Finder not working (2021)

Start your mac in Safe Mode. Does the Finder work?

If it works in Safe Mode this means that something that loads when you boot normally is preventing the Finder from working.

Please run Etrecheck and post its full report here. Use the "additional text" button and paste the report into the text box.

Short of running EtreCheckPro and pasting the output into the Additional text tool below, I cannot duplicate the issue here with macOS 11.2.3.

EtreCheckPro should be provided Full Disk Access for the most thorough, privacy restricted report. We may see something in the report that explains why the Finder is not opening a Window for you.

You must have a very fubared system, since the Finder does not seem to work, even in Safe Mode.

Does the Terminal work?

You could unzip EtrecheckPro and run by using Terminal:

unzip ~/Downloads/EtrecheckPro.zip

mv ~/Downloads/EtrecheckPro.app /Applications

open -a "EtrecheckPro"

Also: you could try logging in as a different user and test, to determine whether the problem is on your normal account or systemwide.

Reboot your Mac. Did that resolve the current Finder issue?

When you click on the Finder icon at the left end of the Dock and provided there is no existing Finder window already displayed on the Desktop, a new Finder window should appear. If an existing Finder window is present, then clicking again on the Dock Finder window will do nothing.

Have you been running any Finder replacement application that may not be compatible with Big Sur 11.2.3?

Boot into the Recovery volume (boot with the Command + R keys held down) and reinstall the system. Then check to see if the problems persist.

Does not work is not an explanation of the problem that you are experiencing. Describe if you want help.