Is there a shortcut to open a new Finder window into the current Folder?

[theorist9]

Title says it all.

Let's suppose I'm in folder ~/A/B/C/D/E, and want to open up another Finder window into the same folder. Is there a built-in shortcut for this?

If a direct built-in shortcut isn't available, I can create one with Keyboard Maestro, but thought I'd ask here before I did that. Haven't been able to find it myself.

 

[chabig]

If you have the path bar displayed (View > Show Path Bar) you can right-click on any folder in the path and open it in a new window, even the current folder.

 

[theorist9]

If you have the path bar displayed (View > Show Path Bar) you can right-click on any folder in the path and open it in a new window, even the current folder.

Interesting to know, but doesn't answer my question: Is there a built-in keyboard shortcut for this?

And just out of curiosity, could you double-check what you wrote? At least on my Mac (2019 iMac running Monterey v. 12.6.7), that doesn't open the folder in a new window; instead, it opens it in a new tab (see screenshot). To open in a new window, you need to use Option-right click.

 

[chabig]

The specific behavior depends on your Finder tab preferences I believe. So you’d use the option key or not.

I don’t know of any keyboard shortcuts for this.

 

[theorist9]

The specific behavior depends on your Finder tab preferences I believe. So you’d use the option key or not.

I don’t know of any keyboard shortcuts for this.

I do have my Preferences set that way, and it still defaults to opening into a new tab.

Apple does give you the ability to set shortcuts for anything directly displayed in a menu (System Preferences->Keyboard->Shortcuts->App Shortcuts). But, according to my testing, that wouldn't work for this, likely because it additionally requires an Option-R-click before the menu is displayed. Thus I'll need to use KB Maestro.

 

[chabig]

I think you’re right.

 

[arw]

I do not know a default shortcut. But if your main goal is to avoid 3rd party software, here's an AppleScript for Automator you can associate with a key combination.

tell application "Finder"
    if the class of (folder of window 1) as text is "computer-object" then
        make new Finder window
    else
        set theWin to window 1
        set thePath to POSIX file ((POSIX path of (target of theWin as alias))) as string
        make new Finder window to folder thePath
    end if
end tell

EDIT: Code is now updated to also work in the computer-level Finder window as mentioned in post#19.

Spoiler: old/original version

tell application "Finder"
    set theWin to window 1
    set thePath to POSIX file ((POSIX path of (target of theWin as alias))) as string
end tell
tell application "Finder" to make new Finder window to folder thePath

 

[Saturn007]

This stuff fascinates me. Let me be certain what you're asking for.

You'd like to select a folder in a window list and have it open up its contents in a new window, while the original window stays open. Is that right?

It works for me on a 2015 13” MBA running Monterey 12.6.7!

Here's what I did.

As in your screenshot, that Finder setting “Open folders in tabs” is unchecked. As proof of that, when I control-click on a folder, the first choice in the pop-up menu is “Open in New Window”.

(If I were to check that setting, then the first choice in the pop-up menu becomes “Open in New Tab”, which we don't want.)

I then set up a Finder keyboard shortcut. I went to Settings, Keyboard, Shortcuts tab, and clicked the Plus sign. It asks which Application and I selected Finder and typed “Open in New Window” for the Menu Title. For the keystroke, I chose control-w. Then, clicked Add.

Now, whenever I have a folder selected, a simple ctrl-w opens the folder in a new window. (I didn't have to resort to yKey, the macro program I use, similar to Key Maestro.)

Some key combos won't work for the action; probably because the system already uses them! Weirdly, though, they will be entered in the shortcuts list as the trigger, but still do not work.

I also noticed that after adding that shortcut, the Finder's File menu now displays new options, including “Open in New Window” and “Open in New Window and Close”, which weren't there before!

Sure enough, if I delete the shortcut, the new menu items disappear, too!

Hope that helps!

 

[Gregg2]

Title says it all.

Let's suppose I'm in folder ~/A/B/C/D/E, and want to open up another Finder window into the same folder. Is there a built-in shortcut for this?

