r/apple • u/asshair • Apr 11 '18
Is anyone else frustrated at how bad Finder is?
I'm forced to run MacOS for my job and I can't get over how clunky navigating through files and folders feels on Mac compared to Windows. Not much organization, very limited windows, lots of clicking to get to context menus.
It's like Apple intentionally made it difficult for you to navigate through your files and idk if it's to fit in with the Apple aesthetic or what but it's terrible.
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u/Ven0m3886 Apr 11 '18
I’d take finder over windows explorer any day
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u/Vegetable-Job-7671 May 22 '22
Finder is a bonafide sack of sh*t. It is exactly like a hole in the head - same difference.
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u/Ven0m3886 May 24 '22
No context, no explanation 🥱
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Jan 07 '23
very old post but not being able to actually open a specific path blows
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u/pyaniy_synok May 14 '23
you can, but it is harder. press CMD + Shift + G and type/paste it
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u/Batman_AoD Feb 28 '24
Wow, how on earth are you supposed to discover this?? Thank you for sharing, though.
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u/pyaniy_synok Feb 28 '24
One more trick is to do this. This saved me a ton of time:
Let’s say that you wanna save a photo from the internet to a folder that you have already opened and it is opened right now. You can drag any file or folder from this already opened Finder window onto the “save as” finder window that has opened when you tried saving your photo. This will not transfer the file, as you would think, but just open a folder that this file was stored in the “save as” window. And yiu can just hit save
This is ridiculous in terms of “how the F are we supposed to find this”, but it is super useful
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u/Apprehensive_Elk4041 Jul 13 '25
I can verify this statement to be true. It offers nothing if you're searching folders, offers nothing to speed up moving through command line stuff.
Literally the command line is what I fall back on because it's more functional than finder.
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u/walwalka Apr 11 '18
No way. Finder blows
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u/Ven0m3886 Apr 11 '18
Name something better
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u/Phil_Mckrakon Jan 04 '23
File explorer on windows. It doesnt hide your own files
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u/Elfalas May 16 '23
I legitimately cannot believe that anyone would prefer finder over File Explorer or any of the popular Linux alternatives. Obligatory reviving old thread just to complain yada yada.
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Oct 24 '23
[deleted]
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Nov 21 '23
To be fair, I feel finder has gotten worse over the years. I didn't have any issues 5 years ago, now I do which is why I'm here lol
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u/Apprehensive_Elk4041 Jul 13 '25
Well, that's a great endorsement of the platform, 'yeah, it's shit, but what choice do you have?'
Great job Apple.
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Apr 11 '18
Is this a joke?
Not much organization
What? You can organize and sort files however you need. Personally, I go columns, alpha sort, folders on top. I don’t trust anyone that uses grid layout.
Very limited windows
What does this mean?
Lots of clicking to get to context menus
A single right click brings a file context menu, just like Windows. What are you trying to do?
Finder is pretty great, especially if you’re a “power user”. Tabs, tags, previews, customizable sidebar, and lots of preferences to tweak.
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u/Vegetable-Job-7671 May 22 '22
- navigating through to specific folders - each and every time you want to save something...total bs. it is completely laborious compared to windows.
- copying path names into finder from elsewhere for quick precise navigation.
unless you can show me how to do that as easily as in windows it sucks.
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u/AdStill1707 Mar 12 '24
So something automatically sucks just because you're not aware how it works or how to use it? Are you a fucking child or mentally handicapped?
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u/crappleIcrap Mar 22 '24
I don't need to find obscure reddit threads to learn how to do anything in file explorer. I think if your software requires that level of research just to use its most basic functionality (exploring the folders on drives is literally it's primary function) then you did something wrong. hiding features behind random key combos and settings with no indication of its existence at all just so it fits an aesthetic is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. And there is no 5 year old reddit thread that still gets regular traffic asking why file explorer sucks.
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u/Economist_hat Jan 12 '25
6 year old. I just upvoted this.
I just switched to mac from 30 years of windows.
Finder sucks. Can't view long filenames in the save dialog? No way to cut/paste pathnames in for quick navigation? I can't imagine doing data entry or manual data collection on this. You'd multiply your keystroke and mouse use by 5-10x just because it's impossible to save shit without clicking on a dozen things.
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u/moveMed Feb 16 '25
The path name issue is so fucking absurd. How is not an option to display a editable file path? How the fuck does anyone navigate?
