How to get colors from 'ls' command on macOS I have tried both
 ls --color=auto

and
 ls -G

The first gives ls: illegal option -- -  and the second simply has no effect.  So then what is the way to get color for ls on macOS?  I am using the default bash on catalina
I am using the standard Terminal.app
$echo $TERM  
vt100
You'll want to open the Preferences window in Terminal.app. Turn to the Profiles tab, and then the Advanced tab. You'll see that it says &quot;Declare terminal as&quot;, which you would have set to vt100. Change this to xterm-256color.
Now you can run ls -G to see a coloured ls output.