TinkerTool for Mac
Expanded preference settings for OS X.
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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 11.5
- Added new setting to hide the additional “Tahoe-style”
icons in menu items if they have no direct benefit. This
affects all macOS-compliant applications and is part of
the General pane.
- Added new setting to disable the pop-up icon of the typing assistant when switching between input sources (keyboard layouts). This is part of the General pane.
- Added missing icons to all menu items (which can now be
switched off).
TinkerTool for Mac
Free
In English
Version 11.5
What users say about TinkerTool
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 customers like
What needs improvements
(122 Reviews of TinkerTool)
Comments
User Ratings
Oct 8, 2025
Version: 11.2
For those of us avoiding macOS 26 Tahoe (for now) the current version of TinkerTool for macOS 13, 14 and 15 is v10.6. It's available here: https://www.bresink.com/osx/0TinkerTool10/download.php
Nov 20, 2022
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.
Jun 16, 2022
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.
Jun 20, 2021
Version: 8.1
You have macOS 10.15.7. The application requires macOS 11.0 or later.
Wish I could use this app.
