Quite simply caches are areas where computers temporarily store data that they’ll likely need again soon. Type in a search, and you’ll see the results listed below.Macs, like all computers, use caches to help them maintain performance. To do so, click the magnifying glass icon in the upper-right corner of the Finder window (or press Command+F). If you’d like to change the way you view files in the Finder window, use the icons that look like groups of squares in the topmost toolbar to change the style of the view (from icons to list, for example) and also how the files in the window are sorted.Īnd yes, you can find things in Finder too using the Search feature.
RELATED: What Are Computer Files and Folders? If you don’t see the Path Bar, choose View > Show Path Bar in the menu bar at the top of the screen (or press Option+Command+P). If you don’t see the sidebar, choose View > Show Sidebar in the menu at the top of the screen (or press Ctrl+Command+S).Īs you’re browsing in Finder, you can use the breadcrumbs in the Path Bar at the bottom of the screen to see where you are in the file path. To delete a file using Finder, drag its icon to the trash can icon in your dock.īy default, you’ll see a sidebar in every Finder window that contains shortcuts to important locations such as your Desktop, Documents, Applications, or Pictures folders. If you drag a file or folder from one window two another on the same drive, Finder will move the item to the new location.
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Generally, if you drag between two Finder windows on two different drives, it will make a copy of the file and keep a copy in both locations. You click and drag file or folder icons between windows to move or copy them. Using this window, you can browse through your files by double-clicking files or folders to open them. In fact, the easiest way to open Finder is to click its icon in your dock, which looks like a smiling blue face.Īfter clicking, you’ll see “Finder” in the upper-left corner of the screen, and a Finder window will open. You can’t delete it, and it’s always available on your Dock.
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RELATED: Deja Vu: A Brief History of Every Mac CPU Architecture How to Use Finderįinder is an app on your Mac, but one with special status and privileges in macOS. Horn and others developed the Finder into something similar to what we know today, but it has changed dramatically over time to fit new architectures and operating systems. Its precursor on the Apple Lisa, Filer, sported a similar-sounding name with a similar purpose: to help you organize files and launch programs with a graphical, mouse-based interface. Early Finder co-author Bruce Horn speculates that Finder got its name because it’s used to find documents. The Macintosh Finder originated early in the development of the Macintosh, first named by Bud Tribble. It’s generally equivalent to File Explorer (formerly known as Windows Explorer) on Windows. It also helps you launch applications and connect to network resources. It allows you to move, copy, and delete files.
Finder Is How You Interact with Files on a Macįinder is the basic way that you interact with the file system on your Mac.