TinkerTool

Last updated
TinkerTool
Initial releaseDecember 7, 2010
Stable release
10.2 / 11 February 2025;37 days ago (2025-02-11)
Operating system macOS
Available in Multilingual
Type Utilities
License Freeware
Website www.bresink.com/osx/TinkerTool.html

TinkerTool is a freeware application for macOS that provides a graphical user interface (GUI) to change settings that are normally hidden, thereby allowing the user to customise the system. [1] It is developed by German developer Marcel Bresink Software-Systeme. Its latest release is version 10.2. [2] [3]

Contents

Features

TinkerTool gives users access to hidden system and application settings that Apple has built into macOS, but not integrated into GUI settings menus. Although users can typically access these through Terminal operations, TinkerTool assembles them and provides a GUI similar to Apple’s System Settings application for easier access.

By using Apple’s hidden settings, the application only makes changes that are reversible; it also only affects the account of the user running TinkerTool. Administrative privileges and background processing are not required. The application also can reset all settings to Apple's defaults, or to the state that existed before using the application.

History

Initially, TinkerTool worked with all versions of macOS. However, over the years, compatibility with particular versions of macOS was spun off into separate applications: TinkerTool Classic, TinkerTool Classic Generation 2, TinkerTool 4, TinkerTool 5, TinkerTool 6, and the current TinkerTool. Support therefore goes back to Mac OS X 10.1 Puma and later. [4]

Versions

TinkerTool versions are specific to versions of macOS and are not backward compatible. The program will not work correctly if used with an OS for which it was not designed. [5]

Tinker Tool Version Overview [6]
Name of special TinkerTool versionFor operating systemsCurrent Version
Tinker Tool 1.1.2 (Historical Edition)Mac OS X Public Beta1.1.2
Tinker Tool 1.5.2 (Historical Edition)Mac OS X 10.0 Cheetah1.5.2
Tinker Tool ClassicMac OS X 10.1 Puma

Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar

Mac OS X 10.3 Panther

3.95
Tinker Tool Classic Generation 2Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger

Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard

4.5
Tinker Tool 4Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard

Mac OS X 10.7 Lion

OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion

4.97
Tinker Tool 5OS X 10.9 Mavericks

OS X 10.10 Yosemite

OS X 10.11 El Capitan

5.7
Tinker Tool 6macOS 10.12 Sierra

macOS 10.13 High Sierra

6.5
Tinker Tool 7macOS 10.14 Mojave

macOS 10.15 Catalina

7.6
Tinker Tool 8macOS 11 Big Sur

macOS 12 Monterey

8.6
Tinker Tool 9macOS 13 Ventura

macOS 14 Sonoma

9.81
Tinker ToolmacOS 15 Sequoia10 or later

The current build is actively maintained. However, all previous versions in support of past operating systems are still available for download from the developer's website.

See also

References

  1. Bresink, Marcel. "TinkerTool: Description". Software-Systeme. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  2. Bresink, Marcel. "TikerTool: What's new?". Software-Systeme. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  3. "TinkerTool: Download". www.bresink.com. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  4. TinkerTool versions
  5. "TinkerTool: Notes". www.bresink.com. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  6. "TinkerTool Version Overview". www.bresink.com. Retrieved 2025-03-14.