Show Expanded Print & Save Dialogs in macOS - Default Settings

Customizing Print and Save Dialogs in OS X

Typically, OS X presents users with compact Print and Save dialog boxes. These can be expanded by clicking an arrow for additional options. However, it’s possible to configure the system to display these expanded dialogs as the default behavior using a simple command within the Terminal.

Understanding the Default Dialogs

The standard Save dialog offers basic functionality. Users can specify a filename, apply tags, select a storage location, and choose a file format.

Expanding the dialog, via the arrow next to "Export As," grants access to navigate the Mac’s file system, create new folders, and control file extension visibility.

Similarly, the initial Print dialog, as seen in Safari, provides limited options. These include adjusting the number of copies, selecting specific pages, and printing as a PDF.

The expanded Print dialog reveals more detailed settings, encompassing paper size, orientation, and scaling adjustments.

Making Expanded Dialogs the Default

The expanded dialog versions offer features that some users may find beneficial for every Print or Save operation. A command-line solution allows these versions to appear automatically, without requiring manual expansion.

First, locate and open the Terminal application, found within Applications > Utilities.

To modify the default Print dialog, enter the following command into the Terminal and press "Enter":

defaults write -g PMPrintingExpandedStateForPrint -bool TRUE

The Terminal display will confirm the command’s entry.

To simultaneously adjust the Save dialog, input this command before restarting your system and press "Enter":

defaults write -g NSNavPanelExpandedStateForSaveMode -boolean TRUE

This command will also be reflected in the Terminal’s output.

A system restart is required for these changes to take effect.

Reverting to Default Settings

To restore the original, compact dialogs, use the same commands, but replace TRUE with FALSE.

For the Print dialog:

defaults write -g PMPrintingExpandedStateForPrint -bool FALSE

For the Save dialog:

defaults write -g NSNavPanelExpandedStateForSaveMode -boolean FALSE

Another system restart is necessary to apply these changes.

The Terminal provides powerful customization options beyond the standard OS X interface. Exploring these features can enhance your user experience, such as adding custom messages to the lock screen or even quitting the Finder for increased privacy.