100 Tips #11: How To Master The Finder Toolbar

Here’s a typical Finder window:

And here’s mine:

What’s different?

I’ve put a bunch of useful applications in the Finder toolbar (the line of buttons across the top of the window), so they’re always in reach when I want to open a file with one of them. (For those who’re interested, the applications are, from left to right: BBEdit, WriteRoom, AppZapper, Flickr Uploader, Skitch, Quicktime Player, Mailplane, and a Transmit droplet that uploads files to my webserver.)

I’ve picked them out because they’re the apps that I often drag stuff to. After a while using OS X, you might have your own set of apps that you’d like to have in easy reach.

You’ll be pleased to know it’s dead simple to add them to the Finder toolbar.

Open your Applications folder. Now just drag an app icon up to the Finder toolbar, and wait for a second or two – the other icons will shuffle to one side and make room for it.

DON'T MISS
100 Tips #31: How To Customize The Toolbar

Here’s a super quick screencast to show you how it works:

(You’re reading the 11th post in our series, 100 Essential Mac Tips And Tricks For Windows Switchers. Find out more.)

18 comments »

About the author

Giles Turnbull is a freelance writer in England. He writes for the Press Association and The Morning News. He has a website you can ignore and a Twitter account you needn't follow.

(sorry, you need Javascript to see this e-mail address)| Read more posts by Giles Turnbull.

Posted in 100 Tips, 7, Tips & Tricks |

Don Pope
I’ve been using Macs for 3 years and didn’t know this.
RobbieP
I wish you had used something that would play on my iPhone. I visit your site a lot and don’t fashion the Blue Cubes”.
IcyFog
I’m really liking this series on helpful tips. I’m learning information I didn’t know before.
http://franciscans.tv Matto
Cool tip, thanks!
Leon
Is there a keyboard shortcut to open up a new finder window? I am looking for the equivalent of -E (I use this at work quite a lot).
Joe Soap
I do this by dragging icons to an application in the dock. What’s the difference?
http://gilest.org giles
Joe: when you’re already looking at a Finder window, the top of the window is usually much more handy – and closer – than the Dock
Leon
About my keyboard shortcut question, I am looking for something that works regardless of which program I am running.
DavidEGo
Ditto what Robbie P said. I surf during lunch with my iPhone and can’t see the video. I hope I remember to go to this site when I get home.
But most interesting â€¦
thanks
Mezzrow
Leon, to open up another Finder window, use CMD-N.
Norskman
Wow, I did not know that. What an awesome tip! Thanks!
http://Haztea.com Tyson
Second year using a mac, I had absolutely no idea that you could do this, nor did I even think that I would ever need it! Thanks :D
matthew
Wow same boat been using a Mac for years now never knew I could do this or that it would be helpful. Another reason I love my Macs!!!
Namhar
+TIP: To move the icons around after you have added them you need to press the command button and then click the icon you want to move
Kyle
That’s awesome, didn’t have a clue, and my old workflow broke with a recent mac update (using quicksilver to open the current selection with whatever app I wanted).
How did you move the shared computers though? I rarely need access to shared computers, it would be great to not see them before my files.
Mark Reese
Any way to permanently change the width of the columns in ‘column view’? I find myself continually resizing them each time that I reopen the Finder.
-Thanks!
Kyle
Mark, to change the width of the columns, hold down the ‘option’ key as you drag, it will become the new default width for all your finder windows.
Chatrathip
How do you delete the applications from the toolbar? I’ve tried dragging it out and it doesn’t work. There are also no options to choose from when I left click.