How to open folder without using mouse in Mac?

Question

I'm recently switched to Mac from Windows. It was quite a pain but I am now adjusted to the Mac commands and shortcuts, except one. That is whenever I select a folder and press Return/Enter it executes the rename. While I was expecting it to open it?

Is there any way I can change the shortcut?

You should get used to the enter to rename shortcut because that is how most mac apps will work. For instance renaming a project in final cut pro you select it and hit enter. So it isn't just in the finder. This one annoyed me too when I switched from windows, but you get used to it soon enough. Also CMD-L for going to the address bar of the browser is another one I had to get used to. But cmd-tab and cmd-` work great. — mattpr, Nov 30 '23 at 16:42

Doug Harris · Accepted Answer · 2022-04-06T19:43:25.277

143

To open it, you can use either of these two keyboard shortcuts:

⌘+O (the standard shortcut for opening files)
⌘+↓

edited Apr 06 '22 at 19:43

answered Apr 26 '10 at 17:16

Doug Harris

27,811

is there a way to change the shortcut key ? – Prashant Cholachagudda Apr 26 '10 at 17:27
System Preferences app -> Keyboard, choose "keyboard shortcuts" tab. Click the + sign to add a custom shortcut. You can specify that it's only for Finder.... but you can't assign enter as the shortcut. – Doug Harris Apr 26 '10 at 19:00
11

Thanks Doug, I found one moer shortcut :) command + down arrow – Prashant Cholachagudda Apr 26 '10 at 21:19
6

Also, ⌘↑ will open the enclosing folder, like Backspace on Windows. Holding down the ⌥ (Option) key will also close the current window. – Kevin Reid Oct 28 '10 at 21:16
Well I use "Command + Down Arrow" for opening a folder, and "Command + " for going back. I did this by adding a custom shortcut in Applications Shortcut -> For Finder and added "Enclosing Folder" -> "Command + \ " – Pranzell Jun 13 '20 at 09:54
update as of Jan 2021: ⌘ ↓ – izy Jan 10 '21 at 05:48
1

@izy Can you be more specific – are you referring to MacOS 11 (aka Big Sur)? – Doug Harris Jan 11 '21 at 20:24
@DougHarris yes the current version, which is Big Sur – izy Jan 12 '21 at 22:15
If you are prompted to select a directory by a program, for example when your IDE asks you which directory you want to set as your workspace, ⌘+↓ will enter into a directory, whereas ⌘+O will submit/return the directory. If you don't have a directory highlighted, ⌘ ↓ will return the current one. – Kevin Wheeler May 05 '23 at 20:31
When choosing a location to save a file using the finder popup, it used to be that CMD-O worked for opening subfolders. you could start typing the name of the subfolder you want, cmd-o to open it then type some more, cmd-o again until you find where you want to save the file and then hit enter. Apparently this behaviour changed sometime between Mojave and Big Sur because now both enter and cmd-o save the file rather than navigating into a sub directory in the file-save dialog. When using normal finder window, cmd-o still works to open a directory. No idea why they changed it. Crap UX. – mattpr Nov 30 '23 at 16:37
⌘ ↓ - also saves file rather than opening a sub directory in the file-save finder dialog. So annoying. – mattpr Nov 30 '23 at 16:38

score 58 · Answer 2 · edited Apr 12 '13 at 13:56

58

I use Command plus the ↑ or ↓ arrow keys.

edited Apr 12 '13 at 13:56

slhck

228,104

answered Apr 12 '13 at 13:51

Pankaj

581

8

I find this way better than the accepted answer. – Meryovi Jun 06 '13 at 23:05
2

It seems this is more expected behavior. – wonsuc Feb 13 '19 at 01:50

score 12 · Answer 3 · edited Jan 13 '21 at 03:40

12

As well, you can also use Command+Shift+G while Finder is active and type the path of the folder you want to open in the box that appears. ie:

~/Pictures

will open your Pictures folder.

edited Jan 13 '21 at 03:40

Gediminas Jeremiah Gudelis

143

answered Apr 12 '13 at 14:45

Nevin Williams

4,523

This works great in combination with Finderpath. – dorien Jan 17 '17 at 02:51
and tab-completion works in the dialog for choosing the path. It's a great combination. – Doug Harris Feb 06 '18 at 14:41

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Jan 09 '21 at 19:58

Same situation. But I eased my pain by switching to the "View as Columns" view (Command+3) and navigate to any needed place just using all the arrow keys.

If needed I can again quickly switch to my previous view with Command+1/2/3 or 4 shortcuts.

This is better (in my case) than staying in "Icons view" and navigating with arrows Up and Down.

score 0 · Answer 5 · edited Jan 13 '21 at 03:40

0

Updated combination: ⌘+ ↓

and as mentioned previously: ⌘+ o

edited Jan 13 '21 at 03:40

Gediminas Jeremiah Gudelis

143

answered Jan 10 '21 at 05:50

izy

109

Welcome to Super User! Please don't try to answer old questions as your first posts, also please expand your answer to fully explain what it does. – Ξένη Γήινος Jan 10 '21 at 06:50
OS version: Big Sur – izy Jan 12 '21 at 22:17

How to open folder without using mouse in Mac?

5 Answers5