Finder won't deselect folder in one window when clicking on a folder in another window

[usagora]

I've been having this issue since upgrading to Sonoma over multiple updates, restarts, and OnyX default maintenance task completions. None of these has solved it.

What happens sometimes is I have two Finder windows open. I have a folder selected in one of the windows. Now I want to select instead a folder in the other window. But when I click on the folder in the second window, the folder in the first window is NOT deselected but rather retains focus. So if I press CMD+delete, the second folder I clicked on is not deleted, but rather the first one.

Why is this happening?

macOS 14.2.1

 

[chabig]

When you click the second window, you are only bringing it to the front. The selection in the other window is still active. You have to click a second time to select something else.

Recap:
First click brings the window to the front.
Second click makes a new selection.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Interestingly, what you're describing only happens in List view or Column view - not in Icon or Gallery.

Also, in List view if you click on something other than the filename it will select with the first click. e.g. date, size, whatever else you have listed. If you click the filename, it behaves as you describe.

Smells like a bug to me.

 

[gilby101]

When you click the second window, you are only bringing it to the front.

That is not what I am seeing. It also makes it the active window.

I have a folder selected in one of the windows. Now I want to select instead a folder in the other window. But when I click on the folder in the second window, the folder in the first window is NOT deselected but rather retains focus. So if I press CMD+delete, the second folder I clicked on is not deleted, but rather the first one.

I can't reproduce this. For me:

When clicking in the other window, it always comes to the front and gains focus. Whether an object is automatically selected depends on a) View, b) where you click, and c) the item selected state when you last left the window. But in all cases subsequent actions apply to that window and objects inside it.

The object in the first window may remain partially selected (grey background, not coloured), ready for when you later return to that window. It never remains the active object. Question: Does the selected object in the old window become grey or does the object background remain coloured?

There is no scenario I can find which reproduces what you are seeing.

In particular the delete behaviour always applies to the new window even if no object is selected (delete does nothing), it does not delete any selected object (now grey background) in the old window.

I conclude that you (or me) have changed something somewhere, but I can't think what!

 

[usagora]

I should've mentioned that this doesn't happen all the time. It just randomly starts happening. And it doesn't matter how many times I click on the folder in the second window.

Right now it's working fine, but it's only a matter of time until it starts up again.

And yes, I'm using column view (my favorite 99% of the time).

I agree with @FreakinEurekan that this has to be a bug. I've used macOS since Tiger and never had this issue.

 

[zevrix]

I remember having this problem in earlier versions of OS X (Jaguar or Tiger). That was pretty annoying - and dangerous. I deleted several files inadvertently. But Apple fixed it quickly then — at least I've never encountered it since then.

Try to update to 14.3 - will it make a difference?

 

[gilby101]

I should've mentioned that this doesn't happen all the time

That does rather change things. Possibly caused by interaction with some other software you have installed. It would be good if you can find a way of reproducing the problem - then it can be reported to Apple as a macOS bug or, if it is some app interaction, taken up with 3rd-party developer.

 

[chabig]

Interestingly, what you're describing only happens in List view or Column view - not in Icon or Gallery.

I work exclusively in Column view. I didn’t think to check other views.