Essentially, the Ctrl key helps you pick specific files from a list of files, so this method is helpful when you only have a handful of files to select from a long list of files. While Ctrl + A selects all files, you can also use the Ctrl key for selecting specific files by using the mouse. Doing this will select all files between the two files you clicked on. Then, press-hold the Shift key and use the left mouse button to click on the last file where you want to end the selection. Select the first file from which you want to begin selecting. If you don’t want to repeatedly use the Shift + Arrow key until you’ve selected all files, there’s a handy keyboard shortcut. If the folder is set to display files with thumbnails, the key combination will also work for selecting files horizontally. The key combination also works the same way for selecting files upwards. Keep pressing the same key combination until you’ve selected all the files you want to select. Doing this will select the immediate file below it. You can select the first file from where you want to start selecting, and press Shift + Down arrow. Say you want to select the five files at the center of a list of files. You can use the following key combinations to select files using the Shift key: When you need to select a group of files or folders that occur consecutively, you can use the shift key in combination with other keys. You click on an item and continue to hold down the click while you drag within a window to draw a selection box and select more files.Select Consecutive Files Using the Shift Key Multiple files can be easily selected in macOS using Click+Drag. OK, back to selecting files in the Finder.

Think of it this way: the Finder is, for all intents and purposes, an application the Desktop is a space in the Finder window. It’s designed to offer a convenient place to save files. The Mac Desktop is the space where you see file, folder, and application windows. The Finder uses windows and icons to show you the contents of your Mac, iCloud Drive, and other storage devices. It includes the Finder menu bar at the top of the screen and the Desktop below that. The Finder opens automatically and stays open even when you’re using other apps.

It’s the computer’s file manager and graphical user interface “shell” that’s designed to, among other things, help you, well, find stuff.

The Finder is the first thing that you see when your Mac powers up. Ever needed to select more than one item in the macOS Finder? It’s easy.īut first a brief reminder on the difference between the Mac Finder and the Mac Desktop.

Select all files on mac