systemctl command not found - macOS

Page content

How to Install systemctl Command on macOS

systemctl is a command-line utility used for controlling the systemd system and service manager. However, this command is not available by default on macOS, as macOS uses launchd instead of systemd for managing services.

Why systemctl is not available on macOS

macOS and Linux systems use different service management systems. While Linux distributions use systemd, macOS uses launchd, which serves a similar purpose but with different commands and functionalities.

Solution for macOS users

For macOS users who are looking for similar functionality to systemctl, the following alternatives can be used:

  1. launchctl: This is the primary command-line interface to launchd, the service management framework in macOS. It can be used to start, stop, and manage services on macOS.

  2. brew services: If you have Homebrew installed on your macOS system, you can use the brew services command to manage services. Homebrew is a package manager for macOS that provides additional functionalities for managing services.

Conclusion

While systemctl is a powerful command for managing services on Linux systems using systemd, macOS users have alternative options available to achieve similar functionalities. By using launchctl or brew services, macOS users can effectively manage services on their systems without the need for systemctl.