Methods to get path of a file in Mac

Over time, your Mac doubtless accumulates heaps and heaps of information. As you create, obtain, and save paperwork, your whole filesystem can develop into cluttered and fussy.

Even those that fastidiously manicure a deep file tree system need assistance finding information infrequently. For information buried in sub-folders, understanding the file path is usually a essential shortcut to discovering the doc you want shortly.

We’ll present you how one can get path of a file in Mac, how one can navigate a file listing Mac has built-in, and why a standalone app could also be extra helpful than your Mac’s Finder.

Methodology 1: Information window

If which file you wish to reference later, understanding how one can discover the trail of a file in Mac is definitely fairly easy. Right here’s how:

1. Find the file you’re searching for in your Mac
2. Proper-click the file
3. Select “Get Information.”

The file path on Mac can be listed beneath “The place” within the “Get Information” window that seems. 

There’s a good less complicated methodology —  an app that permits you to discover a file path with out opening any home windows. Path Finder is a dual-pane Finder substitute that has a sequence of modules you’ll be able to drag onto its facet menu to automate your file administration. 

Path Finder’s “Information” module surfaces all the identical knowledge from the three steps above:

1. Select the file in Path Finder
2. Verify Information within the sidebar
3. Verify Path. 

✕ Take away app banner

What’s extra, the file path modifications dynamically however at all times stays seen as you’re navigating by way of file locations. 

PathFinder comes with a spread of different helpful instruments equivalent to displaying and hiding information, saving tab teams, importing information to exterior servers, and many others. Strive utilizing it as a Finder various and also you’ll doubtless by no means return!

Methods to copy the file path

Path Finder makes the job of copying a file path easy: 

1. Proper-click any file in Path Finder
2. Select Copy Path 
3. Select the tactic of copying the file path. 

With out Path Finder, the method of copying a file path is trickier however doable. One of many choices is to get it by way of the context menu.

Methodology 2: Methods to get a file path from Mac context menu 

  Right here’s how one can floor and duplicate the file path for any file or folder in your Mac’s Finder app:

1. Open Finder in your Mac
2. Within the menu, select View
3. Select Present Path Bar (This surfaces the trail for any file chosen on the backside of the Finder window. Should you attempt to copy the textual content on the backside of the window, nothing occurs. So how will you truly copy the file path identify?)
4. Whereas holding down the Management button, click on on the file you wish to copy the trail of in Finder
5. Press the Choice key (Within the menu that seems after the first step, you’ll see Copy flip into Copy [file path name] as Pathname)
6. Click on Copy [file path name] as Pathname.

Now you understand how to get the trail of a file in Mac by way of the context menu! This copies the file path of the chosen file to your clipboard, which you’ll be able to then paste wherever you want. 

Methodology 3: Discover file path by way of Terminal

Terminal (or Mac listing path) permits deep entry to the interior workings of your laptop, all the way down to the foundation stage. You may carry out nearly any operate in Terminal, together with discovering, transferring, and deleting information. It’s additionally nice for locating file path names.

Right here’s how one can get listing path in Mac to point out a file’s path identify:

1. Open Terminal in your Mac
2. Kind this command: sudo su
3. Press the return key in your Mac
4. Enter the password for you Mac
5. Press return once more
6. Enter the next command: discover / -name [filename] (Notice: You should know the identify of the file you’re searching for. Within the step above, substitute the file identify for [filename])
7. Press enter (Notice: It might take Terminal a number of minutes for Finder to finish this activity. Be affected person. Moreover, a lot of what Finder returns will say “operation not permitted”. You may safely ignore these strains)
8. Discover the file path of the file you’re looking for, then choose its file path
9. Proper-click the chosen textual content and duplicate it.

There’s a less complicated manner, although. If in case you have the file obtainable in your Mac, merely drag and drop it onto your Terminal window, and the total file path can be displayed.

Methodology 4: Copy file path utilizing Go to Folder

One other drag-and-drop methodology is to disclose a file path by way of Finder’s Go to Folder command: 

1. Open Finder
2. Within the menu, select Go > Go to Folder
3. Drop your file onto the trail subject to disclose its path. 

Methodology 5: Create ‘Copy Path’ Service in Automator

Energy customers and shortcut aficionados will love this little hack! Your Mac’s Automator lets you create a number of microservices to carry out tons of capabilities, together with getting the file path of any file with ease. Right here’s how one can create your personal shortcut:

1. Open Automator in your Mac
2. Choose Fast Motion (Notice: In macOS Catalina or earlier, this can be often known as Service)
3. On the high proper of the Automator window, select Recordsdata or Folders from the drop-down menu subsequent to “Workflow receives present:”
4. Subsequent to “in,” choose “Finder”
5. From the Actions library, drag the “copy to clipboard” module onto the correct facet of the Automator window
6. From the Mac menu bar, choose File
7. Select Save from the drop down menu and identify your new automation
8. Click on Save. 

Now that you just’ve created your fancy new automation, right here’s how one can use it:

1. Open Finder in your Mac
2. Proper click on on any file or folder
3. Click on Finder within the menu bar and select Providers 
4. Choose the Automator shortcut you simply created (ours is saved as “FindFilePath”)
5. Paste the copied file path wherever you want. 

Methods to discover massive and previous information

What if the precise file or folder you’re searching for is very large – however that’s all you actually find out about it? For this, CleanMyMac X is the right app!

Whereas it focuses on maintaining your Mac’s file system spotless and your laptop working at peak efficiency, CleanMyMac X additionally has a useful module named (appropriately) “Massive & Outdated Recordsdata.” Its purpose is to find huge, cumbersome paperwork or information, which it distills to lists. You may select to view all your huge, cumbersome information, or try CleanMyMac X’s “variety” and “measurement” lists that will help you discover precisely what you’re searching for. It even creates lists by measurement, so that you don’t mistake that 11GB file for the 1.1GB file!

Make your Mac straightforward to navigate

Your Mac doesn’t suppose you want to know all the small print of a file or folder; it will fairly you hunt and peck round to find what you want.

For a lot of customers, that is high-quality. Discovering a file is comparatively easy for a lot of – however an rising variety of customers need extra from their Mac, together with the Finder app. These with tons of information and folders are searching for amsarter, higher option to handle their digital footprint.

This is the reason PathFinder and CleanMyMac X are so helpful. Every performs a novel function in maintaining your Mac performant, serving to you uncover information with ease, and permitting extra customization of your Mac than ever earlier than. 

Better of all, each apps can be found at no cost with a 7-day trial of Setapp, an app platform that powers up your workflow with useful apps for Mac and iOS — all beneath a single month-to-month subscription. When your 7-day trial interval ends, continued entry to Setapp begins at solely $9.99/month!