Group management is a critical aspect of system administration, allowing you to control user permissions and access to resources efficiently. On macOS, managing user groups can help streamline the administration of multiple users, ensuring that they have the appropriate access to files, applications, and system settings. This article will guide you through the process of managing user groups on macOS using the command line and graphical user interface.

Examples:

Using the Command Line

Creating a New Group

To create a new group on macOS, you can use the dscl command. Here's how to do it:

1. Open Terminal.
2. Enter the following command to create a new group named "developers":

sudo dscl . -create /Groups/developers

3. Set a Group ID (GID) for the new group:

sudo dscl . -create /Groups/developers gid 501

Adding a User to a Group

To add an existing user to a group, use the following command:

sudo dscl . -append /Groups/developers GroupMembership username

Replace username with the actual username you wish to add to the group.

Removing a User from a Group

To remove a user from a group, use the following command:

sudo dscl . -delete /Groups/developers GroupMembership username

Replace username with the actual username you wish to remove from the group.

Using System Preferences

If you prefer a graphical approach, you can manage user groups via System Preferences:

1. Open System Preferences and go to Users & Groups.
2. Click the lock icon and enter your administrator password to make changes.
3. Click the + button below the list of users to create a new group.
4. Choose Group from the New Account dropdown menu and enter a name for the group.
5. Click Create Group.
6. To add users to the group, select the group from the list, then click the Edit button and check the boxes next to the users you want to add.

Verifying Group Membership

To verify the members of a group, use the following command:

dscl . -read /Groups/developers GroupMembership

This command will list all users who are members of the "developers" group.