The Quick Look feature allows users to quickly examine documents and images in more detail from the finder by pressing the space bar without opening them in a separate application.

The modern Finder uses macOS graphics APIs to display previews of a range of files, such as images, applications and PDF files. Holding down the option key when opening a folder would also close its parent, but this trick was not discoverable and remained under the purview of power users. This approach emphasizes the different locations of files within the operating system, but navigating to a folder nested inside multiple other folders fills the desktop with a large number of windows that the user may not wish to have open. It also allows extensive customization, with the user being able to give folders custom icons matching their content. In the classic Finder, opening a new folder opens the location in a new window: Finder windows are 'locked' so that they would only ever display the contents of one folder. The classic Mac OS Finder uses a spatial metaphor quite different from the more browser-like approach of the modern macOS Finder. There is a 'favorites' sidebar of commonly used and important folders on the left of the Finder window.

Like Safari, the Finder uses tabs to allow the user to view multiple folders these tabs can be pulled off the window to make them separate windows. It uses a similar interface to Apple's Safari browser, where the user can click on a folder to move to it and move between locations using 'back' and 'forward' arrow buttons. The Finder uses a view of the file system that is rendered using a desktop metaphor that is, the files and folders are represented as appropriate icons.

How to open new folder on mac