How to open and use tabs in Finder on Mac

This tutorial shows you how to open, use, navigate, rearrange, and close tabs in Finder on your Mac so you can work with multiple folders in just one window and keep your desktop uncluttered.

Several open Finder tabs

We’ve walked you through the basics of using Finder, as for those new to Mac, it’s a key tool to become familiar with on macOS. Another important aspect of using Finder is the tabs feature.

Just like working in Safari or another browser, you can use Finder tabs for opening multiple folders rather than a new window for each. By opening your different Finder folders in tabs instead of separate windows, you can make working between them easier. Plus, you can conserve some screen space.

Open a new tab in Finder

If you first open Finder using the icon in your Dock rather than clicking a specific folder like Applications, you’ll likely know where you plan to go. Maybe it’s a folder in the sidebar, for instance. When you select that folder, it will replace the contents of the current Finder window.

But maybe that’s not what you want. Perhaps you want that folder open along with another.

Let’s use an example. Say you want to open your Downloads folder and move something from it, like an image, to another folder, like Pictures. This is the perfect time to use tabs in Finder.

You could open the Downloads folder and then click File > New Tab from the top menu bar or press Command + T keys on the keyboard to open a new tab and then open your Pictures folder in that new tab.

Open New Tab in Finder on Mac

Note: After you have opened a second tab, you can click the plus sign in the tab bar to quickly open another new tab.

Click plus button to open new tab in Finder

Double-click to open a folder in new tab

Press & hold the Command key and double-click a folder to open it in a new Finder tab. You can use this same action to open a folder from your Finder sidebar in a new tab.

Note: If you try this method of opening another tab, but it opens in a new window instead, it’s a simple setting change:

  1. Open Finder and click Finder > Settings from the menu bar.
  2. Click the General tab.
  3. Check the box at the bottom for Open folders in tabs instead of new windows.
Finder Open Folders In Tabs

Navigating your Finder tabs

There are different ways to move through your tabs aside from clicking the one you want to view. These methods are most useful when you have many tabs open at the same time.

Swipe to view tabs

If you continue to open new tabs in Finder and then realize you can’t see them all in the tab row, that doesn’t mean they’re gone or closed.

Put your cursor on the tab row and then swipe to scroll left and right to see your other tabs.

Finder Tab Row Swipe to Scroll

Use the Window view

You can also use the Window menu to navigate your tabs.

Click Window from the top menu bar and then choose Show Previous Tab or Show Next Tab, or select the tab (folder) name at the bottom of the menu.

Finder Window Menu Tabs

Open tab overview

Another way to see or jump to another tab is with the tab overview. Similar to the same named feature in Safari, this view displays all open tabs. You can then select to view one, close a tab, or open a new one.

Click View > Show All Tabs from the menu bar, right-click a tab and pick Show All Tabs, or use the keyboard shortcut Shift + Command + \ (backslash).

Finder Tab Overview

Rearrange or move Finder tabs

If you have several tabs open and want two of them next to each other, you can rearrange your tabs easily. Select one, drag it to its new spot in the tab row, and release.

Finder Rearrange Tabs

If you prefer to move a tab to its own window, right-click or choose Window from the menu bar. Then, pick Move Tab to New Window.

You can also move a tab to its own window by selecting it and then dragging it out of the Finder window onto your desktop.

Finder Move Tab New Window

Related: How to split and merge Finder tabs and windows on Mac

Close Finder tabs

You have a few ways to close a tab, so use the one that’s most convenient.

  • Put your cursor over the tab in the tab row or in the tab overview and click the X.
  • Click File > Close Tab from the menu bar.
  • Right-click the tab and choose Close Tab.

If you want to close all tabs except the one you’re currently using, right-click the tab you want to keep open and choose Close Other Tabs.

Finder Close Tabs

As you can see, you definitely have flexibility and options for working with tabs in Finder. Try to keep these tips in mind the next time you use more than one Finder folder at once.

Do you have any tips for Finder tabs you’d like to share? Feel free to comment below.

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