Top 10 Best Mac Terminal Equivalents to Windows Command Prompt and PowerShell Commands

If you’ve ever switched from Windows to macOS, one of the first hurdles is the Terminal. Windows users are used to Command Prompt or PowerShell, with their familiar commands like dir, ipconfig, or cls. On a Mac, the Terminal is powered by Unix-based commands, and while the functionality is often the same—or even more powerful—the syntax can look very different. Fortunately, there are direct equivalents for nearly every command you used to rely on in Windows. Let’s break down the top 10 best Mac Terminal equivalents to Windows Command Prompt and PowerShell commands.

1. Viewing Directory Contents

Windows: dir
macOS: ls

In Windows, dir shows you a list of files and folders. On Mac, the ls command does the same. You can expand it with flags like ls -l for a detailed list or ls -a to include hidden files. Many Mac users combine them with ls -la for a complete overview.

2. Clearing the Screen

Windows: cls
macOS: clear

Nothing feels more refreshing than a clean terminal window. On Windows, cls does this instantly. On macOS, clear is your go-to. For speed, you can even press Command + K to clear the Terminal screen.

3. Checking Your Network Configuration

Windows: ipconfig
macOS: ifconfig

Windows users type ipconfig to check their IP address and network details. On Mac, the equivalent is ifconfig. It shows detailed information about all network interfaces. If you just want your local IP address quickly, try ipconfig getifaddr en0 for Wi-Fi.

4. Changing Directories

Windows: cd
macOS: cd

This one stays the same across both platforms. cd lets you navigate through directories. The only difference is path formatting: Windows uses backslashes (\), while macOS (and all Unix-like systems) use forward slashes (/).

5. Viewing Current Directory

Windows: cd (without arguments)
macOS: pwd

In Windows, typing cd by itself shows you the current working directory. On macOS, the pwd (print working directory) command serves the same purpose. It will display the full path of where you currently are.

6. Copying Files

Windows: copy
macOS: cp

Need to duplicate files? On Windows, it’s copy source.txt destination.txt. On macOS, you use cp source.txt destination.txt. If you’re copying folders, add the -R flag to copy recursively, as in cp -R folder1 folder2.

7. Moving or Renaming Files

Windows: move
macOS: mv

Both Windows and macOS allow you to move or rename files using a single command. Windows uses move, while macOS uses mv. For example: mv oldname.txt newname.txt renames the file instantly.

8. Deleting Files

Windows: del
macOS: rm

To remove files, Windows users type del. On a Mac, you’ll use rm. Be careful though: unlike Windows, macOS won’t send files to the Trash—it deletes them permanently. For folders, you’ll need rm -r foldername.

9. Viewing Running Processes

Windows: tasklist
macOS: ps

In Windows, tasklist gives you a snapshot of all running processes. On macOS, the ps aux command provides a detailed list of processes, their IDs, and resource usage. For something more interactive, try top or the modern replacement htop (after installing it with Homebrew).

10. Stopping a Process

Windows: taskkill
macOS: kill

If an app misbehaves, you can stop it from the command line. Windows uses taskkill /PID <process_id>. On macOS, the equivalent is kill -9 <process_id>. You’ll need to first find the process ID with ps or top.

Bonus: Getting Help with Commands

Windows: help or <command> /?
macOS: man

On Windows, typing help or adding /?” gives you usage details. On macOS, you have the man(manual) command. For example,man lsbrings up the user manual for thelscommand. To quit the manual, pressq`.

Wrapping Up

Switching from Windows Command Prompt or PowerShell to Mac’s Terminal doesn’t have to be intimidating. Most commands have direct equivalents, and once you get used to the Unix-style structure, you may even find it more powerful. Start with these 10 basics—listing files, checking network info, moving files, and killing processes—and you’ll feel at home in no time.

Master these, and your Mac Terminal will feel less like uncharted territory and more like a familiar, powerful toolkit.