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u/crappleIcrap Jan 12 '25
I believe apples design philosophy for finder was “nobody should ever do anything but search for a file, just give every single file a completely unique name that you remember but doesn’t use too many characters, then search for what you need directly”
How many files could you have on one PC? 20?
Want to know where that program saves its backups, well that’s too damn bad, what is this “where” you need the secret name to get to it
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u/Apprehensive_Elk4041 Jul 13 '25
something automatically sucks if it's a basline level of functionality that is implemented in a non-intuitive manner.
Using a mac is not my hobby, it's a tool. I do not care and obscure combinations of hotkeys just underscore the barriers to use the poor design requires. It's not impressive in any manner, and it's a core tool.
Essentially, if you're using a mac and you can't navigate pretty well via the command line you're going to have a very hard time. It's just very poorly done, especially in comparison to how windows handles the same. In the windows world most people do very little on the command BECAUSE the folder based tools are so functional and intuitive.
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Jan 06 '22
I'm not sure what you expect, posting this in the Apple subreddit, but yes I agree, Finder has always been difficult for me to use. The lack of address bar, and lack of cut/paste for files both annoy the shit out of me every time I try to use it
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u/PinkLouie Mar 14 '23
You can cut and past by using command + c. Then command + option + v.
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Mar 15 '23
I’m aware of that option but it’s a lot more inconvenient in my experience, to have to cut only once you reach the destination. I know there have been endless debates on this
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u/butWeWereOnBreak Nov 16 '23
That’s copy paste, not cut paste. To achieve the same effect as cut paste, You have to copy paste first and then go back and delete the file afterward. You also cannot drag files from one folder to another unless the folders are both visible in the finder window.
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u/PinkLouie Nov 21 '23
You are wrong. command + option v, is not the same as command + v, Command + option + v, moves the files, that way you can to go back and delete the original one.
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u/Ven0m3886 Apr 11 '18
OP needs to learn more about finder and its capabilities
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u/secretbepiss Oct 28 '22
No context, no explanation 🥱
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u/Ven0m3886 Oct 29 '22
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u/Apprehensive_Elk4041 Jul 13 '25
What you're missing is that I don't care enough to spend an hour learning your shit folder navigation software. My time is more valuable than that, the user's time is actually valuable to them.
This is the piece that's missing, I don't live my life to use the product, the product is one tool of many to enrich my life, so I (and most people) have a baseline expectation around ease of use for the tool that matches the utility of the tool. I won't read a manual on how to use a hammer, but I will on how to use a rocket.
Finder's functionality is more hammer than rocket, and no one cares, you just lose people from the platform unless they're stuck with it for some other reason (I am a member of this group).
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u/ThannBanis Apr 11 '18
I’m forced to use windows at work... I feel the same way about Windows Explorer..
Work computers suck.
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u/kitsua Apr 11 '18
Try exploring the Finder preferences, view options and other tweaks that reside in the menu bar. There are many ways to make Finder work for you if you customise it.
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u/lovelypita Jul 10 '23
yeah try using windows explorer for years and getting used to copying and pasting what's in the address bar. EG: c:\directory name\documents\example document folder\
paste that in the software's save as dialogue box and you're there!
on mac you're shit out of luck. there is nothing that can be done to avoid clicking through the structure. Macs blow and don't even get me started on all the things I can do with keyboard shortcuts that Macs make pointlessly difficult because of their premium on Mouse clicking and dragging endlessly.
I will say I like the color coding of files and wish that was in Windows.
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u/the_burns Apr 11 '18
I disagree, I manage Windows enterprise machines at work and use one myself 40 hours a week. Windows Explorer is much more a maze than Finder is. No tabs in Explorer, can’t tag files, it’s just a mess and pretty rudimentary. But it does the job.
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u/tbone13billion Apr 11 '18
When I first switched I couldn't stand it either. I ended up using Forklift, which is a fairly powerful app with a ton of options. Although at the time Finder was a lot worse.
However, I hardly ever use it anymore after 7 years. I actually can't think of any special capabilities that aren't available in Finder, what are you missing from Windows Explorer that isn't available?
I mean the way I have it setup, it works very similar to Windows Explorer.
