Finder is the foundation of the macOS experience, but most users only scratch the surface of what it can do with the keyboard. These shortcuts work on macOS 13 Ventura, 14 Sonoma, and 15 Sequoia.
⌘ = Command · ⌥ = Option/Alt · ⇧ = Shift · ⌃ = Control · ↩ = Return/Enter
Navigation
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| ⇧⌘G | Go to Folder — type or paste any path to navigate instantly |
| ⌘↑ | Go to parent folder (enclosing folder) |
| ⌘↓ | Open selected folder or file |
| ⌘[ | Go back (like browser Back) |
| ⌘] | Go forward |
| ⇧⌘C | Go to Computer (top level) |
| ⇧⌘D | Go to Desktop |
| ⇧⌘H | Go to Home folder |
| ⇧⌘A | Go to Applications |
| ⇧⌘U | Go to Utilities |
| ⇧⌘I | Go to iCloud Drive |
| ⇧⌘K | Go to Network |
| ⌘F | Open Find / Search |
⇧⌘G (Go to Folder) accepts pasted paths. Copy a path with Pathly or Option+right-click, press ⇧⌘G, then ⌘V + Return to jump there instantly.
File Management
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| ↩ | Rename selected file (then Return again to confirm) |
| ⌘C + ⌘V | Copy then paste (duplicate) |
| ⌘C + ⌥⌘V | Copy then move (cut and paste equivalent) |
| ⌘D | Duplicate selected item in place |
| ⌘Delete | Move to Trash |
| ⌥⌘Delete | Delete immediately (bypass Trash) — use with care |
| ⇧⌘Delete | Empty Trash |
| ⌘I | Get Info (shows path, size, permissions) |
| ⌥⌘I | Inspector (live Get Info panel) |
| ⌘N | New Finder window |
| ⇧⌘N | New folder |
| ⌃⌘N | New folder with selected items inside |
| ⌘Z | Undo last file operation |
| ⌘A | Select all |
| Space | Quick Look preview (press again to close) |
Views
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| ⌘1 | Icon view |
| ⌘2 | List view |
| ⌘3 | Column view (great for navigating) |
| ⌘4 | Gallery view |
| ⌘T | New tab |
| ⌘W | Close tab or window |
| ⇧⌘T | Show / Hide Tab Bar |
| ⌘J | Show View Options |
| ⌘+ / ⌘- | Zoom in / out (icon size) |
| ⌃⌘F | Toggle full-screen |
Sidebar & Toolbar
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| ⌥⌘S | Show / Hide Sidebar |
| ⌥⌘T | Show / Hide Toolbar |
| ⌥⌘P | Show / Hide Path Bar |
| ⌥⌘\ | Show / Hide Preview pane |
| ⇧⌘. | Show / Hide hidden files (dotfiles) |
The Hidden Gems Most Users Miss
Show hidden files with one shortcut
Press ⇧⌘. (Shift + Command + Period) to toggle visibility of hidden files (those starting with a dot, like .env, .git, .zshrc). This is invaluable for developers. Press it again to hide them.
Cut and paste files (Move instead of Copy)
macOS doesn't have a traditional "Cut" for files, but you can achieve the same result: ⌘C to copy, then ⌥⌘V to paste as a move (the original is removed). The Option key transforms Paste into Move.
New folder containing selected items
Select multiple files, then press ⌃⌘N to create a new folder with all of them inside — and macOS prompts you for the folder name immediately. Much faster than creating a folder, then dragging files in.
Open the current Finder location in Terminal
Drag the folder from the Finder title bar (or path bar) into a Terminal window to navigate to it with cd. Alternatively: right-click a folder → Services → New Terminal at Folder (if you've enabled it in System Settings → Keyboard → Shortcuts → Services).
Power-User Workflows
Navigate to a pasted path
- Copy any path (with Pathly or Option+right-click)
- Press ⇧⌘G
- Press ⌘V to paste
- Press ↩
This is the fastest way to jump to a path you've just copied from Terminal, a log file, or a chat message.
Batch rename files
- Select multiple files (⌘A or click + ⇧)
- Right-click → Rename…
- Choose Replace Text, Add Text, or Format
Finder's built-in batch rename is surprisingly powerful for most renaming tasks.
Copy as Pathname — ⌥⌘C
Finder does have a path shortcut: ⌥⌘C (Option+Command+C) runs Copy as Pathname. One POSIX path, modifier required. Native does not give you filename-only, file://, git-relative, or reliable multi-select. Pathly puts those five formats on the standard right-click menu with no Option key.
Master Finder shortcuts, then use Pathly when you need five formats instead of one POSIX pathname.
Get Pathly — $4.99Frequently asked questions
What is the keyboard shortcut to copy a file path in Finder?
Select the file and press ⌥⌘C — native Copy as Pathname. Or hold Option, right-click, and choose that menu item. Pathly adds five formats (including git-relative and filename) with no Option key.
How do I navigate to a specific folder in Finder?
Press ⇧⌘G to open the Go to Folder dialog. Type or paste any path (you can paste a path you copied with Pathly) and press Return to navigate there instantly.
How do I show hidden files in Finder?
Press ⇧⌘. (Shift + Command + Period) to toggle visibility of hidden files (dotfiles like .env, .git, .zshrc). Press it again to hide them.