Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Is it possible to get cover flow in finder back in BS?
- Thread starter Mick84
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Seconded. Really miss Cover Flow it was such a useful view which shouldn't have been removed. Being able to flick through previews of files was just so slick. Gallery view doesn't even compare.
Thirded.... 
Used to use it a lot scrolling through photo folders (I don't use the Photos app) and it was super useful.
Agree gallery is pretty rubbish for a folder with many hundreds of files.....
Graphic Converter App DOES have cover flow view option when browsing, which will likely come in handy....
Used to use it a lot scrolling through photo folders (I don't use the Photos app) and it was super useful.Agree gallery is pretty rubbish for a folder with many hundreds of files.....
Graphic Converter App DOES have cover flow view option when browsing, which will likely come in handy....
Last edited:
Apple lost a multi-multi million dollar lawsuit over cover flow. I doubt they’ll bring it back.
As a workaround, I use High Sierra through Parallels (same as VMWare). So to get Cover Flow will cost you the price of VM software for now.
It works great by the way through the HS VM.
As a workaround, I use High Sierra through Parallels (same as VMWare). So to get Cover Flow will cost you the price of VM software for now.
It works great by the way through the HS VM.
So they're not allowed to use that feature anymore because of the lawsuit?
Yeah, I had that same idea of running HS within macOS using VM. Trouble is Apple have removed all the previous OSs installers from the Mac App Store. HS installer was there until last year but not now. I've downloaded 2 or 3 iso installers of HS but both turned out to be damaged so they didn't work. Any idea where I could get a good, undamaged installer of HS or even Sierra? Thanks.
You can still get the full High Sierra install image through a round about path.
This link provides a tool to download a full (5 GB) 10.13 installer.
Download macOS DMG (Catalina and High Sierra)
"Read" the instructions further down the page which has a link to an application that can be used to download the installer. Then install High Sierra with VMWare or Parallels in conjunction with Mojave, Catalina or Big Sur to get Cover Flow.
Of course, the downside is you have to own VMWare or Parallels ($). But I also use Parallels to run licensed copies of XP and Win10 to host Windows applications Visio, Acrobat X, CS6, etc. seamlessly with macOS. Although I've migrated to Affinity Photo in place of Photoshop. I also use DXO Photolab and Capture One for Nikon to process RAW files.
Good luck.
This link provides a tool to download a full (5 GB) 10.13 installer.
Download macOS DMG (Catalina and High Sierra)
"Read" the instructions further down the page which has a link to an application that can be used to download the installer. Then install High Sierra with VMWare or Parallels in conjunction with Mojave, Catalina or Big Sur to get Cover Flow.
Of course, the downside is you have to own VMWare or Parallels ($). But I also use Parallels to run licensed copies of XP and Win10 to host Windows applications Visio, Acrobat X, CS6, etc. seamlessly with macOS. Although I've migrated to Affinity Photo in place of Photoshop. I also use DXO Photolab and Capture One for Nikon to process RAW files.
Good luck.
Thanks for your suggestion of graphic converter. I have gotten the latest version and it used to work before but now it crashes as soon as you open it. Earlier it would crash after some time of using it. Maybe the problem is that my 16 GB of RAM is not enough as Big Sur apps take a lot of RAM. I don't know but I have to always force quit it. Another thing is I kept searching for 'finder alternatives with cover flow' but this app never showed up in those searches! So thanks for informing me. I would buy it but if it keeps crashing, what if I buy it and it never works? Does it crash for you too on Big Sur?Thirded....
Agree gallery is pretty rubbish for a folder with many hundreds of files.....
Graphic Converter App DOES have cover flow view option when browsing, which will likely come in handy....
Hi Mick
I just tested it and it works just fine (View / Cover-flow) - a bit too quick if anything! Oops, just realised you can use the arrow keys instead of swiping which is much better!
With the app comes a side app called Graphic Converter First Aid - I ran that when it started slowing down when opening big folders. It basically trashes the right preferences for you and works like a charm. You might want to give it a try.
You might want to check what preferences you have set - there are a lot of them.
16GB of RAM should be plenty - I was using 8 GB when I first got the iMac and it was fine.
It's a super app - I use it mostly for batch renaming files (but it does so much more - it's a Swiss Army knife for images!). Hope you get it working.
Good luck.
EDIT - just to add their customer service is great, always worth dropping an email and they will fix any issue quickly. There's also a user forum on their website which is very helpful.
I just tested it and it works just fine (View / Cover-flow) - a bit too quick if anything! Oops, just realised you can use the arrow keys instead of swiping which is much better!
With the app comes a side app called Graphic Converter First Aid - I ran that when it started slowing down when opening big folders. It basically trashes the right preferences for you and works like a charm. You might want to give it a try.
You might want to check what preferences you have set - there are a lot of them.
16GB of RAM should be plenty - I was using 8 GB when I first got the iMac and it was fine.
It's a super app - I use it mostly for batch renaming files (but it does so much more - it's a Swiss Army knife for images!). Hope you get it working.
Good luck.
EDIT - just to add their customer service is great, always worth dropping an email and they will fix any issue quickly. There's also a user forum on their website which is very helpful.
Last edited: