> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](/llms.txt).
> Markdown versions of each page are available by appending .md to any URL.

# Migrate to Warp from macOS Terminal

Switch from the default macOS Terminal app to Warp. Match your setup and discover what Warp adds beyond the basics.

Warp gives Terminal.app users everything they already have, including shell, theme, font, and prompt settings, plus split panes, tabs, blocks, and Agent Mode for an AI-assisted workflow. This page walks through both an Agent-driven migration and the manual GUI steps.

## What Warp can help transfer

Warp doesn’t have a one-click Terminal.app importer. Because Terminal.app stores profile data in macOS preferences, Warp’s Agent can read those preferences with `defaults read com.apple.Terminal` and translate matching theme, font, and window settings into Warp’s `settings.toml`. Most Terminal.app users run near-default settings, so the migration usually takes only a few minutes either way.

## Use Warp’s Agent to migrate your settings (recommended)

The fastest way to bring over a Terminal.app theme is to ask Warp’s Agent to translate it directly. Warp ships a [`settings.toml` file](/terminal/settings/) and a bundled `modify-settings` skill that lets the Agent read your Terminal.app preferences and write equivalent values into Warp’s settings, including creating a matching [custom theme](/terminal/appearance/custom-themes/).

1.  In the Warp app, open a new tab and switch to [Agent Mode](/agent-platform/local-agents/overview/) with `⌘+I`.
    
2.  Paste this prompt into Agent Mode, then press `Enter`.
    
    > Read my Terminal.app preferences with `defaults read com.apple.Terminal` and port the active profile (theme, font, window size) into my Warp `settings.toml` using the `modify-settings` skill. Create a matching custom theme. Show me a diff before applying.
    
3.  Review the proposed diff, then approve the changes. Warp hot-reloads `settings.toml`.
    

If you’d rather configure each setting manually through the Settings UI, the steps below cover the most common cases.

## What to reconfigure manually

### Shell

Warp auto-detects your login shell on first launch. macOS has shipped with `zsh` as the default since Catalina (2019); if you changed your shell with `chsh`, Warp picks that up too.

To change it later, open **Settings** > **Features** > **Session** in the Warp app and choose a shell from **Startup shell for new sessions**.

### Theme and colors

Terminal.app ships with a handful of profiles (Basic, Pro, Homebrew, Ocean, etc.). Match them in Warp:

1.  In the Warp app, open **Settings** > **Appearance** > **Themes**.
2.  Choose a preset theme. Warp’s built-in library includes many themes similar to Terminal.app’s defaults.
3.  For exact color matches, [create a custom theme](/terminal/appearance/custom-themes/) using ANSI color values from Terminal.app. In Terminal.app, open **Settings**, select **Profiles**, and click **Text** to inspect those values.

### Font

1.  In the Warp app, open **Settings** > **Appearance** > **Text, fonts, & cursor**, then choose your font family and size to match what you use in Terminal.app.

### Window size and transparency

Configure window appearance in the Warp app from **Settings** > **Appearance** > **Size, opacity, & blurring**. See [size, opacity, and blurring](/terminal/appearance/size-opacity-blurring/).

### Prompt

Terminal.app uses whatever prompt your shell’s PS1 (or zsh’s PROMPT) defines. In Warp, choose:

1.  [**Warp prompt**](/terminal/appearance/prompt/#warp-prompt) - Warp’s native prompt with drag-and-drop chips for git branch, directory, and more.
2.  [**Shell prompt (PS1)**](/terminal/appearance/prompt/#custom-prompt) - keeps your existing shell prompt exactly as it appears in Terminal.app.

Configure either prompt in the Warp app from **Settings** > **Appearance** > **Prompt**.

## Warp-native equivalents

Most Terminal.app features have a Warp equivalent with additional capabilities on top:

| From Terminal.app | In Warp |
| --- | --- |
| Profiles | [Tab configs](/terminal/windows/tab-configs/) for layouts and startup commands; [themes](/terminal/appearance/themes/) for appearance (Warp has no single profile object) |
| Window groups / arrangements | [Tab configs](/terminal/windows/tab-configs/) |
| Tabs | [Tabs](/terminal/windows/tabs/), [vertical tabs](/terminal/windows/vertical-tabs/) |
| Split panes | [Split panes](/terminal/windows/split-panes/) (Terminal.app doesn’t support) |
| Copy-on-select | **Settings** > **Features** > **Session** |
| Inspector | [Command inspector](/terminal/editor/command-inspector/) (exit code, duration, working directory) |

Beyond matching Terminal.app, Warp adds [Agent Mode](/agent-platform/local-agents/overview/) for natural-language commands, [blocks](/terminal/blocks/) for structured command output, and [Warp Drive](/knowledge-and-collaboration/warp-drive/) for shared workflows. New to Warp? Start with the [Warp quickstart](/quickstart/).