Terminal is a strong command-line tool that lets you manage your computer with text commands.
Opening Finder through Terminal is useful in many situations, like when you want to explore your files or handle them quickly.
This guide is made for beginners, and we’ll guide you through every step to make sure you can open Finder from Terminal easily.
Opening Finder from Terminal
The simplest way to open Finder from Terminal is to use the ‘open’ command. To do this, follow these steps:
- Open Terminal by pressing Command + Space to open Spotlight Search, type “Terminal,” and press Enter.
- Type the following command in Terminal:
[open]
This command will open a new Finder window in the current directory.
Alternative Methods to Open Finder from Terminal
There are other ways to open Finder from Terminal, including using the ‘open’ command with the ‘-R’ flag or the ‘open -a Finder’ command. Here are the steps to use these alternative methods:
- Open Terminal (as described above).
- Type one of the following commands:
[open -R]
[open -a Finder]
The first command will open a Finder window and reveal the current directory, while the second command will open a new Finder window.
Opening Specific Folders from Terminal
You can also open specific folders in Finder from Terminal. To do this, use the ‘open’ command followed by the folder’s path. For example:
[open /Users/YourUsername/Desktop]
Replace “YourUsername” with your actual username. This command will open the Desktop folder in a Finder window.
Using the ‘open’ Command to Open Other Applications
The ‘open’ command is versatile and can be used to open other applications from Terminal as well. For example, to open the TextEdit app, you would type:
[open -a TextEdit]
This command will launch the TextEdit application.
Tips and Tricks for Finder and Terminal
Here are some useful tips and tricks to help you get the most out of Finder and Terminal on your Mac:
- Press Command + Shift + G in Finder to bring up the “Go to Folder” dialog, which allows you to navigate to a specific folder by typing its path.
- Use the ‘cd’ command in Terminal to change the current directory. For example, ‘cd /Users/YourUsername/Documents’ will change the current directory to your Documents folder.
- Press the Tab key while typing a file or folder name in Terminal to autocomplete the name.
- Use the ‘ls’ command in Terminal to list the contents of the current directory.
- Hold down the Option key while dragging a file or folder in Finder to create a copy of it in the new location.
- Press Command + T in Finder to open a new tab.
FAQs
How do I open Finder using Terminal?
To open Finder from Terminal, type ‘open .’ in Terminal, and press Enter. This command will open a new Finder window in the current directory.
Can I open multiple Finder windows in one go?
Yes, you can open multiple Finder windows by running the ‘open’ command multiple times in Terminal. Each time you run the command, a new Finder window will open.
Will Finder close if I close Terminal?
No, closing the Terminal will not close any open Finder windows. Finder and Terminal operate independently of each other.
Can I continue using Terminal once Finder is opened?
Yes, you can continue using Terminal even after opening Finder. Both applications can run simultaneously without any issues.
How do I open a specific folder in Finder using Terminal?
To open a specific folder in Finder from Terminal, type ‘open’ followed by the folder’s path, and press Enter. For example, to open your Desktop folder, type ‘open /Users/YourUsername/Desktop’.
