Every Mac user knows how to select a single file on Mac Finder, however we have encountered lots of users who are confused by multiple file selection. Most of the confusion comes because they do not know the primary methods of selecting groups of files. Well, on this page, we are going to share some methods to select multiple files on Mac Finder. Each method is quite different. But, they are all useful for moving files around within the Finder file system or sending elsewhere to another Mac or iOS device. Each of those methods work to select multiple files in any Finder list view, be it icon, list, columns, or Cover Flow.
How to Select Multiple Files on Mac Finder?
Apparently, there are some methods that you can do to select multiple files at the same time on Mac Finder including using click modifiers, dragging, and keyboard shortcuts. For your information, these multiple files selection methods will work in all versions of Mac OS system software.
Method 1: Select Contiguous Group of Files with Click + Drag.
Actually, the multiple files are able to be easily selected in Mac Finder by using the Click + Drag, that works just as it sounds; click and continue to hold the click while you drag within a window to draw a selection box and choose more files.
Method 2: Select Contiguous Group of Files with Shift + Click.
Another option is by using the Shift + Click, that also works to choose groups of contiguous files in the Mac Finder.
- Firstly, you have to choose the first file.
- Please hold down the Shift key.
- After that, you are able to click the last file.
- Instantly, you are going to choose all files between those two files as well.
For note: Both of those two methods above work with files which are listed contiguously (which is, alongside one another in any view), however do not work if you are looking to choose files which are not grouped directly together. That is when you will want to use Command + Click instead.
Method 3: Select Multiple Nonadjacent Files with Command + Click.
The second method to select multiple files on Mac Finder is by using command + click. You have to know that Command + Click will allow you to choose multiple files which are not alongside each other in a Finder view. Apparently, this is able to be as varied as necessary, whether that is every other file, or one file at the top of a list view and another two files at the bottom, or any other variety in between. You will be able to scroll through a Finder window and choose more items as you go down, please remember to hold down the Command key once you are choosing a new file.
Also, Command + Clicking also works to subtract and unselect files which have already been selected. For instance, you are able to use Command + A to choose all. Or you are able to use a Shift + Click to choose a large group of files, next use Command + Click to precisely deselect a few files you do not want actively selected in the group.
Method 4: Select All Files in a Window with Command + A.
We think that select all is fairly self explanatory. It chooses everything in a given Finder window, and is only a matter of hitting Command + A, the Select All keyboard shortcut. Actually, this has been around for a long time, and other than the drawing rectangle, it is probably the most widely known tips to work with groups of files. If you are not fans of the keyboard shortcuts, also you are able to choose every file in a window by pulling down the Edit menu and selecting “Select All”. As explained in the prior tips, using Select All in conjunction with Command + Clicking to deselect things you do not want is very helpful.
Finally, working with multiple files are able to be easier if the Finder Status Bar is enabled at all times, as it updates as files are selected, giving a live count of total documents selected.
About Finder
Finder is a home base of your Mac. It is represented by the blue icon with the smiling face. You are able to use it to organize and access almost everything on your Mac including images, movies, documents, and any other files you have. To open a Finder window, you have to click the Finder icon in the Dock. To go to the Finder without opening a window, just click the desktop. The default settings are user friendly. Apparently, there are some additional options which can be configured to create the Finder a much better experience. From the simplest things like showing the extension of documents, to revealing the status bar and having invisible items become shown again, you are sure to get more out of the Mac Finder by creating some adjustments in Mac OS X.
The Finder window toolbar has the ability to to add or remove frequently used Finder features. The back or forward buttons, arrange, and sharing features are amazing, however you do not forget to adjust this by yourself if you want some more quick options:
- Firstly, you have to go to the View menu.
- Then, you are able to click at Customize Toolbar.
- Drag commonly used actions into the toolbar.
If you have Finder, it will tell you item info. Suddenly, you are going to see how many files are in directories and image dimensions will become visible right from the Finder. This is a must-have option for anyone who works with graphics or images in particular.
- Please right-click on any Finder window and go to View Options.
- After that, you are able to check the box next to “Show Item Info.”
- Optionally, you are able to choose “Use as Defaults” to apply the item info change to all Finder windows.
AUTHOR BIO
On my daily job, I am a software engineer, programmer & computer technician. My passion is assembling PC hardware, studying Operating System and all things related to computers technology. I also love to make short films for YouTube as a producer. More at about me…
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