Dock - can you set "Downloads" folder to automatically open Finder instead just show the files?

If dragging a little distance is not nearly as bad as clicking twice, you can secondary click or Force Touch the icon in the Dock and choose Open Downloads.

You can create a single F key or a two keystroke (one bing Command, Option or Control) to open the Downloads folder with a macro app like Keyboard Maestro. I use it to open apps, folders, enter predetermined text and even change settings in apps like Safari (with a 2 key stroke like Command+Tab:

The App Store has a number of macro apps. Keyboard Maestro is probably the most powerful and can do nearly every task that I can. I've had it for 2 years and am still learning its full capabilities.

Let me suggest an easier way:

Just press Command-Option-L and it will open a window with the Downloads folder.

You can create an alias of the downloads folder and drag that into the dock.

If that is so relevant to you, you can create a little Shortcut or Automator Action, and assign it a keyboard shortcut. Something like the one below. Then just press the designated shortcut (in the example below it would be Command-Option-Control-Shift-L)

Correct, Finder must be the active window. Issuing the command in Safari opens the download history for the browser. Issuing the command in Finder opens the download folder as your screen shot indicates. Issuing the command while in the Chrome browser does nothing because Chrome (a Google product) does not assort the command.

You seem confused about what you are actually asking about.

No idea what this would do in Chrome, as I don't use it.

But if Chrome or any other application is in front, a single click on the desktop will switch to Finder.

Finder is always active

It is not displayed unless you leave Finder Open and in view

Leave Finder open but Minimized in the Dock

Leave the focus of Finder in the Sidebar on Downloads

szatanica wrote:

Force Touch an icon? What does that mean?

On a magic trackpad, it is to press fully down and hold. It’s in the gesture section of the trackpad settings.