iTerm2 is the terminal emulator macOS should have shipped with. Here’s how to use its best features.

Installation

brew install --cask iterm2

Hotkey Window

iTerm2’s killer feature: a terminal that drops down from the top of your screen with a global hotkey. Go to Preferences → Keys → Hotkey → check “Show/hide all windows with a system-wide hotkey.” I use Opt+Space.

This gives you instant terminal access from any app.

Split Panes

  • Cmd+D — Split vertically
  • Cmd+Shift+D — Split horizontally
  • Cmd+[/] — Navigate between panes
  • Cmd+Shift+Enter — Maximize current pane

Cmd+F to search. It highlights ALL matches in the scrollback, not just the current one. Cmd+G for next match, Cmd+Shift+G for previous.

Profiles

Create different profiles for different workflows. One for local dev (light background, small font), one for SSH (dark, large font), one for logs. Profiles → Open Profiles to switch.

Shell Integration

Install iTerm2’s shell integration for instant replay (rewind your terminal session), command completion, and the ability to jump to previous prompts. Curl the install script:

curl -L https://iterm2.com/shell_integration/install_shell_integration.sh | bash