Finder and files on a Mac, fixed in plain English.
31 fixes for macOS 26 Tahoe and macOS 27 Golden Gate.
Where is File Explorer on a Mac? Open FinderFinder is where you browse files, folders and drives.The Recycle Bin on a Mac is called the TrashDeleted files go to the Trash, at the right end of the Dock.Show file extensions like .pdf and .docx on your MacFinder hides the ending of file names unless you ask it to show them.Cut and paste files on a Mac to move themFinder has no Cut for files; you copy, then choose to move when you paste.Show hidden files and folders in FinderFiles starting with a dot and some system folders are hidden by default.Get Home, Documents and other folders back in the Finder sidebarSidebar items such as Home, Documents or Applications are switched off.Give a folder, file or drive your own picture as its iconAny file or folder can use a picture as its icon from its Info window.Use or remove Finder tags, the coloured dots on filesFinder tags are colored labels you add to files and show in the sidebar.Safely remove a USB drive or SD card from your MacEjecting first makes sure everything has finished writing to the drive.Open a zip file on your Mac, or make oneMac opens zip files with a double-click and makes them from the Control-click (shortcut) menu.Fix "You don't have permission" for a file or folder on your MacThe file belongs to another user or its permissions are read-only.Empty the Trash on your Mac and get the space backFiles stay in the Trash, using space, until you empty it.Finder is frozen or not respondingFinder got stuck, often on a network or full disk.Your Mac won't eject a disk because it's in useAn app or Finder window still has files open on the disk.Find your downloads on a MacBrowsers save files to the Downloads folder unless you changed it.Find a file you saved but can't find on your MacSpotlight searches the whole Mac by file name and contents.Make a new folder on your MacNew folders use Shift-Command-N on a Mac.Rename files and folders in FinderIn Finder the Return key starts renaming.Where's my C: drive? Find Macintosh HD on your MacMacs don't use drive letters; your main drive is called Macintosh HD.Preview files with Quick Look on your MacQuick Look previews a file when you select it and press the space bar.Get back a file you deleted on your MacDeleted files wait in the Trash until it is emptied.See a file's size, dates and location on your MacThe Mac's Properties window is called Get Info.Unlock a locked file on your Mac so you can edit or delete itThe file's Locked checkbox is ticked.Put a shortcut to a file, folder or app on your Mac desktopMac shortcuts to files and folders are called aliases.Where your apps live on a Mac: the Applications folderMac apps live in the Applications folder, each as a single icon.Find your Documents folder on a MacThe Mac's My Documents is the Documents folder in your home folder.Make your Mac empty the Trash on its own after 30 daysTrash items stay until you empty them unless an option is on.Pin your favourite folders to the Finder sidebarThe Favorites section of the Finder sidebar works like Quick Access.Show the folder path at the bottom of every Finder windowThe path bar is off by default.Create a new text file in any folder on your MacFinder has no New Text Document option; you make the file in an app and save it.Show Macintosh HD and your drives in the Finder sidebarFinder hides some locations (hard disks, external disks, cloud storage) in the sidebar.