How to change the Login Shell on Mac OS X from bash to zsh?

Question

I'm trying to change the Login Shell of Mac OS X from bash to zsh. I see it is possible in Mac OS X Leopard, but for OS X Lion I can't find a way. I really hope it is possible to change the Login shell from bash to something else. I am not exactly sure where to look for.

score 121 · Accepted Answer · edited Feb 16 '18 at 21:37

121

You can change user shell by the following command:

chsh -s /bin/zsh

^{Note: To change it for a non-standard shell, make sure its path has been added to /etc/shells file.}

edited Feb 16 '18 at 21:37

kenorb

26,615

answered Nov 28 '11 at 21:38

Spiff

110,156

score 64 · Answer 2 · edited Dec 31 '17 at 23:32

Funnily enough, the same method you link to in your question still works in OS X Lion through Sierra (10.12). The only difference: The preference pane is named Users & Groups instead of Accounts.

Open "System Preferences" → "Users & Groups".

Unless the lock icon is already unlocked, click the lock icon and authenticate yourself.

Context-click on a user in the list of user names (hold down the Control key while clicking, or right-click on a right-handed two button mouse).

In context menu, choose "Advanced Options…".

Choose "Login shell" in the sheet that appears.

The note at the top of the "Advanced Options" screen claims you have to restart for the change to take effect, but you really just need to log out and back in again.

score 13 · Answer 3 · edited Jun 23 '17 at 06:11

13

Or:

sudo dscl . change /users/$USER UserShell /bin/bash $(which zsh)

edited Jun 23 '17 at 06:11

Taylor D. Edmiston

257

answered Nov 25 '12 at 09:52

frank

131

score 2 · Answer 4 · answered Dec 12 '22 at 11:18

An update, on Ventura, you can either use dscl as people have described above, or go into the system settings and control click (or right click) on your user name. You will then be able to choose advanced options and from there add your shell as the login shell. But be careful so that you do not break anything.

score 1 · Answer 5 · answered Nov 25 '16 at 07:02

1

If anyone wondering same problem happens on macOS Sierra and following command allowed me to change shell without problems:

chpass -s /usr/local/bin/zsh

answered Nov 25 '16 at 07:02

Maxim Ligus

11

score 0 · Answer 6 · answered Oct 24 '20 at 16:09

Running this

sudo dscl . -create /Users/$USER UserShell /usr/local/bin/zsh

worked for me to fix

(eval):setopt:3: no such option: NO_warnnestedvar

which popped up everytime autocomplete should kick in

found in https://rick.cogley.info/post/use-homebrew-zsh-instead-of-the-osx-default/

How to change the Login Shell on Mac OS X from bash to zsh?

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