5 Tested Methods to Resolve the 'Zsh Command Not Found' Error on macOS [For Bash & Zsh]

In 2019, macOS introduced Catalina, and since then, it has transitioned from using Bash to Zsh as the default login shell. Consequently, some Zsh commands might become unavailable following a system update. Users running macOS Catalina or later versions, such as Big Sur, Monterey, and Ventura, might encounter the error message "Zsh: command not found" as we will explore further. Other variations of this error include "Zsh: command not found: brew", "Zsh command not found: pip", "Zsh: command not found: nvm", or "Zsh: command not found: npm". This issue can stem from various causes.

Reasons for 'Zsh Command Not Found' Error on Mac

When using Unix, Linux, or macOS, numerous users come across the "Zsh command not found" error. People often seek answers on forums, so we have decided to provide all possible solutions to this issue. Firstly, the "Zsh: command not found" error typically arises due to the following reasons:

1. Misspelled Zsh Commands on MAC

When using Zsh commands on a Mac for the first time, users often make errors such as adding extra symbols or neglecting to include necessary spaces. These incorrectly typed commands are not recognizable by macOS, resulting in an error message. If you encounter the "zsh command not found" issue, double-check the correctness of the command you're attempting to use.

2. The command is valid, but the package is not installed.

Users often try to execute a command, but the required package is not installed, resulting in the "Zsh command not found" message. If the command is valid and spelled correctly, users should ideally check whether they have installed the necessary package.

3. Changing the default environment configuration of the Zsh command

Upon upgrading to new versions of macOS, the standard command line environment tends to change, with most Linux Bash commands still working but not necessarily compatible with Zsh commands. This is because, by default, Zsh does not read environment variables from the previously designated location.

How to Resolve the "Zsh Command Not Found" Error with 5 Solutions

The "Zsh: command not found" issue on a Mac can arise in various scenarios. You might encounter this message on macOS Monterey or any other macOS version that employs Z-shell.

Before proceeding with the 5 solutions, you might want to watch the following tutorial video first, which explains the method for fixing the "Zsh command not found" error.

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 00:40 - Verify if the Terminal is using Zsh or bash
• 01:08 - Download MySQL server for Mac
• 02:51 - Create a .zprofile file
• 04:15 - Configure the path for MySQL
• 05:00 - Use 'mysql -u root -p'

If you still have questions about resolving the error, please proceed to read the solutions below.

• 1. Check the Syntax
• 2. Ensure the Package Is Installed
• 3. Set $Path Environment Variable
• 4. Set Path in the .zshrc File
• 5. Reinstall macOS

Solution 1: Verify the Syntax When Zsh Command Not Found

When encountering the "Zsh: command not found" message while using macOS's Terminal, you should initially examine the syntax of the command in question. It's advisable to copy the original command directly into the Terminal rather than typing it out manually. Furthermore, comparing your command with other examples that utilize the same command can be beneficial.

Solution 2: Verify the Installation of the Zsh Command Package

You often attempt to execute a command, but the required package is missing. If your command is valid and correctly typed, does that imply you should verify if the necessary package is installed? The answer is no. When you're aware that the Zsh command is not found, make sure you haven't overlooked installing the command's package on your Mac.

Solution 3: Set the $PATH Environment Variable to Fix Zsh 'Command Not Found'

To resolve the "Zsh: command not found" error, the second solution is to ensure that the "$PATH" environment variable is correctly configured.

If you've already installed the package but are still encountering the "Zsh: command not found" error, there might be an issue. This suggests that you need to set up a PATH variable for your command-line package.

Here's an example of setting an export PATH:

Most packages automatically set the path variable in macOS update or clean install. When undertaking a custom installation, you might occasionally need to manually set up path variables in Linux or macOS.

Solution 4: Set the Zsh Command Path in the .zshrc File

After installing the package and configuring the path variable, if you still encounter the error "Zsh command not found" upon exiting and relogging into the Terminal, you need to configure the command path in the .zshrc file to ensure it is set correctly.

