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Save Finder window size

Hi guys,


I know this question might sound stupid at first, but I am a new Mac user (coming from Windows) and I couldn't find how to do that. How do I save Finder window size so, everytime I open it, it will be this size. Preferably, I would like to make it to a certain size so that if I have to resize it on one session, that resize won't be saved (that is, next time I open Finder it will have the size I had set up restored).


Is it possible?


Thank you in advance.

Mac mini, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.1)

Posted on Aug 24, 2012 3:55 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Aug 24, 2012 7:23 PM

Create a new folder on the Desktop (CMD+SHIFT+N), open it, select View-View Options (CMD+J), set the window to your desired size and type view (either icon or list view: I prefer the latter), select always open, and then click Use as Defaults button. That should retain your setting and every other folder you open for the first time should also inherit those settings.


Once you sort this issue out, see these:


Switching from Windows to Mac OS X,
Basic Tutorials on using a Mac,
Mac 101: Mac Essentials,
Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts,
Anatomy of a Mac,
MacTips,
Switching to Mac Superguide, and
Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual, Lion Edition. (Applies until the Mtn Lion edition ships)


Additionally, *Texas Mac Man* recommends:


Quick Assist,
Welcome to the Switch To A Mac Guides,
Take Control E-books, and
A guide for switching to a Mac.

36 replies

Jun 1, 2016 10:41 AM in response to Eric Shawn2

Please help! I am having the same issues.


I am using a 2014 MacBook Pro Retina 13", running Yosemite 10.10.5.

I am not actually having issues with sizing my finder windows for folders hosted on my hard drive. The issues are with my EXTERNAL hard drive.

This drive was once plugged into a Mac with an extremely large monitor, but no settings were touched. Now, every time I connect it to my 13" MacBook Pro, the finder window size is larger than my screen and I have to drag and resize and drag more and resize more.


I have deleted the plist and rebooted. Several times.

I have gone through every folder and drive within finder and changed the display defaults.

I have used the commands specified in this thread, resizing a window, using Command-Option-W to close it, then holding Option and relaunching finder.

Occasionally the window size will open the same as I closed it, but not often. If I unplug the external drive, as soon as it is reconnected, the issue is back.


I need a solution that does not involve me adding third party software, because, your expensive product should just, y'know, actually work, without me having to augment it, with additional costs. I have been loyal to Mac for 14 years. This is the last Apple product I will ever, ever buy.

Dec 4, 2016 6:31 PM in response to Eric Root

The short version: Your suggestion replacing the .plist was the ONLY fix that finally did the trick, so thank you very much !

The somewhat longer version: Have been using Macs since 1988 and always used icon view keeping the folders organized "the way I like it"

Also, still using Mavericks (an update would make several applications incompatible with newer versions of the OS).

Recently, a somewhat weird "crash" forced me to re-install the OS. After a lengthy phone call with an Apple senior advisor, re-installed 10.9.5 and backed up the rest from the most recent Time Machine. So far so good, not much data lost (In addition to Time Machine, I also have important backups on external HDs....just in case).

But, could not get back my original Icon (folder) size and organization (layout). This was only the case for the internal HD (system disk). The external HDs were as before.

I would arrange my folders the old way and set icon size, spacing, text size and background color with "View Options"

However, after a Restart or Shut Down then Boot-up, the window (internal HD view) would revert back to a smaller size and the icon size and text would be off with the icons arranged in a arbitrary (?) order.

Tried everything; reset the PRAM, the SMC, tried different settings in View Options with Default or not. Same result; Nothing worked. Turned out, the sub-folder were also be messed up; some larger and some smaller.

Searched all over the web, for solutions and suggestions but found very little useful/helpful information.

(I was also at apple, but missed your fix on Page 2, the first time)

Even tried 3rd party software (Stay 1.2.4 for 10.9.5), but it did nothing, or at least not what I wanted it to do.

This was slowly driving me crazy, but I was determined to get it back to the "old way", so back to Mac Forums.

Found your suggestions.....tried it....and voila it worked !

Now everything is back to "Normal" at least for now, so thanks again.

One Question: I noticed that in addition to the com.apple.finder.plist that was replaced, I saw some (4) other .finder.plist files in the Preference folder. They would all have different combinations of upper and lower case letters plus a number at the end, for example: com.apple.finder.plist.nSjtF8R.

Are these preference files supposed to be there or do they just mess up certain finder (other) settings?

JM

Save Finder window size

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