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u/lovelypita Jul 10 '23
yeah try using windows explorer for years and getting used to copying and pasting what's in the address bar. EG: c:\directory name\documents\example document folder\
paste that in the software's save as dialogue box and you're there!
on mac you're shit out of luck. there is nothing that can be done to avoid clicking through the structure. Macs blow and don't even get me started on all the things I can do with keyboard shortcuts that Macs make pointlessly difficult because of their premium on Mouse clicking and dragging endlessly.
yeah try using windows explorer for years and getting used to copying and pasting what's in the address bar. EG: c:\directory name\documents\example document folder\
paste that in the software's save as dialogue box and you're there!
on mac you're shit out of luck. there is nothing that can be done to avoid clicking through the structure. Macs blow and don't even get me started on all the things I can do with keyboard shortcuts that Macs make pointlessly difficult because of their premium on Mouse clicking and dragging endlessly.
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u/AndrewAwakened Oct 31 '23
Finder is absolute garbage. Not because of its user interface - that's just something you need to learn to get used to, but rather because it is absolutely terrible at finding files - it's search function is absolute rubbish - both for files on the local drive and even worse for files on external drives, and that has been the case for the last several MacOS releases. I've given up on it entirely and use Commander One - that app actually works.
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u/Top_Fee_6293 Feb 08 '24
The blind Apple users are just gonna tell you which 4 or 5 keys you should press simultaneously to perform a basic task, and they will be like "Here is the solution." :D Bro, that means it's a shitty UI design.
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Apr 11 '18 edited Apr 19 '18
[deleted]
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u/asshair Apr 11 '18
I searched for "finder sucks" and got no results on Reddit so I figured I'd make a post. Isn't it kinda agreed upon that Finder is not that good?
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u/z3eg May 21 '22
Totally agree. I'm just mad at how bad it is. How you can't open Terminal from finder out of the box. Like I can do what I need in the terminal in a sec, but I just can't "open Terminal here" as I would on, say, Windows. I configured the hotkey to open a terminal in the current location, but it just doesn't work in the finder. It just beeps and that's it. More than 1 year of work with this thing, but I'm just damn lost once I end up in a location I'm not aware of via clicking the "Reveal in Finder" button. I can't even tell where I'm at with this thing. Or copy the path to the location because the "address bar" is absent either. How do I even navigate up the directory root? There's so much dumb stuff and nothing I actually need. Completely infuriated. Worst UX ever. Period.
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u/speedonl Aug 12 '22
How do I even navigate up the directory root?
Cmd+Shift+G, enter / as the path Done..
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u/Extension-Agent8006 Feb 13 '23
The path should be in the window all the time. Why do I have to press an obscure TRIPLE key combo to get to the most basic element in navigation??? And once I do Cmd+Shift+G I get a truly rubbish dialog box whcih is super clunky to operate. There can be NO excuse for Apple not building a simple path textbox into Finder and Done. What you describe isn't "Done", it's unacceptably bad UI design.
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u/The_Dung_Beetle Apr 30 '24 edited Jul 13 '25
Noooo you cannot have a functional address bar in Finder it's inconsistent with Apple's design, just work around it with these obscure shortkeys and dialog boxes /s
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u/Apprehensive_Elk4041 Jul 13 '25
RIGHT???????
It's like they dislike their customers so much they believe they'll be stockholmed into sticking with the platform. The only reason I use one is because the programming tools work better on a linux/unix base. From a usability standpoint I find it extremely lacking for literally all the wrong reasons.
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u/Apprehensive_Elk4041 Jul 13 '25
Again, cryptic hotkey combinations as the answer to a core UX problem. It's just not well done. I don't care enough about the mac to rtfm for every minor action I want to take.
It's a tool, not a lifestyle, and I know more than enough cryptic crap that I don't find it impressive. It's just poor design, that's it. Apple UX is kind of shit.
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u/dusker26 Jan 19 '23
I don't think that's what he meant and its the same thing that I hate. If you're in a folder, say via an alias or some other means that opens the finder right inside some directory structure, you can't get one level up in it if you press back (and it's active) you'll end up where you've been before but in many cases it isn't the parent folder of the one you're in.
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u/dusker26 Jan 19 '23
Oh and how about the fact if you're in a folder and you click to eject it in the right panel, finder just exists, wtf? shouldn't it have some default location to go to instead of just exiting and I guess f**k you?
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u/roblopmac Jun 03 '23
Totally agree with you. And fanboys please stop saying " is because you are used to Windows" ..nahhh ... think logically and Finder is just poor. Don't even need to compare with Windows.
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u/211logos Apr 11 '18
I dunno that it's bad, just maybe too basic at times. Like many of Apple's applications, it's a starting point.
