Make the Finder sidebar and toolbar yours
The Finder is where you will spend the most time: put your folders one click away and add the buttons you need.
Works on: macOS Ventura 13 and later · checked on macOS Golden Gate 27
Published: · Source: Genius Manu
The Finder is the Mac’s file manager, and its defaults assume you use the folders Apple ships rather than yours.
Sidebar. Drag any folder into the Favourites section of the sidebar and it stays there. To take something out, drag it off the sidebar until the remove sign appears — the folder itself stays where it is, only the shortcut goes. For the built-in entries, Finder → Settings → Sidebar has a checkbox for each.
Toolbar. Choose View → Customise Toolbar. A sheet drops down with every available button, and you drag them in or out. AirDrop is a good one to add: select a file, click the button, and send it to your phone.
One more worth turning on, in Finder → Settings → Advanced: Show all filename
extensions. Without it the Finder hides .pdf and .jpg, which is confusing
if you are used to seeing them.
Related tips
Rename a batch of files in one go
The Finder can replace text, add text or number a whole selection of files at once.
Tidy a chaotic desktop with Stacks
One command sweeps every loose file into neat piles by kind, and keeps doing it for the new ones.
Show the path and the free space in Finder windows
Two hidden bars tell you which folder you are actually in and how much room is left on the disk.