How to restore a 'custom' Finder sidebar?

Question

Level 1

18 points

How to restore a 'custom' Finder sidebar?

Today my Finder sidebar is different -- missing most of what I had in it, which was suited to what I'm working on, not 'generic.' How can I restore that sidebar? If it is in the Time Machine backup, where might I find it? Somewhere in the System folder (which implies, where specifically)? In the Library folder?

Once we get this fixed, I'll ask how it decided to mess up the sidebar, & how to prevent that. But first, fix it.

I'm running Monterey 12.6.9

Mac Pro, macOS 12.6

Posted on Dec 24, 2023 1:41 PM

Reply

Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Dec 24, 2023 3:32 PM in response to Metal_bender

Start with this to insure it's not Disk corruption if IntelMac...

Safe Boot, (holding Shift key down at startup), does the problem occur in Safe Mode? Could take 10 minutes or more.

Safe mode attempts to repair Disks & clears lots of caches & loads safe Drivers, & prevents loading of 3rd party extensions, so if Safe Mode works try again in regular boot.

If still not there, I suspect...

~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist

~ tilde indicates your user library folder

Apple hid the Users' Library folders...

Method 1:

From the Finder, select the Go menu at top of the screen, and choose Go to Folder.
In the window that opens, enter ~/Library, and click Go.

Or…

Use the Command+Shift+. toggle in Finder to show or to hide hidden files and folders

Reply

Answer 2

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Dec 27, 2023 8:18 PM in response to Metal_bender

I had trouble getting to the critical plist -- tried to find them in the Time machine backup, to no avail.

Get Find Any File...

http://apps.tempel.org/FindAnyFile/index.php

Hold Option or alt key when selecting Find to Find All.

Find all in your Home folder for Name contains: com.apple.finder.plist

Right click on one at a time & choose Reveal in Finder... then Enter Time machine. :)

Reply

Answer 3

6x6

Level 6

19,731 points

Dec 24, 2023 4:52 PM in response to Metal_bender

Just in case, make sure you didn't collapse the "Favorites" folder in the sidebar by mistake.

Reply

Answer 4

Metal_bender Author

Level 1

18 points

Dec 27, 2023 6:59 PM in response to BDAqua

this looked valuable. But I had trouble getting to the critical plist -- tried to find them in the Time machine backup, to no avail. then read some Apple files digging in, & they discussed re-installing the whole system. I'm sorry -- I got 'concerned' -- i. e.scared I could really mess things up.

So I let it all be. Considering the number people who seem to have this problem more than 1/year, I'd think there would be guidance on how to fix, & prevent it.

If anyone else follows these directions, please let us all know the outcome.

Reply

Answer 5

Metal_bender Author

Level 1

18 points

Dec 26, 2023 8:43 PM in response to 6x6

No, I did not collapse the Favorites, or any others of the sidebar. :)

Reply

How to restore a 'custom' Finder sidebar?

Similar questions