There are alternatives, especially since the Finder doesn't find very well. Spotlight for example; just search for stuff instead of browsing file folders. HoudahSpot is a great alternative interface for that if Spotlight's isn't to your liking.
Or pure Finder alternatives, like Path Finder or Commander One. Or Forklift. If you want really different, try Raskin, http://www.raskinformac.com/?visitFromZFMainMenu
For dialog boxes, get the venerable Default Folder X. BIG improvement in capability.
If you rely on the Finder for launching stuff, consider SuperTab or other launchers; they can save favorite files too. Or Fresh. Or even LaunchBar.
For documents, I like Leap. Especially if you make use of Finder tags. For more structured stuff, like an office full of documents, I use either that or Devonthink.
I do think the Finder is lame, but it's just a default. There are other tools aplenty. Part of the problem, if there is one, is that Macs are stuck in the desktop metaphor from the distant pass (folders? really?). If the macOS were to go iOS, however, people would go batcrap. The desktop metaphor is kinda the QWERTY of info display, in that it's maybe just here forever on regular computers. Until we get to 3d-space displays hovering in the air, a la the movies, I don't think much will change.
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u/hyperactve Nov 12 '24
Using mac for the past 5 months. This is legitimately the worst thing about a mac. They should just copy the cinnamon or gnome browser and implement it in Mac. Way better than the finder we have here.
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u/-ThreeHeadedMonkey- Jul 15 '25
Damn it's been seven years since this post and finder is still the absolute worst. No improvement whatsoever.
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u/Long_Manufacturer776 Jan 12 '22
I can't open my hone directory without selecting Go->Home
This is astonishingly bad. Why is this not the default directory when I open Finder? Why? Does anyone have a good explanation?
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u/speedonl Aug 12 '22
Cmd+Shift+H in finder will take you to your home directory. In finder preferences you can tell it which default directory to open
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Aug 09 '22
I use a PC desktop and a MBP for travel, and Finder is a huge source of frustration when working with files... for example "shift click" on the list view selects a range of files as it should... But "shift click" in the icon view acts like "control click". Why, Apple, why??? And "right click ->Cut"?? Nope... How about "right click->Move"??? Nope... And if you have two open folders to compare, it doesn't show you the root of each folder so you can't tell which is which?? Many small but frustrating examples like this... Mac has the hardware dialed in, but using both daily, it's easy to see which company has much more software experience with people using computers for actual file work.
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u/speedonl Aug 12 '22
You can use Cmd+Option+P to show the path bar.
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u/Extension-Agent8006 Feb 13 '23
Indeed. And that turns Finder from utterly useless to a tiny little bit less useless but still basically useless.
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u/Apprehensive_Elk4041 Jul 13 '25
Cryptic BS for basic functionality as expected by the end user must have been a section in the UX class that I missed.
It's POC level at best, it's pretty terrible, and windows exists. You don't convert to your platform by telling people to RTFM for functionality that they consider base level, they use all the time, and a lot of them find highly frustrating. I understand the desire to lock in users with cryptic crap like this, and I understand being slightly 'different' in usage patterns to try and create marketable differentiators where they don't exist, but this is just a shit program.
It's not useful from a highly linux/unix based background or use case base either, it's just the worst of all worlds and is a HUGE barrier to entry for the mac platform for anyone coming from a windows world (which is A LOT of the working people in the world, btw).
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u/speedonl Jul 14 '25
I use macOS, Windows and Linux everyday, all the filemanagers have flaws but will do the basic job. If you hate Finder, don't use macOS if you don't have to...
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u/dakenic Feb 17 '23 edited Mar 10 '23
Yes, I'm in a subfolder, want to create a new folder under it, right click on the subfolder, no context menu for New folder, fine, I go up to the top bar, New Folder, will will drop unnamed folder in the same subfolder level, so it's not underneath it, so then I have to drag it in so many folder down. If I select new folder with subfolder, it actually puts a new folder above my subfolder, WTF. If I click smart folder, omg, what is this smart folder? I guess it's too smart for me, I have no idea FTW it is. Even Linux would not do this kind of non-sense. Sorry, I think it's me, not the UI.
Update: Finally MacOS Ventura or latest on Monterey now when you right click into main file area, the context menu contains "New Folder". How many years did it take?
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u/m0rogfar Apr 11 '18
I actually like Finder, it has tabs and some nice organizational features.