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nix-plist-manager

Appearance

Everything under System Settings › Appearance, as Nix options. Each one is named after the control you'd click, and set under programs.nix-plist-manager.options in home-manager.

10 options 10 verified against System Settings

Appearance

Section titled “Appearance”

System Settings › Appearance › Appearance

home-manager · per user ✓ Verified on macOS 27 
applications.systemSettings.appearance.appearance = "Auto";

One of: "Auto""Dark""Light" "unset" puts back macOS's default.

Where it's stored and what runs
  • NSGlobalDomain AppleInterfaceStyleSwitchesAutomatically
  • NSGlobalDomain AppleInterfaceStyle

For Auto:

/usr/bin/osascript -l JavaScript -e 'ObjC.import('\''Foundation'\'');$.NSBundle.bundleWithPath('\''/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SkyLight.framework'\'').load;ObjC.bindFunction('\''SLSSetAppearanceThemeSwitchesAutomatically'\'', ["void",["bool"]]);$.SLSSetAppearanceThemeSwitchesAutomatically(true);' >/dev/null
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleInterfaceStyleSwitchesAutomatically 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleInterfaceStyle 2>/dev/null || true

For Dark:

/usr/bin/osascript -l JavaScript -e 'ObjC.import('\''Foundation'\'');$.NSBundle.bundleWithPath('\''/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SkyLight.framework'\'').load;ObjC.bindFunction('\''SLSSetAppearanceThemeSwitchesAutomatically'\'', ["void",["bool"]]);$.SLSSetAppearanceThemeSwitchesAutomatically(false);' >/dev/null
/usr/bin/osascript -e 'tell application "System Events" to tell appearance preferences to set dark mode to true' >/dev/null
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleInterfaceStyleSwitchesAutomatically 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleInterfaceStyle 2>/dev/null || true

For Light:

/usr/bin/osascript -l JavaScript -e 'ObjC.import('\''Foundation'\'');$.NSBundle.bundleWithPath('\''/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SkyLight.framework'\'').load;ObjC.bindFunction('\''SLSSetAppearanceThemeSwitchesAutomatically'\'', ["void",["bool"]]);$.SLSSetAppearanceThemeSwitchesAutomatically(false);' >/dev/null
/usr/bin/osascript -e 'tell application "System Events" to tell appearance preferences to set dark mode to false' >/dev/null
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleInterfaceStyleSwitchesAutomatically 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleInterfaceStyle 2>/dev/null || true

For unset:

/usr/bin/defaults delete NSGlobalDomain AppleInterfaceStyleSwitchesAutomatically 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults delete NSGlobalDomain AppleInterfaceStyle 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleInterfaceStyleSwitchesAutomatically 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleInterfaceStyle 2>/dev/null || true

Liquid Glass

Section titled “Liquid Glass”

System Settings › Appearance › Liquid Glass

home-manager · per user ✓ Verified on macOS 27

How tinted Liquid Glass is, from 0 (clear) to 1 (tinted). System Settings defaults to 0.5.

applications.systemSettings.appearance.liquidGlass = 0.0;

A number from 0 to 1 "unset" puts back macOS's default.

Where it's stored and what runs
  • NSGlobalDomain NSGlassTintAmount

For 0.0:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSGlassTintAmount -float 0.000000 || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSGlassTintAmount -float 0.000000' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain NSGlassTintAmount 2>/dev/null || true

For 1.0:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSGlassTintAmount -float 1.000000 || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSGlassTintAmount -float 1.000000' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain NSGlassTintAmount 2>/dev/null || true

For unset:

/usr/bin/defaults delete NSGlobalDomain NSGlassTintAmount 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain NSGlassTintAmount 2>/dev/null || true

Theme

Section titled “Theme”

Color

Section titled “Color”

System Settings › Appearance › Theme › Color

home-manager · per user ✓ Verified on macOS 27 
applications.systemSettings.appearance.accentColor = "Blue";

One of: "Blue""Graphite""Green""Multicolor""Orange""Pink""Purple""Red""Yellow" "unset" puts back macOS's default.

