Why do folders open in a new window?

[ICONYK]

Hi. I just made the switch from PC to MAC. So far I am doing ok with all the differences but one thing is driving me insane!

When browsing through my HD or external HD every time I click a folder it opens a new window. WHY? Is there any way to have it all use one window? I found in Finder there is an option to always open in a new window but this option is not checked.

Any help is appreciated.

In case it matters I am running OSX 10.6.3.

 

[BlueRevolution]

If that option is not selected, it should always open in the same window as you expect. Try going to Finder -> Preferences -> General, checking Always open folders in a new window (what I assume you're referring to), closing the preferences window, then going back in and deselecting it again. Any change?

 

[ICONYK]

Thank you. That worked for my internal HD but my external still opens a new window each time.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[angelwatt]

Are you using Finder in compact mode (toggled with the grey jelly bean button in the upper-right corner of a Finder window)? When I'm in compact mode and using icon or list view, double-clicking folders opens them in a new Finder window regardless of the preference already discussed.

(image from this site.)

 

[BlueRevolution]

Whoa, Panther. Blast from the past!

I hadn't made the connection, but that's a good point. That preference can be overridden by your current view mode.

 

[Gregg2]

You can also override the "new vs. current" window setting by using Option or Command when double-clicking a folder. On mine (OS 10.5.8) Option overrides the setting on my flash drive windows, and Command on my hard drive windows.

 

[angelwatt]

Whoa, Panther. Blast from the past!

It was the first screen shot I could find online showing the two different modes. Well actually, the first ones I found were from 10.0 and 10.1, but I don't think many people would have recognized Finder from then.

 

[ICONYK]

Thanks angel! That was it. Much appreciated!

 

[texasmccoy]

Are you using Finder in compact mode (toggled with the grey jelly bean button in the upper-right corner of a Finder window)? When I'm in compact mode and using icon or list view, double-clicking folders opens them in a new Finder window regardless of the preference already discussed.

YAAY! This worked to solve the multiple-windows issue. I was having the same exact problem (clicking on anything in Finder opened up a new window each time) and it was driving me mad, since I have been a Mac user for going on 10 years now and had not yet experienced this behavior. Problem started after I updated Firefox and the new download opened up in a compact window, which presumably caused all of Finder to start behaving the same way. Thanks for sharing this solution, so simple yet I have never paused to wonder what the jelly-bean button is for. Now I know