The Finder is macOS’ version of the Windows’ File Explorer. It lets you browse all your files and launch applications directly. You can launch Finder from the Dock, or you can click on your Desktop and press Command+N to open a new Finder window. The Applications folder isn’t hidden and hard to access like Program Files is on. By default, your Mac will open it with TextEdit, Apple’s built-in simple text-editing app. To change that, Ctrl+click the file in question, then click Get Info. This will bring up a new window.
If you're using macOS Mojave or earlier or a Windows PC, use iTunes to share files between your computer and your iOS or iPadOS device.
Other ways to share
![How To Open Finder App On Mac How To Open Finder App On Mac](/uploads/1/3/4/1/134123879/675968468.jpg)
Best time tracking app mac os x. Learn about other ways you can share files between your Mac and your devices. These features work wirelessly.
iCloud Drive lets you securely access all of your documents from your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or PC. How to transfer individual apps from mac tomac. No matter which device you're using, you'll always have the most up-to-date documents when and where you need them.
With Handoff, you can start a document, email, or message on one device and pick up where you left off on another device. Handoff works with Apple apps such as Mail, Safari, Maps, Messages, Reminders, Calendar, Contacts, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote. It also works with some third-party apps.
AirDrop lets you instantly share your photos, videos, documents, and more with other Apple devices that are nearby.
![Mac Mac](/uploads/1/3/4/1/134123879/289288122.jpg)
What you need to use the Finder to share files
- An iPhone, iPad, iPod touch with the latest version of iOS or iPadOS
- An iOS or iPadOS app that works with File Sharing
See the iOS and iPadOS apps that can share files with your Mac
- Open a Finder window.
- Connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your computer with a USB cable.
- Select your device in the Finder. Learn what to do if your computer doesn't recognize your device.
- Click the Files tab to see a list of apps that can share files. If you don't see a Files section, your device doesn't have any apps that can share files.
- Click the triangle next to an app to see the files that you can share.
Copy from your Mac to your device
- Select the files that you want to copy. Select only files that work with the app. Check the app’s user guide to see which ones work.
- Drag the files to the app on your device. The Finder copies the files to your device.
Copy from your device to your Mac
- Select the files that you want to copy.
- Drag the files to a folder on your computer. The Finder copies the files to your computer.
Open shared files
On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, use the app that you chose in the Files tab to open files that you shared from your computer.
Depending on the file type, some apps can't open files in other apps or locations. You can see the list of files in the Files tab of the Finder when your device is connected to your computer.
Back up shared files
When iCloud or your computer backs up your device, it backs up your shared files as well.
If you delete an app with shared files from your iOS or iPadOS device, you also delete those shared files from your device and your iCloud or computer backup. To avoid losing shared files, copy the files to your computer before deleting the app from your device.
Delete shared files from your device
- Open a Finder window on your Mac.
- Connect your device to your computer using a USB cable.
- Select your device in the Finder. Learn what to do if your computer doesn't recognize your device.
- Select the app from the list in the Files section.
- In the Documents list, select the file that you want to delete, then press the Delete key on your keyboard.
- When the Finder asks you to confirm, click Delete.
How To Open Finder App On Mac Computer
There might be other ways to delete files from an app. See the app's user guide to find out more.
Terminal User Guide
Each window in Terminal represents an instance of a shell process. The window contains a prompt that indicates you can enter a command. The prompt you see depends on your Terminal and shell preferences, but it often includes the name of the host you’re logged in to, your current working folder, your user name, and a prompt symbol. For example, if a user named michael is using the default zsh shell, the prompt appears as:
This indicates that the user named michael is logged in to a computer named MacBook-Pro, and the current folder is his home folder, indicated by the tilde (~).
Open Terminal
On your Mac, do one of the following:
- Click the Launchpad icon in the Dock, type Terminal in the search field, then click Terminal.
- In the Finder , open the /Applications/Utilities folder, then double-click Terminal.
Quit Terminal
- In the Terminal app on your Mac, choose Terminal > Quit Terminal.
Quit a shell session
How To Open Finder On Macbook
- In the Terminal app on your Mac, in the window running the shell process you want to quit, type
exit
, then press Return.
This ensures that commands actively running in the shell are closed. If anything’s still in progress, a dialog appears.
Can't Open Finder On Mac
If you want to change the shell exit behavior, see Change Profiles Shell preferences.
See alsoApple Support article: Use zsh as the default shell on your MacExecute commands and run tools in Terminal on MacChange the default shell in Terminal on MacOpen new Terminal windows and tabs on MacUse profiles to change the look of Terminal windows on MacApple Developer website: Command Line Primer