Where it's stored and what runs
  • NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor
  • NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant

For Blue:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor -int 4 || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor -int 4' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant -int 1 || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant -int 1' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleColorPreferencesChangedNotification 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleAquaColorVariantChanged 2>/dev/null || true

For Graphite:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor -int -1 || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor -int -1' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant -int 6 || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant -int 6' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleColorPreferencesChangedNotification 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleAquaColorVariantChanged 2>/dev/null || true

For Green:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor -int 3 || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor -int 3' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant -int 1 || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant -int 1' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleColorPreferencesChangedNotification 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleAquaColorVariantChanged 2>/dev/null || true

For Multicolor:

/usr/bin/defaults delete NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant -int 1 || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant -int 1' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleColorPreferencesChangedNotification 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleAquaColorVariantChanged 2>/dev/null || true

For Orange:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor -int 1 || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor -int 1' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant -int 1 || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant -int 1' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleColorPreferencesChangedNotification 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleAquaColorVariantChanged 2>/dev/null || true

For Pink:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor -int 6 || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor -int 6' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant -int 1 || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant -int 1' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleColorPreferencesChangedNotification 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleAquaColorVariantChanged 2>/dev/null || true

For Purple:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor -int 5 || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor -int 5' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant -int 1 || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant -int 1' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleColorPreferencesChangedNotification 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleAquaColorVariantChanged 2>/dev/null || true

For Red:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor -int 0 || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor -int 0' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant -int 1 || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant -int 1' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleColorPreferencesChangedNotification 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleAquaColorVariantChanged 2>/dev/null || true

For Yellow:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor -int 2 || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor -int 2' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant -int 1 || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant -int 1' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleColorPreferencesChangedNotification 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleAquaColorVariantChanged 2>/dev/null || true

For unset:

/usr/bin/defaults delete NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults delete NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleAccentColor 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleAquaColorVariant 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleColorPreferencesChangedNotification 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleAquaColorVariantChanged 2>/dev/null || true

Icon & widget style

Section titled “Icon & widget style”

System Settings › Appearance › Theme › Icon & widget style

home-manager · per user ✓ Verified on macOS 27

The icon and widget style, and whether it's light, dark or automatic. "unset" is Default in Light.

applications.systemSettings.appearance.iconAndWidgetStyle = "ClearAutomatic";

One of: "ClearAutomatic""ClearDark""ClearLight""RegularAutomatic""RegularDark""TintedAutomatic""TintedDark""TintedLight" "unset" puts back macOS's default.

Where it's stored and what runs
  • NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTheme

For ClearAutomatic:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTheme -string ClearAutomatic || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTheme -string ClearAutomatic' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTheme 2>/dev/null || true

For ClearDark:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTheme -string ClearDark || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTheme -string ClearDark' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTheme 2>/dev/null || true

For ClearLight:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTheme -string ClearLight || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTheme -string ClearLight' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTheme 2>/dev/null || true

For RegularAutomatic:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTheme -string RegularAutomatic || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTheme -string RegularAutomatic' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTheme 2>/dev/null || true

For RegularDark:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTheme -string RegularDark || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTheme -string RegularDark' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTheme 2>/dev/null || true

For TintedAutomatic:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTheme -string TintedAutomatic || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTheme -string TintedAutomatic' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTheme 2>/dev/null || true

For TintedDark:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTheme -string TintedDark || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTheme -string TintedDark' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTheme 2>/dev/null || true

For TintedLight:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTheme -string TintedLight || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTheme -string TintedLight' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTheme 2>/dev/null || true

For unset:

/usr/bin/defaults delete NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTheme 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTheme 2>/dev/null || true

Icon, widget & folder color

Section titled “Icon, widget & folder color”

System Settings › Appearance › Theme › Icon, widget & folder color

home-manager · per user ✓ Verified on macOS 27 
applications.systemSettings.appearance.iconWidgetAndFolderColor = "Automatic";

One of: "Automatic""Blue""Graphite""Green""Orange""Pink""Purple""Red""Yellow" "unset" puts back macOS's default.

