Robert Riedlinger

Q: Finder is locked up and I can't navigate to my files

Suddenly I can no longer use Finder.  I open a Finder window and click on a folder but can go no farther to get to a file.  The Finder window is just frozen.  What could cause this?  How do I get to my files now? I've never had this problem before on my Mac.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)

Posted on Sep 19, 2016 10:50 PM

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Q: Finder is locked up and I can't navigate to my files

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Kappy,Solvedanswer

    Kappy Kappy Sep 20, 2016 10:34 AM in response to Robert Riedlinger
    Level 10 (271,789 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 20, 2016 10:34 AM in response to Robert Riedlinger

    What happens if you restart the computer?

    What happens if you boot into Safe Mode?

    What happens if you boot into Safe Mode then boot normally?

  • by Robert Riedlinger,

    Robert Riedlinger Robert Riedlinger Sep 19, 2016 11:13 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 19, 2016 11:13 PM in response to Kappy

    After I restart my computer I am able to open and navigate a few folders in
    finder but when I try to select a group of files nothing happens.  When I click on the name of a file a rectangle the size and shape of the filename appears with some parts of a graphic like a task bar all mixed up.  I can double click on a photo file and see it in Preview but I cannot select, move or copy any files.

     

    I am not familiar with Safe Mode.

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Sep 19, 2016 11:23 PM in response to Robert Riedlinger
    Level 10 (271,789 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 19, 2016 11:23 PM in response to Robert Riedlinger

    Follow instructions in the link provided on how boot into safe mode.

  • by BobHarris,

    BobHarris BobHarris Sep 20, 2016 5:33 AM in response to Robert Riedlinger
    Level 6 (19,662 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 20, 2016 5:33 AM in response to Robert Riedlinger

    Do you have Google Drive installed?

    There is a known problem with Mavericks, Google Drive and the Finder.

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Sep 20, 2016 10:29 AM in response to Robert Riedlinger
    Level 9 (73,966 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 20, 2016 10:29 AM in response to Robert Riedlinger

    If you don't have Google Drive installed see below.

     

    Finder – Fix Google Drive Problem


    Might be a corrupt .plist.

     

    Do a backup, preferably 2 backups on 2 separate drives.

     

    Go to Finder and select your user/home folder. With that Finder window as the front window, either select Finder/View/Show View options or go command - J.  When the View options opens, check ’Show Library Folder’. That should make your user library folder visible in your user/home folder.  Select Library. Then go to Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist.  Move the .plist to your desktop.

     

    Re-launch Finder by restarting the computer and test. If it works okay, delete the plist from the desktop.

     

    If the same, return the .plist to where you got it  from, overwriting the newer one.

     

    Thanks to leonie for some information contained in this.

  • by Robert Riedlinger,

    Robert Riedlinger Robert Riedlinger Sep 20, 2016 10:39 AM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 20, 2016 10:39 AM in response to Kappy

    Kappy,

     

    I rebooted in safe mode and was able to navigate in Finder and access my files.  I then rebooted normally and I am now able to navigate in Finder normally.  There's just one strange thing that is happening.  Sometimes the Finder window disappears for about a second and then reappears.  Now that seems to have stopped happening and things are working well in Finder for now.  Thank you for your help.

     

    Bob

  • by Robert Riedlinger,

    Robert Riedlinger Robert Riedlinger Sep 20, 2016 10:42 AM in response to BobHarris
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 20, 2016 10:42 AM in response to BobHarris

    I do have Google Drive installed.  I've had it for 2-3 years and have not had any problems before.  So far it looks like rebooting in Safe Mode and restarting in Normal Mode has solved my problem.  If the Finder problem comes back should I just uninstall Google drive?

     

    Thanks.

     

    Bob

  • by Robert Riedlinger,

    Robert Riedlinger Robert Riedlinger Sep 20, 2016 2:35 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 20, 2016 2:35 PM in response to Kappy

    Now my Finder windows disappear every 60 seconds for about 1 second and reappear.   ???

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Sep 20, 2016 2:52 PM in response to Robert Riedlinger
    Level 10 (271,789 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 20, 2016 2:52 PM in response to Robert Riedlinger

    Maybe you should follow Bob's suggestion regarding Google Drive. You can also try deleting these items:

     

    /Home/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist.

    /Home/Library/Caches/com.apple.finder/ folder.

     

    Three Ways to Make the Home/Library Folder Visible

     

    A. This method will make the folder visible permanently. Open the Terminal application in the Utilities folder and paste the following at the command prompt:

     

    chflags nohidden ~/Library

     

    Press RETURN.

    B. Click on the Desktop, press the Option (⌥) key, select Library from the Finder's Go menu.

    C. Select Go To Folder from the Finder's Go menu. Paste the following in the path field:

     

    ~/Library

     

    Click on the Go button.

  • by BobHarris,Helpful

    BobHarris BobHarris Sep 20, 2016 7:53 PM in response to Robert Riedlinger
    Level 6 (19,662 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 20, 2016 7:53 PM in response to Robert Riedlinger

    Robert Riedlinger wrote:

     

    I do have Google Drive installed.  I've had it for 2-3 years and have not had any problems before.  So far it looks like rebooting in Safe Mode and restarting in Normal Mode has solved my problem.  If the Finder problem comes back should I just uninstall Google drive?

     

    Thanks.

     

    Bob

    As you have found, it will come back.

     

    A) stop using Google Drive

    or

    B) upgrade to a version of OS X newer than Mavericks (and unless you have previously downloaded Yosemite or El Capitan, your only choice is Sierra, just released today).

  • by Robert Riedlinger,

    Robert Riedlinger Robert Riedlinger Sep 20, 2016 7:57 PM in response to BobHarris
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 20, 2016 7:57 PM in response to BobHarris

    Hi Bob,

     

    I turned off Google Drive and my problems with Finder went away.  The Finder windows are stable now with no blinking or freezing up.  Thank you for the suggestion.

     

    Bob

  • by carramar30,

    carramar30 carramar30 Sep 23, 2016 5:01 PM in response to Robert Riedlinger
    Level 1 (88 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 23, 2016 5:01 PM in response to Robert Riedlinger

    Much discussion on this about a month ago when a bug in Google Drive reappeared under Mavericks ...

     

    If you want to keep using Google Drive you can unset a preference to work around the problem .... see here ...

     

    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7641986

     

    Chris.