How to reset a window's size and position?

[K1bw0rth]

Excellent, this worked perfectly. Thank you very much!

 

[Zexthero]

To reset the Sidebar width to the default value:

defaults delete ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist SidebarWidth

Close all Finder windows before running the command. A new window should open with the default Sidebar width. If it doesn’t, try to restart Finder.

I've tried "Prefs Editor" and even manually to reset the safari position to the default one, didn't succeeded at all, do you have any knowledge in reseting the Safari position?

 

[bogdanw]

To reset Safari's main window position, give Terminal Full Disk Access and run:

defaults delete ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.Safari/Data/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Safari.plist "NSWindow Frame BrowserWindowFrame"

Other Safari windows that can be reset:
"NSWindow Frame GoToSheet"
"NSWindow Frame NSNavPanelAutosaveName"
"NSWindow Frame NSSpellCheckerSubstitutionsPanel2"
"NSWindow Frame NewBookmarksSheet"
"NSWindow Frame OtherUserAgentSheet"
"NSWindow Frame Preferences"
"NSWindow Frame PrivacyReportWindow"
"NSWindow Frame WBCookiesAndOtherWebsiteData"

 

[Jdizzle188]

May I be a pain and reasurect this thread and ask if I could get the default window sizing terminal commands for;

Music, photos and mail please?

It's nice to know our should I say reassuring to know there are people like myself who want things just as with their operating system! 🙂

 

[bogdanw]

Photos

defaults delete com.apple.photos "NSWindow Frame MainWindow"

For Music use Prefs Editor, open com.apple.Music search for window and delete windowHPos, windowHeight, windowVPos and windowWidth.

The are several values for Mail, I’ll look more into it.

 

[ProQuiz]

Is there a way to reset System Information's window size and position?

 

[bogdanw]

Is there a way to reset System Information's window size and position?

defaults delete com.apple.SystemProfiler "NSWindow Frame SystemProfile"

 

[arw]

Ok, while we're at it, I'd like to hijack this thread (as it is sort of fitting the topic):
One of my user accounts has an unwanted Finder behaviour:

In 'List' view, the first column (filename) should have a fixed width.
But for this one user account, it only has the default width for a split second, then it moves to the left to match the longest filename's length.
It behaves like double-clicking the right edge of the top divider to match the width to the longest filename or folder.
I want a fixed width.
Which entry is responsible for overriding the default column width?

Moving the divider while pressing the 'Option' key or setting the default view has no effect on new windows.

Thanks

 

[bogdanw]

Finder should have a dedicated thread. It managed to exasperate me a few days ago while I was trying to sort out the sidebar.

Regarding the name column, I see 3 values:

/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Print FK_DefaultListViewSettingsV2:columns:0:width" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist

/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Print FK_StandardViewSettings:ExtendedListViewSettingsV2:columns:0:width" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist

/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Print FK_StandardViewSettings:ListViewSettings:columns:name:width" ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist'

but modifying/deleting them doesn’t produce any visible result.

 

[KeegZ]

Photos

defaults delete com.apple.photos "NSWindow Frame MainWindow"

For Music use Prefs Editor, open com.apple.Music search for window and delete windowHPos, windowHeight, windowVPos and windowWidth.

The are several values for Mail, I’ll look more into it.

Is this possible with Messages? I've tried various ways so far.

 

[bogdanw]

Is this possible with Messages?

For Messages:

defaults delete com.apple.MobileSMS "NSWindow Frame CKMessagesSceneDelegate"

 

[VitoBotta]

I really like the DisplayMaid for this. It allows me to save all windows sizes and positions as I like them, and when something changes I can restore them all with one click. It works also when plugging/unplugging external displays so it's very handy.

 

[KeegZ]

For Messages:

defaults delete com.apple.MobileSMS "NSWindow Frame CKMessagesSceneDelegate"

Thank you. I knew it was MobileSMS but did not know the CKMessagesSceneDelegate. I appreciate it!

 

[tonywalker23]

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who is too obsessed with default OS settings

Reinstalled my OS for fun on my main work computer this weekend, added all the essential settings I needed, and was determined to not adjust any windows whatsoever. all was well until...

