TinkerTool

Last updated
TinkerTool
Initial releaseDecember 7, 2010
Stable release
9.4 / July 4, 2023
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 allows the user to customise the system by exposing hidden preferences to a graphical user interface (GUI). [1] It is developed by German developer Marcel Bresink Software-Systeme. Its latest release is version 9.4. [2] [3]

Contents

Features

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

By using Apple’s hidden preferences, the application only commits changes that are reversible and affect the preferences of the current user account. Administrative privileges or background processing are not required. The application also supports a reset option to reset all preferences 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]

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

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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.