A Handy Trick To Make The Mac’s Finder Work Better

Tuesday, March 10, 2009 | Tips and Tricks | Read or Post a Comment

Finder Trick Going back to a Mac LC, I’ve been using Apple computers for about 20 years, from Mac OS Classic to all the cat flavored versions of OS X.

As it is with many Mac users I’ve picked up a few tricks and tips along the way. When I get a new Mac I tend to set it up a certain way, including the love-it-or-hate-it Finder. Here is a simple trick designed to make using the Finder easier and more productive.

For all the headaches that the Mac’s Finder and Dock seem to present.... (excerpted).

5 Reader Comments

Wil Gomez said:

The Mac has so many somewhat hidden preferences and features that it’s a shame Apple doesn’t publish a list on their web site.

Maybe that’s why there are so many tips and tricks books about OS X. I customize my sidebar and toolbar. Between those two and a customized dock there’s not much else you need to do.

Jan B. said:

That’s a good trick and opens the finder up for plenty of customization, especially if you have a larger screen. It is not so handy on my Mac Book but is wonderful on my 24” iMac.

I have noticed that toolbar behavior is somewhat different than the same items in the sidebar, but overall functionality is still improved by customizing each.

Our office has over 2 dozen Macs and not one user customizes either the sidebar or the toolbar. I don’t think most Mac users know you can customize such things.

Questor said:

When I click on items on the toolbar, Applications, Documents, Favorites, a NEW WINDOW opens as I want to. But when I add a desired folder, the behavior is different. The window BECOMES that folder and i don’t like that. The width/dimensions are still the same as the Finder Window and the icons inside the new folder that I opened are scattered all differently. Why is the behavior different? In Finder Preferences I DO have Always Open Folders in New Window clicked on.

Mac Hottie said:

I read Mac OS X Hints regularly because they have dozens of user provided hints each day and I’ve never seen that one.

I wonder what other little drag and drop features that Apple drops into OS X and never bothers to tell anyone about?

iggy pence said:

I’ve used Macs for over 15 years and thought I was a power user, or close, anyway. I didn’t know you could add the Desktop and hard drives and other folders to the Finder Toolbar.

It’s amazingly simple and useful.

Good hint. Thanks.

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