Your .zshrc file will run and set the command path each time you close and reopen the Terminal. To edit the .zshrc file, follow these steps: 1. **Open Terminal**: Launch the Terminal application on your Mac, usually found in the Utilities folder within the Applications directory. 2. **Edit the .zshrc file**: To edit this file, you can use any text editor of your choice. However, for simplicity, we'll use the built-in `nano` editor. Type the following command and press Enter: ``` nano ~/.zshrc ``` 3. **Add the path**: Once `nano` opens the .zshrc file, scroll to the end of the file or find the line that says `export PATH="$PATH:`. Here, you'll add your custom directory path. For example, if you want to add `/usr/local/myfolder` to the path, it would look like this: ``` export PATH="$PATH:/usr/local/myfolder" ``` Make sure to append your directory path to the existing `$PATH`. 4. **Save changes**: To save the changes in `nano`, press `Control + X`, then press `Y` to confirm saving, and finally hit `Enter` to exit. 5. **Reload the .zshrc file**: To apply the changes without closing the Terminal, type the following command and press Enter: ``` source ~/.zshrc ``` 6. **Test the new path**: You can now test if the path has been added correctly by running a command from the newly added directory. For instance, if there's an executable called `mycommand` in `/usr/local/myfolder`, type: ``` mycommand ``` If everything is set up correctly, the command should run without issues. If not, double-check your .zshrc file edits and make sure the command exists in the specified directory.

Step 1. Open the macOS terminal.

Step 2. Verify that you are using the Zsh Shell; if not, type zsh and press the Enter key to switch to it.

Step 3. Type nano ~/.zshrc in the window.

Step 4. Add your $PATH variable information now

Step 5. To save the file, press `Ctrl + X`, then press `Y` to confirm saving, and finally hit `Enter` to close the Nano editor.

Step 6. To apply the changes, run the command `source ~/.zshrc` now.

Solution 5: Reinstall macOS to Resolve the "Zsh Command Not Found" Issue

If you were exploring the macOS and accidentally deleted essential system files or folders, you might have inadvertently removed the files needed for Terminal commands. In that case, you should consider recovering deleted files on Mac.

Reinstalling macOS without formatting the drive can help you revert to previous settings and resolve the "Zsh command not found" issue. While reinstalling the operating system typically doesn't lead to data loss, it's still recommended to create a backup of essential files beforehand. If you're unable to locate your important data, attempt to recover files after reinstalling macOS.

Additional Information: How to Recover Deleted Data on a Mac If you accidentally delete important files or data from your Mac, there's still hope for recovery. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to potentially retrieve your lost data: 1. **Check the Trash**: - Immediately after deletion, open the Trash folder by clicking on the Trash icon in your Dock or using Spotlight (press Command + Space) and search for the deleted file. - If found, simply drag it back to your desired location or right-click and choose "Put Back." 2. **Time Machine Backup**: - If you have enabled Time Machine backup, connect your backup drive to your Mac. - Open Time Machine by clicking its icon in the Dock or by going to Applications > Utilities > Time Machine. - Use the timeline on the right side to navigate to the point in time when the file was still present. - Click on the file, then click the "Restore" button to recover it. 3. **Third-Party Data Recovery Tools**: - There are several software tools available that can scan your hard drive for deleted files, such as Disk Drill, tools Data Recovery Wizard, or Stellar Data Recovery. - Download and install a reputable tool, then run a scan on the affected volume. - Once the scan is complete, preview and select the files you want to recover, then follow the software's instructions to save them to a safe location. 4. **Disk Utility's First Aid**: - Open Disk Utility, which can be found in Applications > Utilities. - Select the drive where the deleted file was located and click on the "First Aid" tab. - Click "Run" to check for any disk issues. Although this won't directly recover deleted files, it may fix underlying issues that could affect recovery attempts. 5. **Professional Data Recovery Services**: - If none of the above methods work, consider contacting a professional data recovery service. These services often have specialized equipment and expertise to recover data from damaged or formatted drives, but they can be expensive. Remember, prevention is key. Regularly backing up your data with Time Machine or another reliable method can save you a lot of stress and potential loss in the future.