Where it's stored and what runs
  • NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor

For Automatic:

/usr/bin/defaults delete NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor 2>/dev/null || true

For Blue:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor -string Blue || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor -string Blue' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor 2>/dev/null || true

For Graphite:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor -string Graphite || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor -string Graphite' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor 2>/dev/null || true

For Green:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor -string Green || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor -string Green' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor 2>/dev/null || true

For Orange:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor -string Orange || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor -string Orange' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor 2>/dev/null || true

For Pink:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor -string Pink || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor -string Pink' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor 2>/dev/null || true

For Purple:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor -string Purple || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor -string Purple' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor 2>/dev/null || true

For Red:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor -string Red || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor -string Red' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor 2>/dev/null || true

For Yellow:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor -string Yellow || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor -string Yellow' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor 2>/dev/null || true

For unset:

/usr/bin/defaults delete NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleIconAppearanceTintColor 2>/dev/null || true

Text highlight color

Section titled “Text highlight color”

System Settings › Appearance › Theme › Text highlight color

home-manager · per user ✓ Verified on macOS 27

The color of selected text. Automatic follows the accent color.

applications.systemSettings.appearance.textHighlightColor = "Automatic";

One of: "Automatic""Blue""Graphite""Green""Orange""Pink""Purple""Red""Yellow" "unset" puts back macOS's default.

Where it's stored and what runs
  • NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor

For Automatic:

/usr/bin/defaults delete NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleColorPreferencesChangedNotification 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleAquaColorVariantChanged 2>/dev/null || true

For Blue:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor -string '0.698039 0.843137 1.000000 Blue' || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor -string '\''0.698039 0.843137 1.000000 Blue'\''' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleColorPreferencesChangedNotification 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleAquaColorVariantChanged 2>/dev/null || true

For Graphite:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor -string '0.847059 0.847059 0.862745 Graphite' || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor -string '\''0.847059 0.847059 0.862745 Graphite'\''' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleColorPreferencesChangedNotification 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleAquaColorVariantChanged 2>/dev/null || true

For Green:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor -string '0.752941 0.964706 0.678431 Green' || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor -string '\''0.752941 0.964706 0.678431 Green'\''' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleColorPreferencesChangedNotification 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleAquaColorVariantChanged 2>/dev/null || true

For Orange:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor -string '1.000000 0.874510 0.701961 Orange' || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor -string '\''1.000000 0.874510 0.701961 Orange'\''' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleColorPreferencesChangedNotification 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleAquaColorVariantChanged 2>/dev/null || true

For Pink:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor -string '1.000000 0.749020 0.823529 Pink' || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor -string '\''1.000000 0.749020 0.823529 Pink'\''' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleColorPreferencesChangedNotification 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleAquaColorVariantChanged 2>/dev/null || true

For Purple:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor -string '0.968627 0.831373 1.000000 Purple' || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor -string '\''0.968627 0.831373 1.000000 Purple'\''' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleColorPreferencesChangedNotification 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleAquaColorVariantChanged 2>/dev/null || true

For Red:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor -string '1.000000 0.733333 0.721569 Red' || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor -string '\''1.000000 0.733333 0.721569 Red'\''' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleColorPreferencesChangedNotification 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleAquaColorVariantChanged 2>/dev/null || true

For Yellow:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor -string '1.000000 0.937255 0.690196 Yellow' || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor -string '\''1.000000 0.937255 0.690196 Yellow'\''' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleColorPreferencesChangedNotification 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleAquaColorVariantChanged 2>/dev/null || true

For unset:

/usr/bin/defaults delete NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleHighlightColor 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleColorPreferencesChangedNotification 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/notifyutil -p AppleAquaColorVariantChanged 2>/dev/null || true

Windows

Section titled “Windows”

Tint window background with wallpaper color

Section titled “Tint window background with wallpaper color”

System Settings › Appearance › Windows › Tint window background with wallpaper color

home-manager · per user ✓ Verified on macOS 27 
applications.systemSettings.appearance.allowWallpaperTintingInWindows = true;

true or false "unset" puts back macOS's default.