Well, the title says new Finder window, the message says another Finder window. Please clarify. Are you wanting to create a new folder within the folder (~/A/B/C/D/E) you are currently viewing? It seems unlikely* that this is what you mean, but it's what you said, sort of. *because that's just Cmd-Shift-N

To me, viewing the contents of a folder is synonymous with viewing a Finder window. Maybe others have a different interpretation of the terminology. (?)

 

[Saturn007]

Theorist can confirm this, but from the screenshot they posted, it seems the question is about opening up a view of a selected folder in a new window rather than in a new tab.

I first thought as you did that it was a question about a new Finder window — or a new empty Folder — which, as you noted, is easy enough to do.

 

[theorist9]

Well, the title says new Finder window, the message says another Finder window. Please clarify. Are you wanting to create a new folder within the folder (~/A/B/C/D/E) you are currently viewing? It seems unlikely* that this is what you mean, but it's what you said, sort of. *because that's just Cmd-Shift-N

To me, viewing the contents of a folder is synonymous with viewing a Finder window. Maybe others have a different interpretation of the terminology. (?)

Nope, I never said anything about wanting to create a new folder. This is purely about viewing. You're claiming I worded my post and title inconsistently, but that's incorrect. There is no inconsistency between "new Finder window" and "another Finder window", since if you create a new Finder window, that would be another Finder window.

I think you just got confused—you somehow conflated "another Finder window" with "new folder".

So no, "new folder" is not what I said, not even "sort of".

 

[theorist9]

You'd like to select a folder in a window list and have it open up its contents in a new window, while the original window stays open. Is that right?

Not exactly. What I want does this:

I'm currently currently viewing folder ~/A/B/C/D/E. I want a shortcut that opens up a new window that displays that same folder. The result will be two identical Finder windows, both displaying folder ~/A/B/C/D/E.

What you are proposing does this:

You're currently currently viewing folder ~/A/B/C/D/E. If you select subfolder F and then hit your shorcut, you will display a new Finder windows that shows folder ~/A/B/C/D/E/F.

 

[eyoungren]

Not exactly. What I want does this:

I'm currently currently viewing folder ~/A/B/C/D/E. I want a shortcut that opens up a new window that displays that same folder. The result will be two identical Finder windows, both displaying folder ~/A/B/C/D/E.

What you are proposing does this:

You're currently currently viewing folder ~/A/B/C/D/E. If you select subfolder F and then hit your shorcut, you will display a new Finder windows that shows folder ~/A/B/C/D/E/F.

So, if I am understanding you correctly, what you want to do is duplicate the same Finder window.

So, assuming 'E' is the actual Finder window you are working in, try this - turn on the path bar for the Finder window. Double click on 'E'. It'll duplicate the same window.

Duplicate an Existing Window in the Finder with Two Clicks

Sometimes you need two of the same Finder window open in order to move files around or see them in different views at the same time. Normally you'd n

lifehacker.com

 

[theorist9]

So, if I am understanding you correctly, what you want to do is duplicate the same Finder window.

So, assuming 'E' is the actual Finder window you are working in, try this - turn on the path bar for the Finder window. Double click on 'E'. It'll duplicate the same window.

Duplicate an Existing Window in the Finder with Two Clicks

Sometimes you need two of the same Finder window open in order to move files around or see them in different views at the same time. Normally you'd n

lifehacker.com

Yes, that's what I'm trying to do.

I tried that trick (note that it's CMD-double click) on my 2014 MBP running High Sierra, and it works great. And the neat part about it is that it will open any folder or document in the path bar, you just need to click on it. So it's nice to learn of it. But I'd still prefer a KB shortcut, since having to go down to the path bar, aim at the exact little folder icon, and do CMD-double click is less convenient.

Regardless, unfortunately, that article is from 2013, and thus may be a bit outdated. I tried it on my 2019 iMac running Monterey, and it doesn't work there. Anyone running Monterey or Ventura want to confirm this?

 

[eyoungren]

Yes, that's what I'm trying to do.

I tried that trick (note that it's CMD-double click) on my 2014 MBP running High Sierra, and it works great. And the neat part about it is that it will open any folder or document in the path bar, you just need to click on it. So it's nice to learn of it. But I'd still prefer a KB shortcut, since having to go down to the path bar, aim at the exact little folder icon, and do CMD-double click is less convenient.

