I pretty much hate Finder, how to favorites?

[FlyingTexan]

Been a windows user since 3.11 and have been a mac user for the past several years. I really hate finder. It's like I'm always trying to figure out how to use it or where anything is. Right now I'm plugging in an external USB-C drive that I can only find by minimizing my screens and going to the desktop. So I go into finder to copy the files then go open the drive on the desktop to transfer them. Is there a way I can add my drives to my "Favorites" portion of finder? Or is there an alternative program to finder that acts more like file explorer from Windows? No doubt I like MacOS better but they definitely didn't get everything right. I honestly don't know what their aim was with Finder. It's not very "Functional" to me. Can't seem to just easily create folders and locations.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I don't care for Finder in that regard, either. I use an app called Transmit to move files back and forth from my Macs to external drives etc. It is much quicker and a better interface than Finder.

Transmit 5 for macOS. Now available.

The gold standard of macOS file transfer apps just drove into the future. Transmit 5 is here.

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[Ritsuka]

You can either go to the "Computer" folder (Finder -> Go -> Computer), or put the all the disks in the sidebar (in Finder preferences).

 

[Mr.Blacky]

In the past several years, since you've been am Mac user, did you ever looked into the basic functions and abilities of MacOS?

 

[nothingtoseehere]

Been a windows user since 3.11 and have been a mac user for the past several years. I really hate finder. It's like I'm always trying to figure out how to use it or where anything is. Right now I'm plugging in an external USB-C drive that I can only find by minimizing my screens and going to the desktop. So I go into finder to copy the files then go open the drive on the desktop to transfer them. Is there a way I can add my drives to my "Favorites" portion of finder? Or is there an alternative program to finder that acts more like file explorer from Windows? No doubt I like MacOS better but they definitely didn't get everything right. I honestly don't know what their aim was with Finder. It's not very "Functional" to me. Can't seem to just easily create folders and locations.

I hear you; when I switched with my private machine from Windows to Mac 6 years ago, the Explorer was the one thing I missed.

Actually I have to admit that I spend too much time grumbling about the Finder instead of exploring its possibilities. After several years, I got used to the Finder, and now I very much like it , grumbling in the office when I have to use the Explorer

There are so many possibilities to customize the Finder experience. What I discovered for me was, among others:

• Using multiple Finder windows, especially for copying files, opening source and destination in different Finder windows
• Using Spaces; as I have to shuffle around files a lot, I reserved a space only for Finder operations
• Switching between the different options to present the folders (column, list, ...)
• Using AppleScript for even more customizing my work with files and Finder

Maybe you can also get inspiration here
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/guides-how-tos-and-tips-for-new-mac-owners.2217520/

There are some Finder-related guides.

 

[Fishrrman]

You might consider "finder alternatives", such as:
- Pathfinder
- Commander One