---
title: Settings and Accessibility
description: Find PonyMux preferences, keep long-running work awake, manage updates, customize shortcuts, and understand the current accessibility support.
---

Open Settings with `⌘,` or the gear button at the bottom of the sidebar. Settings
are grouped by the kind of decision they affect rather than by individual Terminal.


*PonyMux interface view: settings.*


## Settings at a glance

| Pane | What it controls |
| --- | --- |
| **General** | Notifications, pets, reaction presets, and session behavior. |
| **Appearance** | App-wide themes and Follow System mode. |
| **Terminal** | Fonts, cursor, default screen effect, shell, and Terminal behavior. |
| **Keyboard** | Review and customize PonyMux commands and shortcuts. |
| **Integrations** | Connect or disconnect Claude Code and Codex. |
| **Advanced** | Instance details, diagnostics, backups, and reset controls. |

Settings that act as defaults—such as the default pet or screen effect—apply to
new Terminals. Per-Terminal choices already made remain attached to those Terminals.

## Terminal creation and directory tracking

In **Settings → Terminal**, **New Terminal inherits working directory** controls
whether a new Terminal starts from the visible Terminal context or from your home
folder. **Default shell** chooses the shell used for new regular and Quick
Terminals.

Shell Integration lets PonyMux track the directory after commands such as `cd`, so
the Terminal list, Inspector, and future Terminal creation use current information.
See [Create in context](/docs/organize#create-in-context) for the complete List
assignment and starting-directory rules.

## Keep long-running work awake

Select the coffee-cup **Keep Awake** button at the bottom of the sidebar when an
agent, development server, or other long task should continue while the Mac is idle.
While highlighted, PonyMux prevents App Nap and idle system sleep.

*PonyMux sidebar footer showing an available update, Keep Awake, integrations, and Settings.*


Keep Awake does not override closing the lid or choosing Sleep yourself. Turn it
off when the long-running work is done so normal energy-saving behavior can resume.

## Updates

PonyMux uses Sparkle to deliver signed private-preview updates. When automatic
checks are enabled, it checks quietly while running and after the Mac wakes or
PonyMux becomes active. A highlighted update button appears near the bottom of the
sidebar when a newer version is available; select it to review and install.

To check manually, choose **PonyMux → Check for Updates…** from the menu bar.

*PonyMux sidebar footer showing an available update, Keep Awake, integrations, and Settings.*


## Keyboard and VoiceOver

Common actions have keyboard shortcuts, and **Settings → Keyboard** lets you review
or customize them. Interactive controls expose names and state to VoiceOver;
Terminal rows announce their title, provider and status, collection, reaction, and
lifecycle details when relevant.

Column dividers and the Quick Terminal height handle are adjustable with VoiceOver
and the keyboard as well as by dragging. In Focus Mode, the normally auto-hiding
toolbar stays visible while VoiceOver is running so its controls remain reachable.

The Terminal content area is exposed as a text area, but its current accessibility
bridge exposes selected terminal text rather than the complete scrollback. The
surrounding PonyMux interface remains navigable while terminal applications retain
their own accessibility behavior and limitations.