As mentioned in Solution 5, reinstalling macOS can be a helpful approach to resolve the Zsh command not found error. However, it's also crucial to restore deleted files on your Mac after reinstallation or updating.

It would be advantageous if you were cautious about protecting your data, as incorrect process updates or misguided commands could lead to the loss of your files and information.幸好，这里有一个出色的数据恢复工具，特别适用于Mac上的Mac Trash恢复： Data Recovery Wizard for Mac。

Inspect the steps and learn how to utilize the software to retrieve deleted files on your Mac.

注意: 您可以通过首先点击左侧的 "磁盘备份" 来创建 Mac 的备份。软件将从备份映像中恢复已删除的文件。这可以防止对您的磁盘和数据造成进一步损坏，使其更安全、更可靠。

Step 1. Choose the location and scan

Launch the "Data Recovery Wizard for Mac" and select the disk from which you lost data. Next, click "Search for lost files" to initiate the scanning process.

Step 2. Filter and preview lost files

Following the scan, utilize the file format filter located on the left or upper right corner to locate the deleted files you require.

Step 3. Recover Lost Data or Files

You can double-click a file to preview its contents, or select multiple files to recover them in one go. Click "Recover" to restore the lost data to a local or cloud drive.

To conclude

In general, the "Zsh command not found" issue arises due to the disparities between the Bash shell and the Zsh shell. Compatibility issues might arise between different versions of macOS. If you've recently updated your Mac and encountered problems with your Zsh commands, we hope the solutions provided below will be of assistance. Furthermore, using tools like Data Recovery Wizard for Mac can effectively help protect your data on your Mac devices.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for "Zsh Command Not Found"

Here, we've included four questions that you might also find interesting. Check them out to discover the answers right here.

1. Is Zsh the default shell on Mac?

Following macOS Catalina, zsh is the default shell on Mac. However, on macOS versions prior to Catalina, zsh is not the default command-line shell.

2. How do I start Zsh on Mac? To start using Zsh on your Mac, follow these steps: 1. **Check if Zsh is installed:** Open the Terminal app (you can find it in the Utilities folder within the Applications folder). Once the terminal is open, type `zsh --version` and press Enter. If Zsh is installed, it will display the version number; otherwise, you'll need to install it. 2. **Install Zsh:** If Zsh is not pre-installed (usually, it comes with macOS Catalina or later), you can install it using Homebrew. First, install Homebrew by pasting the following command into Terminal and pressing Enter: ``` /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)" ``` After Homebrew is installed, run the following command to install Zsh: ``` brew install zsh ``` 3. **Set Zsh as your default shell:** To set Zsh as your default shell, use the chsh (change shell) command: ``` chsh -s /bin/zsh ``` You might be prompted for your password. After entering it, restart the Terminal app or log out and log back in to apply the changes. 4. **(Optional) Install Oh My Zsh for additional customization:** Oh My Zsh is a popular framework that enhances Zsh with themes, plugins, and aliases. To install it, run the following command in Terminal: ``` sh -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh/master/tools/install.sh)" ``` After installation, you can customize your Zsh experience by editing the `~/.zshrc` file. Now, you should have Zsh up and running on your Mac!

Open the "Shell" tab - click "Run command" - type "zsh".

3. How to launch the Zsh terminal on a Mac?

1. Step 1: Click on the Launchpad icon in the Mac's Dock. 2. Step 2: Search for "Terminal" in the search field. 3. Step 3: Click on Terminal when it appears. 4. Step 4: Type "Zsh" to start it.

4. How do I resolve the "Zsh: command not found brew" error in macOS?

确保你已经正确安装了Homebrew，并且路径变量设置正确。

1. Step 1. Open the .zshrc file with the command nano ~/.zshrc.
2. Step 2. Add the following code to the file: export PATH="$PATH:/opt/homebrew/bin/"
3. Step 3. Save the file using Control + X, then press Y to confirm saving, and finally hit Enter.
4. Step 4. To apply the changes, type source ~/.zshrc in the command line.