Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-04

How to Fix: Is there a keyboard shortcut to bring up Finder?

No default keyboard shortcut to start a new Finder window. Assigning one requires creating an App Shortcuts item in System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts.

Quick Answer: Create a new App Shortcuts item for Finder and assign the desired shortcut.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 💡 Why You Are Getting This Error
  2. 🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes
  3. 💡 Conclusion

The issue of not being able to quickly open a new Finder window using a keyboard shortcut can be frustrating, especially for users who are accustomed to working with other operating systems that offer such functionality.

This problem primarily affects macOS users who want to streamline their workflow by utilizing keyboard shortcuts to launch the Finder app.

💡 Why You Are Getting This Error

  • The default behavior of macOS is to open a new Finder window when you press Command (⌘) + Space, which opens Spotlight search. This means that there isn't a built-in keyboard shortcut to directly start a new Finder window.
  • Additionally, the user's attempt to create a custom keyboard shortcut for Finder in System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts > App Shortcuts may not have worked due to various reasons such as incorrect key combinations or insufficient permissions.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes

Utilizing Spotlight Search

  1. Step 1: Press the Command (⌘) + Space keys simultaneously to open Spotlight search. This will allow you to quickly switch between applications and launch new Finder windows.
  2. Step 2: To make this process more efficient, consider using Spotlight's 'Finder' filter by clicking on the magnifying glass icon in the top right corner of the search results window and typing 'Finder' into the search bar.
  3. Step 3: You can also use Spotlight to open a new Finder window while still in another app by pressing Command (⌘) + Space, then selecting 'Finder' from the dropdown list.

Creating a Custom Keyboard Shortcut

  1. Step 1: Open System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts > App Shortcuts.
  2. Step 2: Click on the '+' button at the bottom left corner of the window to create a new shortcut.
  3. Step 3: In the 'Shortcut' field, enter `finder` (without quotes) and press Enter. This will assign the default keyboard shortcut for opening Finder without creating a custom key combination.
  4. Step 4: If you still want to create a custom keyboard shortcut for Finder, select the existing shortcut created in the original prompt and delete it.
  5. Step 5: Create a new item with the desired key combination (e.g., `shift` + `command ⌘` + `F`).
  6. Step 6: Assign the action 'Open Finder' from the dropdown menu next to the key combination field. Click on the 'Add' button to save the changes.

💡 Conclusion

In conclusion, while there isn't a default keyboard shortcut for opening a new Finder window in macOS, users can utilize Spotlight search or create a custom keyboard shortcut using System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts > App Shortcuts.

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