Also, unfortunately, that article is from 2013, and thus may be a bit outdated. I tried it on my 2019 iMac running Monterey, and it doesn't work there. Anyone running Monterey or Ventura want to confirm this?

Yeah, sorry. I don't know if there is a keyboard command for it or not. I've generally never worked this way with Finder windows so it's not something I picked up (if it exists).

Hopefully someone can help with your OS. I'm using Mojave on a 2009 MacPro.

 

[theorist9]

Yeah, sorry. I don't know if there is a keyboard command for it or not. I've generally never worked this way with Finder windows so it's not something I picked up (if it exists).

Hopefully someone can help with your OS. I'm using Mojave on a 2009 MacPro.

No problem. At this point I'm thinking there is no shortcut for this, so it's off to KB Maestro (which isn't too bad, since I'm used to employing KB Maestro to create custom shortcuts). Plus if I'm using KB Maestro anyways, I'll probably add extra features, like moving the original Finder window to the L half of the screen and the new one to the R half, which is what I usually do anyways when I duplicate Finder windows in order to drag files from one subfolder to another.

[Yes, you can do that in a single Finder window using List View, by opening up the subfolder drop-downs, but if I'm moving dozens of files (so many that they can't be displayed in a single window), and where you'd have to scroll down to get to the other subfolder, I find it cleaner to have separate Windows for each subfolder so I can more clearly see what's going on.]

 

[MacGizmo]

Yes, that's what I'm trying to do.

I tried that trick (note that it's CMD-double click) on my 2014 MBP running High Sierra, and it works great. And the neat part about it is that it will open any folder or document in the path bar, you just need to click on it. So it's nice to learn of it. But I'd still prefer a KB shortcut, since having to go down to the path bar, aim at the exact little folder icon, and do CMD-double click is less convenient.

Regardless, unfortunately, that article is from 2013, and thus may be a bit outdated. I tried it on my 2019 iMac running Monterey, and it doesn't work there. Anyone running Monterey or Ventura want to confirm this?

That trick hasn't worked in many years. At least, not entirely. You CAN open the enclosing folder of the folder you're currently in/viewing, but not the actual folder you're currently in.

That being said, the AppleScript @arw shared above (and associating it with a keyboard shortcut) works perfectly. I never knew how much I wanted to do this until I saw the script and tried it... so thank you @arw for sharing this gem!

 

[theorist9]

I do not know a default shortcut. But if your main goal is to avoid 3rd party software, here's an AppleScript for Automator you can associate with a key combination.

tell application "Finder"
    set theWin to window 1
    set thePath to POSIX file ((POSIX path of (target of theWin as alias))) as string
end tell
tell application "Finder" to make new Finder window to folder thePath

Thanks for this! My goal wasn't to avoid 3rd-party software. Rather, it was to not create a Macro if a keyboard shorcut already exists (thus avoiding unnecessary work; plus built-in shortcuts tend to be faster and more robust) ( I recently made a Macro for "Invert Colors", before realizing a built-in already exists!).

Since it doesn't, and I'm not familiar with Automator, I incorporated your script into a KeyBoard Maestro Macro:

I use SizeUp (https://www.irradiatedsoftware.com/sizeup/) for window repositioning. My shortcuts for "size window to left half of screen" and "size window to right half of screen are these:

Thus I created the following Macro in Keyboard Maestro, which puts the active Finder window into the left half of the screen, duplicates it (using your script), and then puts the duplicate into the right half of the screen:

 

[theorist9]

I do not know a default shortcut. But if your main goal is to avoid 3rd party software, here's an AppleScript for Automator you can associate with a key combination.

tell application "Finder"
    set theWin to window 1
    set thePath to POSIX file ((POSIX path of (target of theWin as alias))) as string
end tell
tell application "Finder" to make new Finder window to folder thePath

FYI, I find the script fails specifically when I try to duplicate the top-level window ("iMac", on my machine--see screenshot). But it works on everything below (from Macintosh HD downward), so this is just an interesting academic curiosity rather than a practical issue.

 

[arw]

the script fails specifically when I try to duplicate the top-level window

Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I added a query to catch it.
I updated my original post#7.