Is there a keyboard shortcut to open Finder?

[MrMinor]

On my windows machine I could hit the windows key and E to open an explorer window. Is there a keyboard shortcut to open the Finder window?

 

[-Ryan-]

There's cmd+N when having Finder in focus, however, I don't know of a way that opens it from within any application focus.

 

[mcavjame]

I always seem to have a finder window open. I use <command> <tab> to get to the window.

 

[mcavjame]

I just checked my mouse preferences. I can set up one of the buttons to launch finder. I might actually keep that as it is more beneficial than expose to me.

 

[SecondDealer]

You can access the Spot Light feature by pressing " command, space bar" at the same time, which allows you to search freely.

 

[MrMinor]

You can access the Spot Light feature by pressing " command, space bar" at the same time, which allows you to search freely.

Thanks, but that is not the finder though.

 

[hgm110]

I've found a pretty easy way to do this. Go to keyboard shortcuts in system preferences, add one, select Finder for the application and type "New Finder Window" for menu title, then choose your shortcut.

 

[MrMinor]

I've found a pretty easy way to do this. Go to keyboard shortcuts in system preferences, add one, select Finder for the application and type "New Finder Window" for menu title, then choose your shortcut.

Thank you so much!!! That is exactly what I was looking for.

 

[hgm110]

eh, never mind. I didn't realize that what I just said only changes the new window shortcut within Finder. It doesn't work globally. Too bad.

 

[MrMinor]

eh, never mind. I didn't realize that what I just said only changes the new window shortcut within Finder. It doesn't work globally. Too bad.

Bummer. Well thanks for trying anyway. At least you were on the right track.

 

[gregh2k]

There actually is a way to do this without 3rd party software. See below

I. Create a service

1) Open "Automator" - (Search for it in spotlight if you don't know where it is)
2) Double-Click on the "Service" button to create a new Service.
3) From the "Library" menu on the left hand side, click "Utilities"
4) From the list of Utilities, double-click "Run AppleScript"
5) In the main area, there should be a window that says "Run AppleScript". Above it, choose "No Input" next to "Service receives selected"
6) In the "Run AppleScript" window, replace (* Your script goes here *) with tell application "Finder" to activate
7) Click File --> Save As... and save it as "Finder Activation"

II. Create a Keyboard shortcut for the service

1) Open system preferences
2) Click "Keyboard"
3) Select "Services" from the left hand pane
4) In the right hand pane, Scroll down to the bottom. Under "General", there should be "Finder Activation".
5) Ensure "Finder Activation" is checked
6) Assign a Keyboard shortcut by clicking near the right side of the "Finder Activation" selection. The trick is to assign a shortcut that is not used by any of your favorite applications, since application-level keyboard shortcuts will override this.

Hope this helps.

 

[Lordillingworth]

option-command-space will open up a new finder window from anywhere, it opens it up in "search mode"

 

[Gregg2]

I just checked my mouse preferences. I can set up one of the buttons to launch finder. I might actually keep that as it is more beneficial than expose to me.

"launch finder"? Finder is launched when you boot up, and stays open until you Shut Down.

option-command-space will open up a new finder window from anywhere, it opens it up in "search mode"

Which OS? Doesn't do that from Safari or from another Finder Window for me. (OS 10.5.8)

 

[gregh2k]

option-command-space will open up a new finder window from anywhere, it opens it up in "search mode"

Well the way I specified allows you to press command-H to hide finder, and bring it back up again using your custom keyboard shortcut. That's why I like it.

 

[EndlessMac]

On my windows machine I could hit the windows key and E to open an explorer window. Is there a keyboard shortcut to open the Finder window?

This is not exactly what you are looking for but this how I do it which is pretty quick for me.

The way I do it is a quick two keyboard shortcut process. Press Command Tab (similar to Window's Alt Tab function) and keep tabbing until you select the Finder. Since Finder is always opened in Mac OS it should always be available. After Finder is selected press Command N to get a new Finder window.

Clicking on the Finder icon in the dock is also a quick way to bring up a Finder window but it seems you want a keyboard shortcut.

 

[disconap]

"launch finder"? Finder is launched when you boot up, and stays open until you Shut Down.


Which OS? Doesn't do that from Safari or from another Finder Window for me. (OS 10.5.8)

Try it again maybe? I'm using 10.5.8 and it works from Safari; when actually in the finder, just hitting command + n will open a fresh window.

 

[Gregg2]

option-command-space will open up a new finder window from anywhere, it opens it up in "search mode"

Which OS? Doesn't do that from Safari or from another Finder Window for me. (OS 10.5.8)

Try it again maybe? I'm using 10.5.8 and it works from Safari;

Nope. Does absolutely nothing. I have a theory, but first...

Tried it on Tiger from Safari, and it brings up a Spotlight window!

Back to the Leopard. That Mac is a Mini. The keyboard is made by Matias. They made an error in labeling the Command and Option keys - the physical keys that is. Instead of an alt/option key, it says alt/Cmd(the symbol) and instead of apple/Cmd, the key is labeled Start/Option.

So, they have the Mac keys reversed vis a vis the corresponding Windows keys. So, to avoid the hassle of having to learn to hit Option when I want Command, and vice versa, I re-mapped the keys in Preferences, setting Option to Command, and Command to Option. Does that make sense?

Anyway, I suspect that has something to do with why this doesn't work with that keyboard. I can't explain why it would have that affect. It's just a hunch.

 

[jjholter]

Hi Everyone,

If you own LaunchBar this is quite easy:
http://www.obdev.at/products/launchbar/index.html

Open LaunchBar with ⌘- Space Bar
Just type in: find
Done: A finder window will appear in any application

LauchBar is a powerful application and has many uses.

If you dont own this product:

• Open a finder window
• ⌘-M [minimize]
When you want the window back
Just click on the finder icon in the dock.

Best,
John

 

[slpdLoad]

It's two commands, but you can always command+tab to get to the finder, and then use any of the shortcuts in the Go menu.

 

[hoopster]

You could download quicksilver if you don't have it already, and create a new trigger to open finder and set whatever shortcut you want.

 

[Ruedadecolor]

option-command-space will open up a new finder window from anywhere, it opens it up in "search mode"

Ooooooooh Thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks.

Alt+CMD+Spacebar

Great!!!!!
It works perfectly for my 10.8.4 Imac

 

[ltamborrell]

Well I was desperate for something like "windows key + E" and I just found out that if you hit "command + F" you get a "searching" windows that is exactly like the finder windows, so there is no need to add shortcuts to keyboard.

 

[scott10klakes]

Command + up arrow works in latest iOS. Works just like window + E in windoze.

 

[IainB]

On my windows machine I could hit the windows key and E to open an explorer window. Is there a keyboard shortcut to open the Finder window?

Quick route (which has been second nature for me for years) is simply to click anywhere on the desktop (to go into Finder), then cmd-N.
A useful thing to set up in Finder Preferences is to specify what a 'New Finder Window' opens. You may want your user account, your Documents folder, your iCloud account, the top level of your HD or (in my case) your Dropbox folder.