Stop .DS_Store files on network shares (faster SMB browsing)

Stop .DS_Store files on network shares (faster SMB browsing) — via Apple Support

Commandlow riskmacOS 14 Sonoma and later

Finder leaves .DS_Store files in every folder it opens to remember view settings, and on network shares reading them slows browsing. Apple documents a setting that stops this on SMB shares, so folders list faster. Windows and Linux users of the share will thank you too.

Sign out and back in

The easy way

Run the command in Terminal, then log out and back in.

Command

Run in Terminal (Applications › Utilities).

defaults write com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteNetworkStores -bool true

Undo

defaults delete com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteNetworkStores

With this on, Finder shows network folders in plain alphabetical order and won't remember custom view settings for them. .DS_Store files that already exist on the share stay there until you remove them.

Sources

Adjust SMB browsing behavior in macOS — by Apple Support

Source reviewed: 2026-11-02
Link checked: 2026-11-02
Tested hands-on: Not by Oddbyte.Me

Oddbyte.Me hasn't tried this on every macOS version, so keep the undo handy.

.DS_Storenetworksmbnasfile sharingslow finder

Cut and paste files in Finder (move instead of copy) — via Apple Support

Tricklow risk

Finder has no Cut command in the Edit menu for files, which confuses people coming from Windows. There is a hidden equivalent: copy as normal, then paste with Option held down, and the file moves instead of being duplicated.

Keep folders above files when sorting by name — via Apple Support

Hidden settinglow risk

Normally Finder mixes folders and files together alphabetically. With this on, folders are listed first, then files, the way Windows Explorer does it. It can be set for windows and, separately, for the desktop.

Show the path bar and status bar in every Finder window — via Apple Support