Preferences

A quick map of Explorer settings: view, sorting, transfers, clipboard, and navigation.

Preferences overview

Explorer preferences are designed to remove friction from everyday file work.

Open Preferences:

  • Menu: Explorer → Preferences…
  • Shortcut: Cmd + ,

Quick Workflow Profiles (1-Click Presets)

At the top of Preferences (⌘,), you can switch your entire workspace configuration in one click using three curated Workflow Profiles:

  • Finder Classic: Columns view default, hidden files off, file extensions visible, comfortable row density, status bar & inspector enabled.
  • Pro Commander: Details table view default, hidden dotfiles on, recursive folder size calculation (calculateFolderSizes) on, compact density, and RegEx + hidden search enabled.
  • Minimal Airy: Tiles grid view default, spacious density, status bar & inspector hidden for distraction-free visual browsing.

Modified Filter & Portable JSON Backup

  • Modified (N) Filter Button: click Modified next to the Preferences search bar to view only the settings you have customized away from default values, or click Reset Category to restore a single section.
  • Export JSON & Import JSON: copy all 66 preference keys to your clipboard as portable JSON or import a saved configuration on another Mac.

General & Startup

  • Open folders in: current tab / new tab / new window
  • Startup behavior: Home Hub, Restore previous tabs (restoreTabs), or open a Custom Folder
  • Single-click open + hover selection (optional)
  • Customize which standard locations and custom pinned paths appear in the left Navigation Sidebar

View, Appearance & Sizing

  • Default view mode: Tiles (grid), Details (list), or Miller Columns (columns)
  • Icon size (small, medium, large) + row density (compact, comfortable, large)
  • File size units: 1024 (binary) vs 1000 (decimal) and decimal precision (Auto, 0, 1, 2)
  • Show hidden files (⇧⌘.), dim hidden files, and show system Library files
  • Vertical tabs sidebar (verticalTabs), Inspector pane (⌥⌘I), Status HUD ribbon, and Reduce Motion

Context Menu Customization (12 Toggles)

Individually enable or hide any of the 12 right-click actions: Open, Open in new tab, Preview, Open with, Open file location, Quick access, Compress / Extract, Secure Shred, Copy as path, Add to Shelf, Tags, and Properties.

Sorting

  • Default sort key + direction
  • Natural sort, locale sort
  • Folders on top

Transfers

  • Delete to Trash
  • Conflict strategy: ask / keep both / replace / skip
  • Concurrency + when to show progress UI

Clipboard & drag-and-drop

  • Watch system clipboard
  • Highlight paste
  • Default external drop action (copy/move)

A good “first setup”

If you want Explorer to feel predictable and fast:

  • keep Delete to Trash + confirmations on
  • keep Folders on top + Natural sort on
  • keep Show file extensions on
  • enable Preview pane (then disable it only if you prefer maximum density)

Next steps