How to get a drop down Terminal on a Mac with one key

A Terminal that slides down from the top of the screen at a key press, then hides again. What Terminal can do on its own, and how iTerm2's hotkey window works.

Guide · Updated 22 October 2026

What is a drop down Terminal?

A terminal window bound to a key. Press the key and it slides down over whatever you are doing; press it again and it hides. It keeps its session, so commands and history are where you left them. Some people call it a quake console, after the game that made the idea popular.

Can the Mac's Terminal app do this?

Not as a drop down. The closest built in option: make a Shortcut that opens Terminal and give it a key. See run a Shortcut with a key. ⌘ H hides it again.

How do I set it up in iTerm2?

  1. Install iTerm2, a free terminal app for the Mac.
  2. Open its Settings, Keys, then Hotkey.
  3. Click Create a Dedicated Hotkey Window and choose a key.
  4. Choose where it appears and whether it floats over full screen apps.

Which key should I use?

One you can press without looking and that no app uses: double tapping a modifier, or a key with ⌃ and ⌥. Check it against keyboard shortcut conflicts.

Arranging Terminal windows: terminal window management. Open one at a Finder folder: New Terminal at Folder.

Questions

Is there a drop down Terminal on Mac?

Not in Terminal itself. iTerm2's Hotkey Window gives a terminal that drops down with a key.

How do I set up an iTerm2 hotkey window?

In iTerm2 Settings, Keys, Hotkey, click Create a Dedicated Hotkey Window and choose a key.

Can I open Terminal with a keyboard shortcut?

Yes. Make a Shortcut that opens Terminal and give it a keyboard shortcut.

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