Make Finder search the folder you're in, not the whole Mac — via Yann Bertrand, macos-defaults.com

Hidden settinglow riskmacOS 14 Sonoma and later

When you type in a Finder window's search box, macOS searches your entire Mac by default, so results from the folder you're actually looking at get buried. You can make the current folder the default scope instead.

Relaunch the app it changes (Finder, Dock…) to see it

The easy way

The easy way: Finder > Settings > Advanced, then set When performing a search to Search the Current Folder.
Or in Terminal run the command. Other values: SCev = this Mac (default), SCsp = use the previous search scope.

Command

Run in Terminal (Applications › Utilities).

defaults write com.apple.finder FXDefaultSearchScope -string SCcf; killall Finder

Undo

defaults delete com.apple.finder FXDefaultSearchScope; killall Finder

You can still switch to 'This Mac' for one search using the scope buttons under the toolbar.

Sources

Default search scope — by Yann Bertrand, macos-defaults.com
Change Finder settings on Mac — 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.

searchfindersearch scopecurrent folderspotlight

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.

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

Commandlow risk

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.

Make Finder search the folder you're in, not the whole Mac — via Yann Bertrand, macos-defaults.com

The easy way

Command

Undo

Sources

More in Finder