I put my MBP on its stand and plugged in the Studio Display, and boom… Safari opens at the top of the screen under the menu bar. I figured it would be some plist setting but that is the extent of my guessing. googled and ended up here.

bogdanw, thank you for helping people like us My roof has a falling piece of wood, my 24 year old truck has holes in the seats, but at least my windows are still in the default location in macOS so all is well.

 

[My$tic]

For Messages:

defaults delete com.apple.MobileSMS "NSWindow Frame CKMessagesSceneDelegate"

What about third-party applications such as Brave Browser?

Nevermind: "~Library/Preferences/com.brave.Browser.plist"

 

[bogdanw]

What about third-party applications such as Brave Browser? As far as I know, the only folder everything is stored in is "~/Library/Application Support/BraveSoftware" and there are no .plist files in there.

You have to delete window_placement from ~/Library/Application\ Support/BraveSoftware/Brave-Browser/Default/Preferences
Open the Preferences file with TextEdit and delete what looks like this:
"window_placement":{"bottom":1066,"left":22,"maximized":false,"right":1506,"top":47,"work_area_bottom":2117,"work_area_left":0,"work_area_right":3840,"work_area_top":25}},

 

[My$tic]

You have to delete window_placement from ~/Library/Application\ Support/BraveSoftware/Brave-Browser/Default/Preferences
Open the Preferences file with TextEdit and delete what looks like this:
"window_placement":{"bottom":1066,"left":22,"maximized":false,"right":1506,"top":47,"work_area_bottom":2117,"work_area_left":0,"work_area_right":3840,"work_area_top":25}},

Yup, that's it. I realized after I edited my message that 'com.brave.Browser.plist" didn't have the setting. Thanks!

I don't have OCD, but I'm trying to better understand how configurations are saved on Mac.

 

[MacGizmo]

I find the way Apple handles Finder windows to be a complete clusterfluff. I've long since given up trying to work with it, so I use FinderFix to have all Finder windows, no matter where they are or how they were opened to be sized to my specific liking, located in the exact location on the screen I want, with the sidebar width set to what I want.

 

[alexjohnson]

For Messages:

defaults delete com.apple.MobileSMS "NSWindow Frame CKMessagesSceneDelegate"

bogdanw, this is the thread I've waited years to find.

Three things, only a little tongue in cheek as I'm sure you have a life.

1. If you compiled all of these defaults delete commands for every default app, and if you know non-Apple ones too, even better, you would be a God amongst OCD maniacs. As I used to say, if Steve wanted the window maximized, he'd have shipped it like that. Who am I to question his defaults?
2. If you made an app that wrapped these commands as a kind of global nuke — I am think of Onyx, but for window placement — you could charge what you like. These suckers exist. I know because I am one. I'm not proud, but I know who I am.
3. In the unlikely event someone from Apple ever sees this, the one thing I have hated about macOS literally since the Cheetah PB is arbitrary window placement, and yet the inability to restore them to where they just were. Why doesn't cmd-Z work for an accidental window move, resize, or (worst of all) inadvertent touch against a column width. Why, Apple, WHY?

(Taking my meds now. It's OK. I'm crazy, but not dangerous.)

 

[tonywalker23]

You’re not alone, Alex. after playing with the betas, I reinstalled the public release of the oses for my phone watch iPad macbook Air and docked MacBook Pro. Even though the build was exactly the same, something about every setting being completely back to default brings a calm.

half serious, it is posts like this that remind me that something is “wrong” with me. But a beautiful os wasn’t designed by people who didn’t care. I’m not designing oses (I’m struggling to get a book review done thus due Sunday night yet here I am browsing MR), but perhaps there’s some kind of way people like us who are not famous or designing things that'll get seen around the world can still use our obsessiveness for good.

 

[bogdanw]

As this thread appears among the first results on Google, I suggest making the first post a wiki post and adding all the reset commands discussed here and confirmed to be working. @ProQuiz

