Change Finder settings on Mac

On your Mac, use Finder settings to change options for Finder windows, file extensions, and the Trash. Learn how to organise your files in the Finder.

To change these settings, click the Finder icon in the Dock, then choose Finder > Settings.

The left side of the Dock; the Finder icon is on the far left.

General

Option	Description
Show these items on the desktop	Show connected hardware on the desktop.
New Finder windows show	Choose which folder is displayed when you open a new Finder window.
Open folders in tabs instead of new windows	Open folders in tabs instead of windows when you press and hold the Command key and double-click a folder.

Option	Description
Show these tags in the sidebar	Customise the tags you see in the Finder sidebar. See a tag in the sidebar: Select the tick box to the right of the tag. Change a tag colour: Click the colour next to the tag , then choose a new colour. Change a tag name: Click the tag, click the tag’s name, then enter a new name. Create a new tag: Click the Add button . Delete a tag: Select the tag, then click the Remove button .
Favourite Tags	Customise the tags you see in the shortcut menu that appears when you Control-click a file. Add a tag: Select it in the list above the Favourite Tags section, then drag it over the tag you want to replace. You can have up to seven tags in the shortcut menu. Remove a tag: Drag it out of the Favourite Tags section until you see the remove sign .

Sidebar

Option	Description
Show these items in the sidebar	Show the items you use often or want to open quickly in the Finder sidebar. These items also appear in Open and Save dialogues. See Customise the Finder sidebar.

Option

Description

Show these items in the sidebar

Show the items you use often or want to open quickly in the Finder sidebar.

These items also appear in Open and Save dialogues. See Customise the Finder sidebar.

Advanced

Option	Description
Show all filename extensions	Show all file extensions, even for files that have “Hide extension” selected. When unselected, file extensions are shown or hidden based on their individual “Hide extension” settings. A filename extension — the full stop followed by a few letters or words that you see at the end of some filenames (for example, .jpg) — identifies the type of file. This option affects most, but not all, filenames. See , Show or hide filename extensions.
Show warning before changing an extension	Display a warning if you accidentally try to change an extension. As a rule, you shouldn’t change filename extensions.
Show warning before removing from iCloud Drive	Display a warning so you don’t accidentally delete items from iCloud Drive.
Show warning before emptying the Bin	Display a warning so you don’t accidentally delete items in the Bin. See Delete files and folders.
Remove items from the Bin after 30 days	Remove items permanently 30 days after being moved to the Bin.
Keep folders on top: In windows when sorting by name	Show folders in alphabetical order first, then show files alphabetically after folders when sorting by name in a Finder window. See Sort and arrange items in the Finder.
Keep folders on top: On Desktop	Show folders in alphabetical order first, then show files alphabetically after folders on the desktop.
When performing a search	Choose what you want to search by default when you use the search field in Finder windows. You can search your entire Mac, the folder that’s currently open, or the scope you specified the last time you searched in a Finder window.

Helpful?

macOS User Guide

Change Finder settings on Mac

General

Tags

Sidebar

Advanced