Is there a keyboard shortcut to bring up Finder?

Question

Is there a default keyboard shortcut to start a new Finder window? If not, is there a way to assign one?

I tried System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts > App Shortcuts and created a new item for Finder, and assigned shift-command ⌘-F, among other things, but nothing worked.

Answer 1

By default, no, there's no keyboard shortcut to activate Finder.

Keyboard Maestro can do this though:

Answer 2

It's actually easy. On Yosemite, just press option ⌥+command ⌘+spacebar. That will open a new Smart Finder window. You then can navigate from there. It works on a system level no matter what application you're running.

No need for scripts or complicated setups.

Turn this option on in System Preferences > keyboard > shortcuts > spotlight > "show finder search window" in recent versions. This can be mapped to other keys too, but it can cause conflicts in other apps that might be using your desired shortcut.

Answer 3

1. Open Automator and choose the service template.
2. Change the input type from selected text to no input.
3. Add a Launch Application action and drop Finder on the pop-up button from /System/Library/CoreServices/. (The dialog for choosing an application does not allow selecting Finder.)
4. Save the service and give it a shortcut in System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts > Services.

The service only opens a new window if there is no existing Finder window. To open a new window every time, add a Get Specified Finder Items action, drop the folder you want to open on the list, and then add a Reveal Finder Items action.

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Automator is included in OS X: http://support.apple.com/kb/PH14303 (Mavericks), http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11360 (Mountain Lion), etc.

Background: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automator_(software)

Further reading if you're interested in doing more with Automator: http://www.macosxautomation.com/automator/

Answer 4

You can always use this trick to open Finder..

alt + command + <space>

This is actually a shortcut to search for files IN FINDER MODE, In other words it opens Finder directly without needing to install any tools.

You can add your favorite directory onto the sidebar (Finder > System Preferences > Sidebar) and access it easily.

Answer 5

Actually I find it easy to bring up the finder with COMMAND-TAB. Cycle thru the open applications till you have selected Finder.

If any windows are already open but hidden they pop to the front if none are open a simple COMMAND-N opens a new window.

Not exactly a simple WINDOWS-E but it does work.

Answer 6

There is a few native keyboard shortcuts to open a new Finder window:

• shift+⌘+C: Computer folder
• shift+⌘+D: Desktop folder
• shift+⌘+H: Home folder
• shift+⌘+O: Documents folder
• shift+⌘+A: Applications folder
• opt+⌘+L: Downloads folder

Note that the active app has priority over global shortcuts, so you might want to click on your desktop before trying those.

Answer 7

If you have the Powerpack for Alfred 2, you can create a workflow like this:

Hotkeys have a short delay by default, but you can reduce it by changing the trigger behavior:

Another option is to use a private.xml like this with KeyRemap4MacBook:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<root>
  <vkopenurldef>
    <name>KeyCode::VK_OPEN_URL_FINDER</name>
    <url>file:///System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app</url>
  </vkopenurldef>
  <item>
    <name>shortcuts</name>
    <identifier>shortcuts</identifier>
    <autogen>__KeyToKey__ KeyCode::F12, ModifierFlag::NONE, KeyCode::VK_OPEN_URL_FINDER</autogen>
  </item>
</root>

Answer 8

If you use TotalFinder there is a nice 'visor' feature which causes a Finder window to slide up from the bottom of the screen. The sliding in or out can be linked to a hot key combo (double press option works well for me) and then it is always easy to do a bit if quick Finder manipulation.

Answer 9

If you want to open Finder with your home folder then open Spotlight, type ~ (tilda) or your user name, and then press Enter.

If you want to open Finder with a specific file or folder:

1. Press ⌘+Space to show Spotlight and start typing the name of the file/folder you want.
2. Use the Up and Down to highlight the file or folder, and then press ⌘+R — you'll get a Finder window with the given folder or file.

💡 Hint: While an item is selected in Spotlight you can press ⌘ to have the path displayed in the status line.

💡Hint: To configure what Spotlight should search type ⌘+, (Command+comma) while the Spotlight search bar is open.

