Unlock the Power of Finder with These 10 Essential Hacks

Finder is one of the most underappreciated apps on your Mac, but it’s packed with features that can make your workflow more efficient and streamlined. With these 10 hidden Finder hacks, you can take your productivity to the next level.

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1. Add Frequently Used Folders to the Sidebar for Instant Access

The left pane in Finder has several shortcuts that allow you to access various files and folders. To personalize this list, simply drag any item in the sidebar to reorder the list, which includes sections such as ‘Favorites’ or ‘Locations.’ You can also drag individual items in a section to prioritize folders you access frequently. To remove items you don’t use, click the Finder button in the menu bar, select Settings > Sidebar, and uncheck items you don’t need.

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2. Change Finder’s Default Search Location to the Current Folder

When you use the search box in Finder, it defaults to showing all the results from your Mac. To view results from the currently open folder, go to Finder Settings > Advanced, and select the drop-down menu under ‘When performing a search.’ Choose ‘Search the Current Folder’ to make this happen.

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3. Make Your Mac’s Trash Clean Itself Up Automatically

When you delete files, they’re sent to the Trash on your Mac. To prevent running out of space, automatically delete those files after 30 days. Go to Finder Settings > Advanced, and enable ‘Remove items from Trash after 30 days.’

4. Automatically Delete Zip Files After Expanding an Archive

When you unzip a compressed file, your Mac pastes the contents in a new folder, but it doesn’t automatically delete the original archive. To fix this, press Command-Space, search for Archive Utility, and open the app. Next, click the Archive Utility button in the menu bar, and head over to Settings. Choose ‘move archive to Trash’ under ‘After expanding.’

5. Use a Plugin to View Folder Contents on Your Mac Without Opening Them

Quick Look is one of macOS’ best features, allowing you to preview any file without actually opening it. To preview the contents of folders, use a plugin called Folder Preview ($1.99) or its advanced version, Folder Preview Pro ($9.99), which lets you copy, paste, and even preview files from within a folder preview.

6. Use a Shortcut to Cut and Paste Files in Finder

Those who switch from Windows to Mac will immediately miss the lack of an obvious cut-and-paste workflow for files. Your Mac does ship with this feature, but it’s not easy to discover. To move a file, first copy it by pressing Command-C, or go to the Edit menu and select ‘Copy.’ Next, open a different folder, and press Command-Option-V to move it. You may also use the Edit menu and select ‘Move Item Here.’

7. Use Quick Actions to Remove an Image’s Background Without Opening It

Finder supports unique actions for each file type, so you can perform tasks without even opening a file. To remove an image’s background, right-click any image in Finder, and select Quick Actions > Remove Background. This will create a new image file without the background present in the original.

8. Show All Filename Extensions to Protect Your Security

By default, Finder doesn’t show file extensions, which means that a file name looks something like ‘Lifehacker.’ To save yourself the hassle, go to Finder Settings > Advanced, and enable ‘Show all filename extensions.’ This way, you can be sure of the type of file you’re opening.

9. Customize Finder’s Toolbar to Instantly Reveal File Paths (and More)

Finder’s toolbar has a set of buttons that cover the most common functions users need, but there are more that may prove to be useful for some people. To customize the toolbar, right-click an empty space in the Finder toolbar, and click ‘Customize Toolbar’ to reveal these options. For example, you can drag the ‘Path’ button to the toolbar and select ‘Done.’ You can now click ‘Path’ any time to see the full folder path of any location in Finder.

10. Use a Hidden Setting to Change the Background of Finder Windows

If you’re tired of the standard white or black backgrounds that Finder defaults to, you can change the background color or even replace it with a wallpaper of your choice. To check it out, open any folder in Finder, press Command-1 (or click ‘View’ in the menu bar and pick ‘as Icons’), and switch to the Icons view. Now press Command-J (or View > Show View Options) to open a pop-up window. Under ‘Background,’ you can select ‘Color’ to set a new background color or ‘Picture’ to add a wallpaper.