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Level 1

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Command-Alt-Space shortcut to open new Finder window stopped working

Hi,

I bought my first MAC some months ago. I read somewhere that by default, the Command-Alt-Space shortcut opens a new finder window, and I've been using it with no problem for a couple of months. But yesterday the shortcut suddenly stopped opening a new Finder window, and started opening a Spotlight window instead. (??)

I checked the keyboard shortcuts and in fact the Command-Alt-Space shortcut was assigned to open a Spotlight window. Weird, because I didn't change it and noone else uses this compuer. I pressed "Restore defaults", to see if that could revert the change, but it didn't—now the Command-Alt-Space shortcut was not assigned to anything, and the Spotlight window allegedly default shortcut turned out to be Ctrl-Alt-Space.

So my questions are:

Why was I able to use the Command-Alt-Space shortcut to open new Finder window, and now I'm not?

How can I make it work again? It was really much more practical than going to Finder and pressing Cmd-N...

Thank you.

MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Feb 4, 2013 5:45 AM

39 replies

Mar 26, 2014 11:03 PM in response to diego chamy

I am currently using OSX Mavericks and I tried doing all the things everyone said, but none of it was working. I eventually got fed up and just relaunched Finder a bunch of times. Eventually, OPTION - COMMAND - Space worked and opened a new Finder window.

diego chamy Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 27, 2014 1:07 AM in response to scottruss

Hi, I reinstalled OSX and the shortcut OPTION-CMD-SPACE BAR now opens a new Finder window ready to use Spotlight. Maybe that's what stopped doing when I first asked this question, I can't remember anymore. In any case, I just noticed you can change this shortcut by going to System Preferences>Spotlight. Still, it's pretty weird that MAC OS doesn't seem to have a default shortcut to call the Finder. And I mean Finder, not Finder in Spotlight mode - just a Finder window where you can see the Desktop (or any other folder you choose to start with when you open Finder).

Jun 22, 2014 4:12 PM in response to diego chamy

Dont need to reinstall, I had the same problem. Spotight is Finder without ToolBar, you can test it:

Open Finder clicking in the Finder Icon in your Dock, then go to View->Hide ToolBar

You will have Spotlight.

To come back again to Finder you go View-Show ToolBar (Or: Alt + Cmd + T)

As You see Alt + Cmd + T is the short cut to convert Spotlight into Finder view and the inverse...

Regards..

Oct 24, 2014 4:26 AM in response to diego chamy

Same problem here on a 2014 system. It just stopped working a few days ago. Initially, the CMD Option T and CMD Option S, didn't help, but eventually it opened up the side bar so I could select a location, just like before, Whew!

alan_vq

Level 1

4 points

Feb 21, 2015 4:26 PM in response to diego chamy

Diego hola.

I think I have figured out how to fix your problem. I did have that same issue and that is what led me to search in the internet and got to this forum.

Yes, as you said, when my MacBook Air was brand new ALT+CMD+SPACEBAR opened a Finder type window, now, after 1 month of having the mac it started to open a spotlight type search window. It is true.

Now, how I just fixed it.

1. Press ALT+CMD+SPACEBAR

2. Open the options menu by "right clicking" on the toolbar (Next to the "Searching This Mac" legend)

3. Click on "Hide Toolbar"

4. Then, do the "right click" again on the toolbar (Note: it should be smaller now since you do not have all the toolbar icons).

5. Click on "Show Toolbar"

Done, the left menu with all the "finder" folders should be up and running. Hope it works for all of you.

Regards,

alan_vq

Level 1

4 points

Feb 21, 2015 8:22 PM in response to alan_vq

Diego hola.

I think I have figured out how to fix your problem. I did have that same issue and that is what led me to search in the internet and got to this forum.

Yes, as you said, when my MacBook Air was brand new ALT+CMD+SPACEBAR opened a Finder type window, now, after 1 month of having the mac it started to open a spotlight type search window. It is true.

Now, how I just fixed it.

1. Press ALT+CMD+SPACEBAR

2. Open the options menu by "right clicking" on the toolbar (Next to the "Searching This Mac" legend)

3. Click on "Hide Toolbar"

4. Then, do the "right click" again on the toolbar (Note: it should be smaller now since you do not have all the toolbaicons).

5. Click on "Show Toolbar"

Done, the left menu with all the "finder" folders should be up and running. Hope it works for all of you.

Regards,

BEFORE:

AFTER:

j0nall3n

Level 1

0 points

Mar 7, 2015 9:37 AM in response to diego chamy

To alan_vq and totoloco123 :

I read these forums all the time and I've never replied or posted for some reason. However, I had to thank both of you (apologies for others who may also have solved the problem within this thread) for shedding some light on this issue. It's been driving me (and likely many others) crazy for a while now.

Cheers Guys!

catman25

Level 1

4 points

Aug 26, 2016 2:14 PM in response to bgast

THANK YOU!

rita278

Level 1

4 points

Nov 23, 2016 6:27 AM in response to diego chamy

I had the same issue and was able to fix it by opening keyboard shortcuts, selecting spotlight and adding a checkmark to "show finder search window". I made sure the shortcut was option-command-spacebar, and now it works. Love this shortcut.

Command-Alt-Space shortcut to open new Finder window stopped working