Pin your favourite folders to the Finder sidebar

Why it happens

The Finder sidebar's Favorites list is your shortcut bar for places you open often. Your Mac fills it with a few folders, such as Desktop and Downloads, but any folder of yours can go there too. The shortcut points to the folder, so nothing is moved or copied.

How to fix it

1. Open a Finder window and find the folder you want to pin.

2. Drag the folder onto the sidebar, into the Favorites section. A line shows where it will go. Let go, and it's pinned.

3. No dragging? Click the folder once to select it, then choose File > Add to Sidebar, or press Control-Command-T.

   Finder›File›Add to Sidebar

4. Drag pinned items up or down to put them in the order you like. To take one off, Control-click it and choose Remove from Sidebar. The folder itself stays where it is.

Still not fixed?

1. Sidebar missing altogether? Choose View > Show Sidebar in Finder, or press Control-Command-S.

   Finder›View›Show Sidebar

2. Favorites looks empty? Hold the pointer over the Favorites heading and click the small arrow that appears to show its items again.

3. Built-in places such as Downloads, Applications or AirDrop missing? Tick them in Finder > Settings, under Sidebar.

   Finder›Settings…›Sidebar

4. Want the folder even closer? Drag it to the right side of the Dock, near the Trash, to open it from there.

5. If pinned folders keep vanishing from the sidebar after a restart, contact Apple Support.