Answer 10

I also had this question too and was hoping that one of these solutions that didn't require 3rd party software I would be happy with but unfortunately the OPTION + CMD + SPACE doesn't cut it for me because it opens a blank Finder window every time. And I couldn't figure out the instructions to get an Automator script to launch Finder.

I even tried using an Apple script action in Automator but they just didn't work the way I wanted.

However I did find a SUPER simple app on the Mac App store that behaves exactly the way I wanted so I thought I would share. NOTE: you do need to create a manual shortcut for Finder as this app doesn't count Finder as the first app in your dock. But the thing I like most is a second press of the shortcut will hide the app too. Simple and beautiful.

Snap. https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/snap/id418073146?mt=12

(And lolz at the person who wrote a 1 star review about clicking their fingers hoping this app would do something. trolololol!)

Answer 11

Without any special tools you can simply use ⌘+TAB and while you cycle through the apps highlight the Finder and hold option ⌥, then let go of ⌘. A new Finder window will open with whatever folder is set in the Finder preferences > New Finder windows show option.

Answer 12

Using BetterTouchTool, it's possible to send Shortcuts directly to apps:

1. Open BTT.
2. Go to Keyboard Shortcuts triggers.
3. Create a new Keyboard Shortcut, I use ⌃E as it's the remapped Windows-Key on my Logitech G915 TKL Lightspeed Tactile, using the Karabiner-Elements-app. This way I get the same experience on both OS.
4. Add a Action and choose Send Shortcut to Specific App.
5. Record Shortcut is the Shortcut to send to finder, in this case ⌘N for a New Finder Window.
6. In the Send to App section, find Finder at /System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app
7. Check ✅ Bring app to front before sending.

Answer 13

command ⌘+E configured to summon Finder window:

Settings => Keyboard => Shortcuts => Show Finder search window: change tocommand ⌘+E

Answer 14

Please go to System preferences > Keyboad > Shortcut tab.

On the left pane, select Services, and make sure spotlight is selected. It is by default COMMAND + SPACE + F. You may change id if you wish.

Answer 15

The default keyboard shortcut to open a new Finder window is ⌘+N, but it works only when Finder is in focus, which I assume, is not the way you want it to work. I guess you want to be able to open it no matter which application is in focus right now.

To do that we have two ways: standard and non-standard with help of a third-party app BetterTouchTool.

Standard way described by netrox here. And I used to use it for a couple of years. But the problem is that it creates a New Smart Folder window every time, instead of bringing some opened one.

So I found non-standard which works exactly as I wanted it to (Bring Finder window in the focus or create a new one if there are no windows opened): You need to create a new trigger there, assign desired shortcut for it, and choose "Open Finder" as an action.

Answer 16

Using Karabiner-Elements, the following rule maps left_control+f to open Finder:

{
  "description": "Open Finder",
  "manipulators": [
    {
      "from": {
        "key_code": "f",
        "modifiers": {
          "mandatory": ["left_control"]
        }
      },
      "to": [
        {
          "shell_command": "open -a Finder"
        }
      ],
      "type": "basic"
    }
  ]
}

Answer 17

I stumbled across this whilst trying to find a macOS equivalent for the Super/Windows-E shortcut on Windows that opens a Windows Explorer window. I thought it would be useful to summarise into a single answer.

Unfortunately there is no quick single-command comparable equivalent in macOS (accurate as of Sanoma 14.2.1). The following are the best options I could find:

1. Cmd-Tab (may be required multiple times) to select the Finder application
2. Cmd-N to open a new Finder window

(this is easier to remember and more ergonomic on a QWERTY keyboard but may require repetition of the first step)

1. Opt-Cmd-Space to open a Finder window in Searching this Mac mode
2. Shift-Cmd-H to navigate to home directory within Finder (other shortcuts, e.g. Shift-Cmd-A for applications, can be seen within the Go Finder menu)

More information on macOS default shortcuts is available on the Apple website.

Answer 18

Pres the the following keys combination Command+Shift+F

Answer 19

Here is the answer.

Press 'command + shift + ~' ,then you will have a surprise.