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

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.

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5 Answers

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.}

6

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.

1. Open "System Preferences" → "Users & Groups".
2. Unless the lock icon is already unlocked, click the lock icon and authenticate yourself.
3. 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).
4. In context menu, choose "Advanced Options…".
5. 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.

11

Or:

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

4

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

1

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

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