File Management? My Mac is a Mess!......LoL!!

I have a 2012 Mac Mini and I've been aware that I have a zillion files accumulated over the years. I tried to organize them but it's really out of hand at this point.


Isn't there an App that will automatically organize your files or sort them?


What do you suggest?


Thanks.

Mac mini, macOS 10.12

Posted on Oct 5, 2023 4:21 AM

Reply
2 replies
Question marked as Helpful

Oct 5, 2023 8:05 AM in response to rocker71

Are you talking about Files that are in Finder Folders... or ..... Files that are plastered all over your Desktop....?


In most cases, Files that are already sorted into Finder Folders should be left alone.


Files that are randomly scattered all over the desktop, can and should be manually moved to Folders.

For example: Pictures to the Picture Folder, Doc's to the Document Folder, etc. etc....


I leu of using third party software, randomly scattered desktop Files can be Sorted by Kind, Size, Name, Date, etc. by right clicking on your Desktop and selecting Sort By which will make them easier to sort and move into Folders.

6 replies

Oct 5, 2023 4:23 AM in response to rocker71

Certainly, if you're looking for an app to help you automatically organize and sort files on your 2012 Mac Mini, you can consider using "Hazel." Hazel is a popular file management app for macOS that allows you to set up rules and automation to organize files based on criteria you define.


Here's how Hazel works:


1. **Create Rules**: You can create rules that specify conditions for files to meet. For example, you can set rules to move files of a certain type, from a specific location, or with specific keywords in the filename.


2. **Automate Actions**: Once you've defined your rules, Hazel will automatically perform actions like moving, renaming, or deleting files that meet those conditions.


3. **Scheduled Tasks**: You can also schedule Hazel to run at specific times, so it continuously organizes your files in the background.


Keep in mind that while Hazel can be a powerful tool for file organization, some level of manual setup and oversight is usually necessary to ensure it categorizes your files correctly. Additionally, it's important to regularly review and maintain your file organization system to prevent it from becoming cluttered again.


Hazel is a paid app, but it can be a worthwhile investment if you have a large number of files to manage and want to automate the organization process on your Mac Mini.

Question marked as Helpful

Oct 5, 2023 8:05 AM in response to rocker71

Are you talking about Files that are in Finder Folders... or ..... Files that are plastered all over your Desktop....?


In most cases, Files that are already sorted into Finder Folders should be left alone.


Files that are randomly scattered all over the desktop, can and should be manually moved to Folders.

For example: Pictures to the Picture Folder, Doc's to the Document Folder, etc. etc....


I leu of using third party software, randomly scattered desktop Files can be Sorted by Kind, Size, Name, Date, etc. by right clicking on your Desktop and selecting Sort By which will make them easier to sort and move into Folders.

File Management? My Mac is a Mess!......LoL!!

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.