I’m not a developer, I can’t make an app. The best I could do is put the commands in an AppleScript that could be saved as an app.
Something like this:

set theAPPSs to {"AppStore", "Messages", "Photos", "Safari", "System Information", "System Settings"}
set the selectedAPP to choose from list the theAPPSs with prompt "Reset window for:" default items {"AppStore"}
if selectedAPP = {"AppStore"} then
    do shell script "defaults delete com.apple.AppStore 'NSWindow Frame AppStoreMainWindow'"
end if
if selectedAPP = {"Messages"} then
    do shell script "defaults delete com.apple.MobileSMS 'NSWindow Frame CKMessagesSceneDelegate'"
end if
if selectedAPP = {"Photos"} then
    do shell script "defaults delete com.apple.photos 'NSWindow Frame MainWindow''"
end if
if selectedAPP = {"Safari"} then
    do shell script "defaults delete com.apple.Safari 'NSWindow Frame BrowserWindowFrame'"
end if
if selectedAPP = {"System Information"} then
    do shell script "defaults delete com.apple.SystemProfiler 'NSWindow Frame SystemProfile'"
end if
if selectedAPP = {"System Settings"} then
    do shell script "defaults delete com.apple.systempreferences 'NSWindow Frame main'"
end if

I came across this page https://www.codejam.info/2023/04/macos-reset-app-window-size-position.html that offers an interesting way to search for NSWindowFrame values.

find ~/Library -type f -name '*.plist' -exec grep -E 'NSWindow ?Frame' {} +

 

[tonywalker23]

Based on the personalities in this thread, i bet im not the only one who rejoiced yesterday at the news about 18.1 will allow you to reset the control center to default in iOS?

bogdanw that is a good link. Thanks for sharing it.

 

[alexjohnson]

As this thread appears among the first results on Google, I suggest making the first post a wiki post and adding all the reset commands discussed here and confirmed to be working. @ProQuiz

I’m not a developer, I can’t make an app. The best I could do is put the commands in an AppleScript that could be saved as an app.
Something like this:

set theAPPSs to {"AppStore", "Messages", "Photos", "Safari", "System Information", "System Settings"}
set the selectedAPP to choose from list the theAPPSs with prompt "Reset window for:" default items {"AppStore"}
if selectedAPP = {"AppStore"} then
    do shell script "defaults delete com.apple.AppStore 'NSWindow Frame AppStoreMainWindow'"
end if
if selectedAPP = {"Messages"} then
    do shell script "defaults delete com.apple.MobileSMS 'NSWindow Frame CKMessagesSceneDelegate'"
end if
if selectedAPP = {"Photos"} then
    do shell script "defaults delete com.apple.photos 'NSWindow Frame MainWindow''"
end if
if selectedAPP = {"Safari"} then
    do shell script "defaults delete com.apple.Safari 'NSWindow Frame BrowserWindowFrame'"
end if
if selectedAPP = {"System Information"} then
    do shell script "defaults delete com.apple.SystemProfiler 'NSWindow Frame SystemProfile'"
end if
if selectedAPP = {"System Settings"} then
    do shell script "defaults delete com.apple.systempreferences 'NSWindow Frame main'"
end if

I came across this page https://www.codejam.info/2023/04/macos-reset-app-window-size-position.html that offers an interesting way to search for NSWindowFrame values.

find ~/Library -type f -name '*.plist' -exec grep -E 'NSWindow ?Frame' {} +

Thanks vm! I will save and investigate. This is much appreciated.

 

[TheIntruder]

For all of the good things the NeXT OS and team brought to the Mac, the lack of respect, or understanding, of the spatial Finder and how it operated in Classic, can be one of the most infuriating aspects of Mac OS, especially for users with Mac experience before OS X.

Much too often, "look at it and it may break" applies to the OS X and later Finder, and the inconsistent, and hidden ways in which it functions, or malfunctions, is mind blowing for a mature OS, especially pertaining to basic window management, a fundamental part of the UX.

I was unpleasantly reminded of this again when a static window, vital to my workflow, suddenly misbehaved and decided it didn't need to remember, or respect my column width choices, and kept resetting them on its own accord. Digging for solutions resulted in many articles and threads, some over a decade old, as well as this one.

Thanks to this, as well as a piece by Howard at Eclectic Light Co. (the modern day, decidedly un-curmudgeonly replacement for Macintouch), I was able to arrive at a solution…I think, anyway…by clearing the relevant prefs using the Terminal commands.

Fair warning to folks who end up here as a search result -- manual manipulation of prefs files and hack methods do not work. Use the tools in Terminal or those specific to understanding and configuring prefs files.

FTFF indeed.

 

[ProQuiz]

@bogdanw

Will try turning the first post into a wiki once I get the time. However, any recommendations on how it should be done? Do I just list them all with a heading for what they are?