Can we get some love for Finder?

[Ursadorable]

Finder seriously needs some love. Other than some trivial cosmetic changes, it really hasn't change much since OS X originally launched.

You shouldn't have to buy 3rd party software to get decent file management.

 

[thebart]

I was just talking about this in another thread. Surely Apple doesn't think the Finder has achieved its final form

I use Warp, a terminal app. It started out with AI feature that translates simple English commands to bash commands. Now it can help you get your apps built and running. It does things like install/upgrade missing tools/libraries, troubleshoot error messages and fix them. I'm not saying Apple needs to put AI into Finder, but tinkering about with colored folders seems kind penny ante

 

[ChrisCanyon]

I've just signed up here because I'm getting increasingly annoyed with Finder. I've recently moved from PC to Mac and I simply don't get why Finder isn't able to remember column width, why it is so difficult to switch between sort by name, file type, last edited and so on. Why can't I browse through my file tree on the left and see the content on the right, just the way I need it (thumbnails, list, details)? I don't want to buy a 3rd party app, these things should be basic! When I moved to Apple I thought their software was superior but I must be wrong... Since I'm new here: have these issues been reported to Apple? What's the best way to do so? Thanks in advance

 

[benwiggy]

Finder isn't able to remember column width,

Close all windows. Create one new window, and configure it as you want. Now close it. All Finder windows should now be the same as this one.

why it is so difficult to switch between sort by name, file type, last edited and so on.

There's a button in the toolbar to set the sort order.

Why can't I browse through my file tree on the left and see the content on the right, just the way I need it (thumbnails, list, details)?

Normally, there's a preview column on the right. (In Column View, at least.)

There are plenty of improvements that the Finder could be making, I'll agree. I'd love to see saved window sets, like in Terminal.

 

[ChrisCanyon]

Close all windows. Create one new window, and configure it as you want. Now close it. All Finder windows should now be the same as this one.

Nope. Closed all windows, created a new one, changed column width, closed it. Started Finder, all columns are as narrow as before, no matter if I opened a new window or a new tab (MacOS 26.0.1)

 

[danpass]

and CMD-spacebar, which will also do math, including order of operations formulas

-

 

[ChrisCanyon]

There's a button in the toolbar to set the sort order.

I can change the sort order in the list view, yes. But with column or gallery view I need to open an extra window (display options), right?

 

[ChrisCanyon]

Normally, there's a preview column on the right. (In Column View, at least.)

Yes, the preview is helpful but I'd love to see a proper folder tree (or something similar) that helps to navigate between folders quickly.
Thanks for your help though

 

[benwiggy]

I can change the sort order in the list view, yes. But with column or gallery view I need to open an extra window (display options), right?

No: I use Column View all the time, and I just change the sort order in the toolbar, or from View > Sort By..., for a given window.

I'd love to see a proper folder tree (or something similar) that helps to navigate between folders quickly.

Like List View or Column View?

 

[ChrisCanyon]

No: I use Column View all the time, and I just change the sort order in the toolbar, or from View > Sort By..., for a given window.

Thanks for being patient with me. I've tried to do as you described (toolbar, options) but these don't seem do be one-click solutions. I change the sort order all the time and I need it in all views (icon, column, list). Just the way EVERY other file manager (like Windows Explorer, Adobe Bridge, XnView, IrfanView). Also I handle a lot of photos and illustrations. I'd like to see them as thumbsnails and then drag and drop them into different folders (a very simple thing I guess). I've been trying to find a good workflow for this with Finder but it seems to be impossible. Also: why can I shift click to bulk select files in list view but the same thing doesn't work in the icon view???

 

[ChrisCanyon]

Like List View or Column View?

Mostly icon view. Using icon view doesn't allow to see the entire folder tree at the same time. Of course, I can simply open another Finder window, set it to list or column view and drag and drop from the icon view in the first folder, but seriously? As I said in my first post, these are basic file management features and Finder should have these too.

 

[GFS]

Mostly icon view. Using icon view doesn't allow to see the entire folder tree at the same time. Of course, I can simply open another Finder window, set it to list or column view and drag and drop from the icon view in the first folder, but seriously? As I said in my first post, these are basic file management features and Finder should have these too.

Folders remember their last viewed state, which is applied when they are closed.

Columns have a weird old idiosyncrasy so try this ... Option-Drag the Divider and all columns are resized equally. Close and reopen the window and the columns should be the width they were when it was closed.

So ... you can use e.g. List view for the Applications folder. Icon view for your images folder. Column view for the Documents folder and these will be remembered.

For viewing all icons in a window, you may need to toggle Sort/Group which can get 'stuck', then resize with the icon 'size' slider (bottom right). The icons should reorganise themselves to fit inside the available window space.