MacOS was previously known for its thin, chic, and stylish design along with its low latency responsive animations. If you were using Mac back then, you must remember the slow-motion animation effect, a feature that allowed you to make your Mac work at slower speeds by pressing down the Shift key and opening or closing windows. Nevertheless, the abandoned feature can be brought back by the persistent developers, even on the latest macOS Sequoia. In this tutorial, we will teach you how slow motion effect activation in Mac through the command line.
What is the Slow Motion Effect in macOS?
A Slow Motion effect in macOS is the manipulation of the speed of some animations like starting or ending the window during which users get to perceive other animations slowly. In essence, the function of this feature is the possibility to experience loading or swiping activities at a reduced pace because the entire window has a slow effect. Furthermore, as an example, one may look at slow-motion effects as less of a functional component and more of a means of nostalgia for old features of Mac that were no longer present.
Benefits of Using Slow Motion Effects
- Visual Attraction: Making slow-motion animations gives an impression of a more immersion effect.
- Animation Details: With the use of slow motion, users will meet the impressive design and transitions that the macOS animations provide.
- Replaced Enjoyment: Senior Mac users who have been away from the fun features of earlier operating systems can rekindle the memories of the old days by making full use of this feature.
How to Enable Slow Motion Effects on macOS
The process of getting the slow-motion effects stricken off is cumbersome, but here are basic moves to do that:
Step 1: Open the Terminal Application
Terminal is the door to very strong commands running on the Mac. To get access to it, here’s how to do it:
- The other way to access it is by pressing the Command + Space button and typing “Terminal” to locate it using Spotlight.
- Go to the Finder.
- Open up the Applications > Utilities > Terminal path.
Step 2: Enter the Command to Enable Slow Motion
For the slow motion effects to be changed back in the game, type in the next command line into the Terminal which:
defaults write com.apple.dock slow-motion-allowed -bool YES; killall DockThe instruction mentioned above implies that the content should be more of a narrative. Use the most suitable tone throughout the content.
- A decrease in time or performance computing power may be simply a personal inconvenience.
- That new technological single-step application means a user workflows more directly and freely.
Step 3: Test the Slow Motion Feature
After the command is executed, try out the slow-motion effect:
- Hold down the Shift key.
- Click to minimize or maximize any open window.
- You will see that the animation starts happening much slower, which enables you to perceive it in greater detail.
Step 4: Disable the Slow Motion Effect (Optional)
If you would like to change the animation speed back to normal, type in Terminal the given command:
defaults write com.apple.dock slow-motion-allowed -bool NO; killall DockThe process will render slow motion ineffective and the normal double-time animation will be rehealed.
How the Slow Motion Effect Works on macOS
The slow-motion effect can be triggered only also if the Shift key is held down during various animations. These are some of the features that do not work with overall system performance or standard speed of animations but do work with the Slow Motion effect:
- Minimizing and Maximizing Windows: The transition becomes slow when the app windows are either shrunk or expanded.
- Opening Mission Control: Observing the various opened windows and desktops in slow motion.
- Open Launchpad: Meanwhile, the window is deeper, and the application icons will appear slower.
- Switching Between Full-Screen Apps: By pressing the Shift key, make the transition animations slower.
Common Issues and Troubleshooting
Issue: Slow Motion Effect Not Working
- Review Command Syntax: Make sure that you entered the right command in Terminal.
- Restart Dock Again: If Dock does not restart automatically, then the killall Dock command might be useful.
- Reboot the System: Sometimes, the system may need a full restart to complete the changes.
Issue: Terminal Command Not Recognized
- Update macOS: Make sure you are using a macOS version that supports Terminal commands to present Dock settings.
- Check for Typos: First, check the command syntax for the error messages.
Is the Slow Motion Effect Useful or Just for Fun?
Even though the Slow Motion effect might come across as a frivolous feature, it is indeed a way of giving users a fresh view of the software quality. This feature can also become an item of nostalgia for people who have been close to the system for a long time. It is a piece of software Easter egg hunting for the brave hearts who expose themselves to the potential beauty of their OS “codestyle”—this little trick, although pale, is a small pleasure one gets and worth it.
Final Thoughts
To reenable Slow Motion on macOS is just a simple trick, you only need to use the Terminal commands shown here. Whether you are passionate about getting back to the original settings and reminiscing the nice old times with your tech devices, or a newcomer who is craving thought digging and hidden capabilities of macOS through this guide, you are covered. Try this method and enjoy the slow-motion transition of macOS as well as the new look of your desktop animations.