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User profile for user: Community User
Community User Author

Alias folders not working once created

Hello!


I have seen there was a thread about this with no solution that started in 2020. When I create alias folders in the desktop and then I open the alias folders, it doesn't take me to the folder location I wanted but instead, it opens a regular finder folder.

This started happening when my computer upgraded to Monterey. Suddenly, all the alias folders I already had on my desktop, lost their root location so when I double clicked on them they took me to the Finder folder.

I have tried restarting- nothing. I have created alias in three different ways and still doesn't work. This is such a basic thing to do, I can't believe Apple got this wrong. I have been using macs for 20 years and this is the first time I am so frustrated that I decided to ask in the forum.

Any thoughts about how to solve this? many thanks in advance!

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 12.0

Posted on Mar 26, 2022 2:04 AM

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User profile for user: Barney-15E
Barney-15E
User level: Level 10
116,482 points

Posted on Mar 26, 2022 1:33 PM

Cmd-F doesn't open a "regular Finder window." it starts a Search.

So, when you double-click on an alias you created it opens a search?

That doesn't sound anything like what happened in either of the two links you posted. Those opened another folder, or at least that's what the person thought was happening.


Your folders working from your desktop: great- mine aren’t, hence this post :) Mine were until I upgraded to new OS.

I'm currently running the "new OS" and don't have the problem; your allusion to the cause being the OS is not valid, hence the reason I noted that I don't see the same problem.


Try booting into Safe Mode, then restart normally. That will clear some system caches which may be corrupt and causing the problem you see. You can also test the aliases while in Safe Mode to see if they work. Restart normally.

If the aliases worked in Safe Mode, but not after restarting normally, that would indicate a problem with some third-party system modification.

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User profile for user: Barney-15E
Barney-15E
User level: Level 10
116,482 points

Mar 26, 2022 1:33 PM in response to Community User

Cmd-F doesn't open a "regular Finder window." it starts a Search.

So, when you double-click on an alias you created it opens a search?

That doesn't sound anything like what happened in either of the two links you posted. Those opened another folder, or at least that's what the person thought was happening.


Your folders working from your desktop: great- mine aren’t, hence this post :) Mine were until I upgraded to new OS.

I'm currently running the "new OS" and don't have the problem; your allusion to the cause being the OS is not valid, hence the reason I noted that I don't see the same problem.


Try booting into Safe Mode, then restart normally. That will clear some system caches which may be corrupt and causing the problem you see. You can also test the aliases while in Safe Mode to see if they work. Restart normally.

If the aliases worked in Safe Mode, but not after restarting normally, that would indicate a problem with some third-party system modification.

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User profile for user: Community User
Community User Author

Mar 26, 2022 6:48 AM in response to Barney-15E

Hi there,


  • finder folder: window that opens when you press control + F.
  • No errors when alias breaks. Just opens a folder with the same directory as when you prest control + F
  • alias folder: yes, an alias that I created from another folder.
  • Your folders working from your desktop: great- mine aren’t, hence this post :) Mine were until I upgraded to new OS. By looking at other forums online I can see this is a common issue with no specific solution from the quick search I did online.
  • I don’t tend to sync the desktop folder with iCloud but that is a good point. I will sync and see if it works. It should work regardless so this to me seems like a bug that has not been addressed.

thanks for the help mate!

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User profile for user: Barney-15E
Barney-15E
User level: Level 10
116,482 points

Mar 26, 2022 6:16 AM in response to Community User

I don't understand what you mean by, "they took me to the Finder folder." All folders are "Finder" folders in the Finder.

A broken alias should have errored out and asked if you wanted to find the original.

Also, by "alias folder" do you mean you create an alias to a folder?


I never use my actual Desktop, but if I create an alias in the Desktop Folder, I have no problem with it working correctly either from the Folder or from the Desktop.


Is your Desktop folder sync'd with iCloud? That might be related, but I have that enabled and it works.

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User profile for user: Community User
Community User Author

Mar 26, 2022 7:19 AM in response to dialabrain

Yup- command + F indeed.


I was able to do what you have described above. Then I upgraded to the new OS and what was as simple as creating and alias folder on the desktop and opening it, no longer works. May email Apple directly or go to the store.

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User profile for user: Community User
Community User Author

Mar 26, 2022 2:40 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Alternative, you can read the thread and understand what the issue we are discussing here is. It is posts like yours that make me realize that is better to go to the store and get the Apple geniuses to look into it.


Thanks to everyone else who tried to help!


Over and out.

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Alias folders not working once created

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