014
5.0
Version: null
Diefis
Diefis
Feb 28 2014
5.0
Feb 28 2014
5.0
Version: null
iTonyD
iTonyD
Jan 19 2014
5.0
Jan 19 2014
5.0
Version: null
OSX-FTW!
OSX-FTW!
Dec 25 2013
5.0
Dec 25 2013
5.0
Version: null
Jazzyguy
Jazzyguy
Dec 20 2013
5.0
Dec 20 2013
5.0
Version: null
Harrybo
Harrybo
Dec 20 2013
4.5
Dec 20 2013
4.5
Version: null
Roes
Roes
Dec 15 2013
4.5
Dec 15 2013
4.5
Version: null
idlebonez
idlebonez
Nov 9 2013
5.0
Nov 9 2013
5.0
Version: null
piquadratpi2
piquadratpi2
Oct 24 2013
5.0
Oct 24 2013
5.0
Version: null
Sam0
Sam0
Apr 18 2013
5.0
Apr 18 2013
5.0
Version: null
Josart
Josart
Apr 5 2013
3.5
Apr 5 2013
3.5
Version: null
Oak
Oak
Dec 13 2012
4.5
Dec 13 2012
4.5
Version: null
Pb-Update
Pb-Update
Dec 13 2012
1.5
Dec 13 2012
1.5
Version: null
DBrown72
DBrown72
Sep 13 2012
5.0
Sep 13 2012
5.0
Version: null
CNYMAC315
CNYMAC315
Jun 2 2012
4.5
Jun 2 2012
4.5
Version: null