Where it's stored and what runs
  • NSGlobalDomain AppleReduceDesktopTinting

For false:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleReduceDesktopTinting -bool true || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleReduceDesktopTinting -bool true' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleReduceDesktopTinting 2>/dev/null || true

For true:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleReduceDesktopTinting -bool false || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleReduceDesktopTinting -bool false' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleReduceDesktopTinting 2>/dev/null || true

For unset:

/usr/bin/defaults delete NSGlobalDomain AppleReduceDesktopTinting 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleReduceDesktopTinting 2>/dev/null || true

Click in the scroll bar to

Section titled “Click in the scroll bar to”

System Settings › Appearance › Windows › Click in the scroll bar to

home-manager · per user ✓ Verified on macOS 27 
applications.systemSettings.appearance.clickInTheScrollBarTo = "Jump to the next page";

One of: "Jump to the next page""Jump to the spot that's clicked" "unset" puts back macOS's default.

Where it's stored and what runs
  • NSGlobalDomain AppleScrollerPagingBehavior

For Jump to the next page:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleScrollerPagingBehavior -bool false || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleScrollerPagingBehavior -bool false' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleScrollerPagingBehavior 2>/dev/null || true

For Jump to the spot that's clicked:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleScrollerPagingBehavior -bool true || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleScrollerPagingBehavior -bool true' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleScrollerPagingBehavior 2>/dev/null || true

For unset:

/usr/bin/defaults delete NSGlobalDomain AppleScrollerPagingBehavior 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleScrollerPagingBehavior 2>/dev/null || true

Show scroll bars

Section titled “Show scroll bars”

System Settings › Appearance › Windows › Show scroll bars

home-manager · per user ✓ Verified on macOS 27 
applications.systemSettings.appearance.showScrollBars = "Always";

One of: "Always""Automatically based on mouse or trackpad""When scrolling" "unset" puts back macOS's default.

Where it's stored and what runs
  • NSGlobalDomain AppleShowScrollBars

For Always:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleShowScrollBars -string Always || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleShowScrollBars -string Always' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleShowScrollBars 2>/dev/null || true

For Automatically based on mouse or trackpad:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleShowScrollBars -string Automatic || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleShowScrollBars -string Automatic' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleShowScrollBars 2>/dev/null || true

For When scrolling:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleShowScrollBars -string WhenScrolling || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleShowScrollBars -string WhenScrolling' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleShowScrollBars 2>/dev/null || true

For unset:

/usr/bin/defaults delete NSGlobalDomain AppleShowScrollBars 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain AppleShowScrollBars 2>/dev/null || true
Section titled “Sidebar icon size”

System Settings › Appearance › Windows › Sidebar icon size

home-manager · per user ✓ Verified on macOS 27 
applications.systemSettings.appearance.sidebarIconSize = "Large";

One of: "Large""Medium""Small" "unset" puts back macOS's default.

Where it's stored and what runs
  • NSGlobalDomain NSTableViewDefaultSizeMode

For Large:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSTableViewDefaultSizeMode -int 3 || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSTableViewDefaultSizeMode -int 3' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain NSTableViewDefaultSizeMode 2>/dev/null || true

For Medium:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSTableViewDefaultSizeMode -int 2 || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSTableViewDefaultSizeMode -int 2' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain NSTableViewDefaultSizeMode 2>/dev/null || true

For Small:

/usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSTableViewDefaultSizeMode -int 1 || echo 'nix-plist-manager: failed: /usr/bin/defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSTableViewDefaultSizeMode -int 1' >&2
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain NSTableViewDefaultSizeMode 2>/dev/null || true

For unset:

/usr/bin/defaults delete NSGlobalDomain NSTableViewDefaultSizeMode 2>/dev/null || true
/usr/bin/defaults -currentHost delete NSGlobalDomain NSTableViewDefaultSizeMode 2>/dev/null || true