OS X Mavericks: Customize Finder windows
Finder windows are the windows that open when you double-click an icon for a folder or for a device such as the hard disk, or when you click the Finder icon in the Dock. There are several ways to customize them.
Before you start, click the Finder icon in the Dock to open a Finder window.
View by icons, list, column, or Cover Flow
In a Finder window, click each of the four view buttons to see which one you like. If the View buttons aren’t visible, choose View > Show Toolbar.
Each of the views has options you can set. For more information, see:
Reorganize the sidebar
Finder windows have a sidebar on the left side of the window that displays icons for items you use frequently, including disks, servers, and folders.
- To specify which items should appear in the sidebar, choose Finder > Preferences, then click Sidebar. Select the items you want to show.
- To add a folder or disk to the sidebar, drag its icon to the Favorites section. To add an app, hold down the Command (⌘) key while you drag its icon.
Note: If the Favorites section isn’t visible, choose Finder > Preferences, click Sidebar, then make sure at least one item is selected under Favorites.
- To remove an item from the sidebar, hold down the Command (⌘) key, then drag the item’s icon out of the sidebar. The icon disappears, but the original is still in its place on your Mac. You can’t remove items from the Shared section.
- To rearrange items, drag to where you want them in the sidebar. You can’t rearrange items in the Shared section.
- To show or hide the sidebar, choose View > Show Sidebar or View > Hide Sidebar. (If Show Sidebar is dimmed, choose View > Show Toolbar.)
- To change the width of the sidebar, drag the right side of the divider bar to the right or left.
Use a color or photo as the window’s background
- Open the window, then choose View > As Icons.
Pictures and colored backgrounds are visible only when items in a window are viewed as icons.
- Choose View > Show View Options.
- Under Background, select either Color or Picture.
Option Description Color: Click the color box, then select a background color. Picture: Click Select, then choose the picture you want to use. White: Return the background to normal. - To have every Finder window on your Mac use this color or picture as its background, click Use as Defaults.
To reverse your changes, press the Option key and click Restore to Defaults.
Note: The Use as Defaults and Restore to Defaults buttons do not appear if you’re adjusting icons for the desktop or for the All My Files folder.
If a picture is large, you may need to resize the window to see the entire picture.
Set Finder preferences
To change the settings for the look and behavior of Finder windows, choose Finder > Preferences. For more information, see: