Open Finder using shortcut keys

I'm used to the Windows + E key feature to open explorer. Does macOS Mojave have a shortcut similar? I've been reading and the only thing I've found is Option+Command+Space Bar, but it opens the finder wanting to search "This Mac." When I click on the Finder on the bottom dock I have set it up to connect to my server. Is there a way I can change what the Option+Command+Space Bar opens? Or, can I open my Finder location using different shortcut keys?

Posted on Dec 18, 2018 9:10 AM

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Posted on Dec 18, 2018 9:53 AM

Welcome to the mac.

Just about any time you ask: "is this possible", the answer is... yes.


You can use command-tab to switch applications, but there is (AFAICT) a shortcut to switch directly to the Finder. However, the mac is big in automation, so you can easily roll out your own:


Open Automator, and choose to create a new "Quick Action" (Quick Actions used to be, and in some places still are called "Services").


Let's start simple and just bring the Finder to the front: all you have to do is add a "Run Applescript" action, and adjust its contents to show like this (the "on run ... end run" will have been filled already for you, you just have to type the "tell ... end tell" part):



Now add a keyboard shortcut and you are good to go with version 0.99 of your Quick Action.


On the mac, you can add keyboard shortcuts almost at will.

You do it in System Preferences->Keyboard->Shortcuts

In this case, click "Services", and fill it in:



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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 18, 2018 9:53 AM in response to rskern

Welcome to the mac.

Just about any time you ask: "is this possible", the answer is... yes.


You can use command-tab to switch applications, but there is (AFAICT) a shortcut to switch directly to the Finder. However, the mac is big in automation, so you can easily roll out your own:


Open Automator, and choose to create a new "Quick Action" (Quick Actions used to be, and in some places still are called "Services").


Let's start simple and just bring the Finder to the front: all you have to do is add a "Run Applescript" action, and adjust its contents to show like this (the "on run ... end run" will have been filled already for you, you just have to type the "tell ... end tell" part):



Now add a keyboard shortcut and you are good to go with version 0.99 of your Quick Action.


On the mac, you can add keyboard shortcuts almost at will.

You do it in System Preferences->Keyboard->Shortcuts

In this case, click "Services", and fill it in:



Dec 18, 2018 9:29 AM in response to rskern

You can open a new Finder window with ⌘-N, but that won't open it already connected to your server and displaying file content.


In Finder Preferences : Sidebar — under Shared, select Connected Servers, and perhaps optionally Bonjour computers. These will now appear under Shared in the left panel of the Finder window. Click on the desired server name, and then click again on the Connect As… button in the Finder window. A panel will appear giving you the choice of your Guest, or registered User name on the remote server, as well as that access password. Click Remember this password in my keychain, and then Connect.


The next time that you launch a new Finder window, and click on that server name under Shared, the FInder will automatically mount the associated filesystem in the Finder window following what should be a brief pause.

Dec 18, 2018 9:59 AM in response to rskern

You need to click on the application window that you wish to control — before issuing any keyboard shortcut. For Finder, you click on the Desktop to ensure Finder is the front-most application, before you issue that ⌘-N to open a new Finder window. That is how the Mac works.


When you see ⌘-n, ⌘-N, ⌘+n, and ⌘+N, this is simply symbology for the combination of the command-key and the letter n. That letter is case insensitive, and this is not a three character, keyboard activity.

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Open Finder using shortcut keys

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