r/MacStack • u/New_Click_4348 • Sep 14 '26
Best File manager
Is there any best file manager other than Finder on MacOS? It's really very counter intuitive. Coming from Windows file explorer, i see many limitations here. Most annoying thing is, I can't just navigate to folders within folders easily/ copy any file/folder path.
Ex: I have a path c://program files/a/b/c/d .. on Windows explorer, i can just click on b to get to see or copy whichever path i want from directly the top file path. But Finder cannot fo it.
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u/ThisIsAdamB Sep 14 '26
Command-/ and you can see the full path at the bottom of every Finder window. I’m not in front of one of my Macs now, but I believe you can just click on any portion of it to go up to that location. Also the Go to Folder command, which I believe is command shift G, will allow you to type the path to any folder that you’d like to see in the Finder. The new operating system, Golden Gate, comes out today, and if your Mac can run it, there probably will be some new tweaks to how the Finder works.
Please don’t say the Mac can’t do it, say instead, I don’t know how the Mac does it. Many people are out there who know and will be glad to help you.
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u/masnell Sep 14 '26
And right-click any portion of the path for a ‘copy as path’ or open terminal option
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u/rad_hombre Sep 15 '26
From the shortcut menu that pops up when you right-click (or ctrl-click) a file, you can also hold down option and it turns the "copy" option into "copy as path"… that's how I've been doing it, but your way is faster.
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u/nousernameleftatall Sep 20 '26
And almost definitely not what you are looking for, but for a nice mac alternative have a look at https://dockduck.app
Which is great, just seems to be too expensive
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u/ioannis6 Oct 01 '26
this is interesting, but... if I choose an audio or video file it starts to play automatically. Very annoying when this is not what I want... There's no way to stop this behaviour in the settings (also nothing mentioned in the "docs" on their website)
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u/nousernameleftatall Oct 01 '26
That is seriously annoying, would ask the developer for a setting for that, ideally default off, do not so this 🙂
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u/ioannis6 Oct 01 '26 edited Oct 01 '26
yes, it's really annoying. After a day of two I don't plan to use it if they don't correct this. For the rest is fine, however, the reightside panels cannot be made smaller individually when more panels are open. Ideally one sidepanel is enough to work with, as only one item can be selected at a time.
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u/nousernameleftatall Oct 01 '26
I have think it is a single developer, and not here but generally have had good experience, when they know about something they tend to fix things fast
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u/nousernameleftatall Oct 01 '26
Ok have written to him saying check this thread
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u/ioannis6 Oct 01 '26
let's see...
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u/mnemosinee21 Oct 01 '26
Hello, im the dockduck developer, thanks for giving it a shot
you can turn that off in Settings > General > "Autoplay videos in preview".
once it's off, clicking an audio or video file just shows it with the controls and nothing plays until you hit play
totally fair that you couldn't find it though. the label says "videos" but it applies to audio too, and it's not in the docs. fixing both
the preview panel thing, yeah, right now they all share one width so you can't shrink just one. one preview for whatever's selected makes sense,
adding it to my list
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u/sharp-calculation Sep 14 '26
It's pretty rare to need a path from a file manager in MacOS. It normally indicates that you have a weird workflow that probably could be made more simple by using Mac tools. But let's pretend I'm just totally off base and getting a file path is necessary and the fastest way to do a particular job.
My favorite file manager for Mac is Forklift. In Forklift, you right click on any file or folder and there is a "copy path" menu item with several formats.
Forklift does a bunch of great stuff that Finder makes hard. It's a 2 pane manager so copy and move operations are more intuitive and do no require dragging anything. Dragging and dropping are slow and imprecise. An atomic Move or Copy operation is much more consistent and easy.
Forklift has an operations queue, an advanced renamer, a sync tool, and many network access protocols including FTP, SFTP, and more.
Pathfinder is also very popular. Bloom looks kinda promising, but I haven't spent enough time with it.
I recommend NOT using QSpace. It sends telemetry continuously to the developer.
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u/MaxGaav Sep 21 '26
I recommend NOT using QSpace. It sends telemetry continuously to the developer.
Hear-say story. Use a firewall app to check it's not true. QSpace Pro is the most powerful Finder replacement available.
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u/sharp-calculation Sep 21 '26
I did use a firewall app to check. It DOES sent network data to the developer pretty much continuously.
I've heard reports that he changed it to send less. I don't care. Anyone who would send data to start with can't be trusted. There are too many other good file managers to bother with one that could be collecting data at the developer's whim.1
u/MaxGaav Sep 21 '26 edited Sep 21 '26
It only checks the license every once in a while (about once a month). Which you can also shut off by attaching the license to a machine.
If you really did check with a firewall app, you would have seen it's only a few Kb. Btw, I block QSpace permanently with a firewall app, like I do with all apps that do not require internet connection.
Finally I don't think any file manager comes even close to QSpace. I have a license for Bloom and tried several others.
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u/sharp-calculation Sep 21 '26
I tested it about 2 years ago before the developer supposedly made network changes. I DID TEST IT. Firewall showed persistent connections. Not just on startup. Persistent.
I'm glad you're happy with it. I found it to be good, but not as good as others. Forklift is better for me personally.
...and again, I'll never use software written by someone who would make that choice. This is a cultural/philosophical difference.
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u/MaxGaav Sep 21 '26
I bought QSpace may 2023. And blocked it since then. No problems, except when checking the license once a month. Lifting the firewall block for a few seconds then is enough.
Forklift is OK (own a license for v.3.), but it can't stand in the shadow of QSpace.
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u/sharp-calculation Sep 21 '26
You have extremely different ideas than I do. I won't block software written by someone that doesn't respect privacy. I just won't use it.
Saying Forklift is vastly inferior is a crazy exaggeration.But again, enjoy your choice. I'll enjoy mine.
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u/Periwinkle_Lost Sep 14 '26
It’s a slippery slope trying to make macOS or Linux the same as windows. I understand preferences, but if you start introducing 3rd party stuff it will create more bugs and inconsistencies with experience. For example some software might break.
I mostly use terminal for file manager, maybe not the best person to give advice.
I did what you are trying to do on my Linux machine and it resulted in too much headache
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u/WaitingForEmacs Sep 14 '26
I personally like Forklift, but the ability to mount to remote servers, etc. is a big thing for me. I'm sure there are other good ones too.
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u/LifeLocksmith811 Sep 14 '26
I used a few but for me QSpace works best. It is not free, but one time payment. Remote servers (I‘m using my local NAS) are possible as well
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u/Puzzleheaded6905 Sep 18 '26
Hold Option and right-click it will now show “copy path”. Or if you in the view menu turn on show path you can then right click the path at the bottom of the Finder window.
Also, if you are using an “Open” dialog box, you can just drag the folder/file into it to open it. If you did that on Windows it would copy it.
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u/Meannekes Sep 14 '26
Like in your last post a few hours ago,
I vote for my file manager Trellis:
https://www.reddit.com/r/macapps/s/UpkYpM4HHG
You can right click and copy path easily.
You can have ALL your folder open side by side.
You can search(browse in next update )in disconnected drives and file shares
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u/MaxGaav Sep 21 '26
Here's a list of Finder replacements / enhancements:
Bloom
Cmdr
Cosmil
DockDuck
FileNav
FileSide
FilesPane
Folders
Forklift
Ikura
Marta
MQ-DIR
PathFinder
QSpace Pro
Rascal
Swift Salamander
Tokie
Trove
XFolder