Finder is one of those tools we constantly use on our Mac. Behind its simple design interface, it hides several settings that can completely change the way we work with files and folders on our computer. With just a few tweaks, we can optimize and transform Finder into a much more efficient tool tailored to our workflow. Let’s take a look at seven little-known options that can make a big difference in our productivity.
Show connected devices directly on the desktop
If we use external drives, USB sticks, or SD cards, there’s a setting that will save us from having to look for them manually every time we plug them in. Just like we can customize the Finder sidebar, enabling the option to show these items on the Desktop from Finder’s settings will make them appear automatically on our desktop. We’ll be able to access them with a single click, without opening any extra windows.
Set a custom default folder for new windows
By default, Finder opens to the user folder. We can change this setting so it always opens our preferred folder—whether it’s “Documents,” “Downloads,” or any other.
From Finder’s preferences, we select our usual folder under the option “New Finder windows show.” That way, every time we open Finder, we’ll be exactly where we need to be.
Keep folders at the top of file lists
When we sort files by name or date, folders and files get mixed together. By enabling the “Keep folders on top” option, we make sure that folders are grouped at the beginning of the list, followed by files.
A great help when it comes to quickly visualizing and accessing our main folders—especially when we’re working with a large number of files.
Open folders in tabs, not new windows
Working with multiple Finder windows can quickly clutter our desktop. The option to open folders in tabs instead of new windows helps us keep everything more organized and contained within a single interface.
All we need to do is hold down the Command key (⌘) while double-clicking a folder, and it will open in a new tab.
Always show file extensions
File extensions are essential for quickly identifying the type of document we’re working with. From Finder’s preferences, we can enable the option “Show all filename extensions” so they are always visible.
Automatically delete items from the trash
How many times have we unknowingly piled up hundreds of files in the trash? By enabling the “Remove items from the Trash after 30 days” option, we can hand off that task to the system.
Organize files with custom tags
Finder tags are a very useful feature that’s easy to overlook. From Finder’s preferences, we can customize the tags, their colors, and apply them to our most important files and folders. This allows us to visually group related items and quickly access them from the Finder sidebar.
These seven settings significantly improve our experience with Finder. They allow us to adapt the tool we use most on the Mac to our specific needs, creating a much more fluid and organized work environment. As with many macOS features, the key lies in the right customization.
On Hanaringo | How to be more productive on your Mac with Finder Quick Actions