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Is there an app or script to Move Files in Finder with a mouse click?

Goal: Right click on a file in the finder. Select an option to Move the file. Finder window pops up and I navigate to or search for the folder I want to move it to.


I used to use an app called MoveTo but it doesn't work anymore. Anyone got an idea for app or script? That would save me tons of time cleaning things up periodically. Copy/Paste from one location to another and then deleting is way to cumbersome to be useful. Maybe I need to hire a developer to build it for me.

MacBook Pro (2021)

Posted on Jun 7, 2023 5:16 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 8, 2023 7:50 PM

On the Move Action, click the Options button, then check the "show this action when the workflow runs."

That will allow you to pick the folder each time. The one set in the workflow will be the default.


Instead of an application, set it as a Quick Action and you can ctrl-click on the files to move.

You don't need the Get Selected Finder Items. The workflow gets them automatically.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jun 8, 2023 7:50 PM in response to Dave from Greenhaven

On the Move Action, click the Options button, then check the "show this action when the workflow runs."

That will allow you to pick the folder each time. The one set in the workflow will be the default.


Instead of an application, set it as a Quick Action and you can ctrl-click on the files to move.

You don't need the Get Selected Finder Items. The workflow gets them automatically.

Jun 9, 2023 12:57 PM in response to Dave from Greenhaven

1) No. If you only have 1 or very few, I don't think there is a menu. But, that may have been from the early stages of the Quick Action menu and now they are all inside.

2) No. It's not an open/save panel. It's a widget created for the action.

3) Yes. They show up in Keyboard System Settings > Keyboard Shortcuts > Services (they were previously lumped in with Services, but are now called Quick Actions).

There are several categories in that section. This one would be under Files and Folders

This may be of interest, also: Create keyboard shortcuts for apps on Mac - Apple Support

I think I need to learn Automator!

I would try to learn Shortcuts, instead. Since Shortcuts does essentially the same thing and is "shiny," it might replace Automator at some point. I would only resort back to Automator if it can't be done in Shortcuts.

Jun 7, 2023 10:49 PM in response to Limnos

Thanks for your reply. I tried both of those and it unfortunately, neither of them actually do what I'm looking for. My desired workflow

  • Open a folder with a variety of files (or even the desktop)
  • Click on them one by one (right click hopefully like I used to to with MoveTo) and the select which folder to move that file to.
  • Each file may go in different folder, such as a client folder.

The automator solution requires the same path for each file and then automatically move them to that folder. The GetXMenu looks cool for what it does, but unfortunately I have perhaps 300 different client folders so from what I gathered, I'd need to make a massive number of shortcuts.

I'm thinking there must be some app or script somewhere out there that does this relatively simple function. I may actually hire a developer to create one for me if I can't locate it and share it or sell it on the app store :)


Jun 7, 2023 5:34 PM in response to Dave from Greenhaven

An alternative. Get XMenu which is from a reputable developer and is free on the App Store. You can make shortcuts to popular folders and also display them in a hierarchical menu (e.g. HOME starts at your main drive level). Open the other folder and drag the files from one to the other.


I also found this which sounds like it does what you want: https://www.makeuseof.com/automatically-move-files-from-one-folder-to-another-windows-mac/

Jun 8, 2023 1:32 PM in response to Dave from Greenhaven

Scratch was just the name of a newly created directory I made to create this example app. You can specify any folder you like.


I put the app on the dock so I could launch it with a single click.


I then used the Finder to select files I wanted to move, then clicked on the move app in the dock and all the selected files were moved to the specified directory (in my case that selected directory was called "scratch"; you can specify any destination directory you prefer when you create your Automator app)

Jun 8, 2023 10:49 PM in response to Barney-15E

Brilliant! This is exactly what I was looking for! Thank you. A few other things that would make it perfect, if you have an idea.

1) Do you know if it's possible to move a quick action out of that menu folder and onto the folder above it (to save a click)?

2) When the Move Finder Items window comes up, is it possible to have it in the more full navigation window, like you get when you pull down the TO: Menu and click Other? That would also save me a step.

3) Is it possible to create hotkeys to Automator Quick Actions?

I think I need to learn Automator!


Is there an app or script to Move Files in Finder with a mouse click?

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