Get detailed system information with Terminal
Discover hardware components and their settings, networking, storage, software and more using Terminal commands
To get information about a Mac’s hardware and the software installed, clicking the Apple logo and ‘About This Mac’ is straightforward. If you need more details though, there is a useful command called system_profiler that can be used at the command prompt in a Terminal window.
Even in its simplest form, the system_profiler command provides detailed lists of hardware, software and settings. Get the full report and it runs to many screens packed with facts and figures. It is a geek tool but if you ever have a problem and need help, it can be useful to provide it to a tech support person.