How do I change where folders open on Desktop?

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Level 1

37 points

How do I change where folders open on Desktop?

All of sudden, without my changing anything, any folder I open appears in the upper left of my Desktop...is there a way to change this (my preference is middle of the Desktop)?

Mac mini, macOS 10.15

Posted on Nov 21, 2020 3:25 PM

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Answer 1

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Barney-15E

Level 10

112,686 points

Nov 21, 2020 3:50 PM in response to MichaelJonas

If you open a Finder window, move and size it to what you want, then close it, new folders should appear the same.

Note that you can easily alter the settings by opening a new window, move it, then decide you don't want that new window and close it.

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Answer 2

MichaelJonas Author

Level 1

37 points

Nov 21, 2020 5:52 PM in response to Barney-15E

Thank you for replying. Your instructions worked perfectly for folders I open from Finder, but I have several aliases on my Desktop that go to folders that are also in Finder. When I open folders from the aliases, the folder opens in the upper left corner of the my Desktop, but if I open the same folder from Finder, they open just as you said the they would...where I left them.

I tried opening the folder in Finder (correctly), and then opening them with the aliases, but the problem did not go away.

Of course this in not a major problem...it's annoying...and it doesn't make sense --- at least not to me.

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Answer 3

Barney-15E

Level 10

112,686 points

Nov 21, 2020 9:23 PM in response to MichaelJonas

I created an alias to my Downloads on the Desktop. It works like any other. If I set the location and resize it, then close, it opens how I had it.

And, a new Finder window opens to where I had set those.

I don't know how to resolve your problem. Maybe deleting the Finder preferences file in ~/Library/Preferences.

You'll have to reset all of the Finder preferences that you have changed.

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Answer 4

Barney-15E

Level 10

112,686 points

Nov 22, 2020 7:01 AM in response to MichaelJonas

The only one I was referring to was the one in Preferences.

The LaunchAgents folder plist and probably Susbsystems are not preference files in the manner we are discussing. The launchd plist file (LaunchAgents) controls how the OS launches the Finder and keeps it running. It doesn't store user preferences.

I don't know what preferences it syncs or with what it is syncing.

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Answer 5

Barney-15E

Level 10

112,686 points

Nov 22, 2020 7:16 AM in response to MichaelJonas

It should be in ~/Library (i.e., your user Library), not /Library (the one at the root level of the drive).

You can just move it to your Desktop (or somewhere else).

If removing it doesn't fix the problem, you can move it back and replace the new one that got created.

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Answer 6

MichaelJonas Author

Level 1

37 points

Nov 22, 2020 7:39 AM in response to MichaelJonas

Alas, I had no problem with the plist file, but it didn't fix the problem of alias folders opening in upper left corner. I also tried creating a new alias...no luck.

I won't bother you any more with this...it's annoying, but nothing more than that.

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Answer 7

MichaelJonas Author

Level 1

37 points

Nov 22, 2020 8:06 AM in response to MichaelJonas

I found the problem -- Stacks...I turned Stacks off and the alias folders opened correctly. I then turned Stacks back on, and this time the alias folders opened correctly. Wow, that was really weird.

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Answer 8

MichaelJonas Author

Level 1

37 points

Nov 22, 2020 6:53 AM in response to MichaelJonas

There are four "com.apple.finder.plist" files -- do I delete them all? Thank you.

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Answer 9

MichaelJonas Author

Level 1

37 points

Nov 21, 2020 6:06 PM in response to MichaelJonas

I forgot to mention that besides opening in the upper left corner of the Desktop, the folder has to be resized every time -- it opens much smaller than if I open from Finder.

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Answer 10

MichaelJonas Author

Level 1

37 points

Nov 22, 2020 6:12 AM in response to Barney-15E

Is the the file I would delete to change Finder's Preferences: com.apple.finder.plist ? I don't mind resetting them.

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Answer 11

MichaelJonas Author

Level 1

37 points

Nov 22, 2020 7:05 AM in response to Barney-15E

Thank you, again. So I'll just delete the Library/Preferences Finder plist and see what happens. I have to have another cup of very strong coffee before I do that.

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Answer 12

MichaelJonas Author

Level 1

37 points

Nov 22, 2020 7:18 AM in response to Barney-15E

I was thinking about that...so thank you very much for reminding me. I really apprciate how helpful (and patient) you've been.

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How do I change where folders open on Desktop?

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