Six Quick Finder Keyboard Shortcuts for OS X

Feb 9, 2007 - 4 Comments

Finder We all know that navigating around the Mac Finder is quick and easy, but you can speed things up by memorizing a few keystrokes that’ll be sure to come in handy. With that in mind, here are six quick keyboard shortcuts to make navigating around the Finder a tad bit speedier.


You’ll notice many of these are particularly useful for when you are using a Finder windows more detailed list view. Also, longtime Mac users will recall or find that some of these tips have been around since the early days of Mac OS (I remember using command-w all the way back in System 6!), while others are new to our modern and beloved Mac OS X. Nonetheless, regardless of the version of OS X you’re using, these keystrokes work and improve the general Finder experience.

Each of these is uses the Command key to different effect… let’s jump to it and learn more.

6 Command Key Tricks for Using the Mac Finder

For those who are new to the platform, recall that the Command key is next to spacebar. Older Mac keyboards used to have an  Apple logo on the Command key, whereas new Mac keyboard simply say ‘Command’ and have a little hash-like icon on the key instead.’

Action Keystroke
Close all windows Command – Option – W
Close current window Command – W
Expand folder (list view) Command – Right Arrow
Expand folder and subfolders (list view) Command – Option – Right Arrow
Collapse folder (list view) Command – Left Arrow
Open parent and close current window Command – Option – Up Arrow

The Finder icon of Mac OS X

Want more handy keystroke and command key tips? Check out Four Keystrokes to Ease Navigation in Mac OS X

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Posted by: Paul Horowitz in Mac OS

4 Comments

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  1. […] Six Quick Finder Keyboard Shortcuts […]

  2. val says:

    Use cmd + down to launch an app or open selected file

  3. deck2 says:

    well its very usefull, but cmd + right arrow cisnt nessesary, as arrow button works perfectly, and option+right is enough for expanding folder and subfolder. actually it works both ways :))

  4. anon says:

    your tables are looking better. give it some cellpadding :) oh yeah, and nice tips as always

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