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Level 1

62 points

Favorites are missing from sidebar in Save/Open dialogues (El Capitan)

The Issue

The issue is that the sidebar of all SAVE / OPEN windows is missing the favorites list. Some people also report they are missing in the sidebar of Finder itself, but in my case that was not the issue.

In some cases rebooting seems to temporarily "fix" the issue, only for it to return a little later.

Some people have suggested deleting the Finder preferences plist file ( ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist). But people report this does not fix it, or that it's only fixed temporarily. Deleting this file also kills all favorites from Finder, which means one has to recreate the list.

I find it hard to believe such a serious UI bug has been occurring since 10.11.0, which was released over 1 year ago.

Does anyone have a legitimate solution to this issue?

Further Background Info

This issue seems to be relatively widely reported. There are numerous instances reported here on the Apple Forums, although I have seen not meaningful discussion about the issue and permanent solutions.

It is also relatively widely reported on other websites (blogs, etc.). Various solutions are suggested, but many people report these don't fix it, or only fix it very temporarily.

As far as I can tell, this issue has been occurring for people in all versions of El Capitan, from 10.11.0 through to 10.11.6 (the most current, as of this posting).

A small sample of the instances reported here on Apple Forums:

Links in finder dialog sidebar missing

Favorite folders missing when saving as in every software program

Re: Missing Favorites or Shortcuts in Sidebar

Some references to this issue on other sites:

https://www.reddit.com/r/osx/comments/3z660v/bugmissing_favorites_in_finder_and_ applications/

http://snewsi.com/id/15422981943

http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/208205/file-open-dialog-is-missing-side bar-items

This issue is relatively widely reported online. I've searched through the Bug Reporter and no results were returned, which seems hard to believe.

The Finder instance handles Open/Save dialogues is missing the Favorites.

Often the Sidebar is hidden. It can be restore to view, but then the Favourites are missing. People have been reporting this issue online since 10.11.0

Sometimes in Finder itself this also occurs.

Steps to Reproduce:

Use the Open/Save from within any application.

Side bar is missing all favorites. Only items seen are the DEVICES.

Expected Results:

There should be a list of FAVORITES in the sidebar of all Open/Save windows.

Actual Results:

Sidebar is missing the FAVORITES list.

Version:

10.11.6 (issue is reported to occur in all El Capitan versions)

Notes:

Report here: http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/208205/file-open-dialog-is-missing-side bar-items

Reported here: https://www.reddit.com/r/osx/comments/3z660v/bugmissing_favorites_in_finder_and_ applications/

Reported here:

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6), 256 SSD, 1TB HDD, 8GB RAM, Matt 17"

Posted on Aug 8, 2016 5:14 PM

Best reply

ArtessaDonnett

Level 1

13 points

Posted on Sep 26, 2017 8:55 PM

I am having the same issue. And regardless of what that person is saying, this is definitely a BUG. There thousands of people in different threads online having the same issue. Here's a thread http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/208205/file-open-dialog-is-missing-side bar-items

View in context

42 replies

dialabrain

Level 10

122,609 points

Aug 8, 2016 6:55 PM in response to InspiredLife

So I shouldn't have the Favorites list in the Open/Save dialog box?

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Photoshop Elements 14

InspiredLife Author

Level 1

62 points

Aug 8, 2016 7:43 PM in response to dialabrain

What's your point "dialabrain"? Is it your intention to reply to someone's request for help with sarcasm? Or should I take from your reply that you genuinely believe I've somehow suggested *every* El Capitan user has this issue? If you have any genuine interest in being helpful, it might pay to first reread my original post, so that you understand what it says.

Thanks.

dialabrain

Level 10

122,609 points

Aug 8, 2016 8:02 PM in response to InspiredLife

Actually I was responding to your tone. It didn't actually sound like you were asking for help, more a declaration. You certainly can have the issue but it is not a "bug".

Things you can try…

Restart in Safe Mode then back.

OS X El Capitan: Start up in safe mode

Create a new user and see if you have the same problem.

dialabrain

Level 10

122,609 points

Aug 8, 2016 7:55 PM in response to InspiredLife

Just to add, if neither works, try installing the combo update.

Download OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 Combo Update

Aug 9, 2016 12:08 PM in response to InspiredLife

This has been going on for months now. I've been able to live with it, but now I can't get to Dropbox to use that product.

Finder:

Export from Preview:

Be nice to have a useful fix.

InspiredLife Author

Level 1

62 points

Aug 9, 2016 12:18 PM in response to dialabrain

"dialabrain"... I apologise if the tone of my original post left room for misinterpretation.

Admittedly, after 15 + hours (across two days) of messing around trying to resolve odd issues caused by upgrading to El Capitan, I was likely not in my usual high spirits. 😕

(I suspect it also didn't help that I inadvertently left the bug report text I pasted into the bottom of my post so that I could copy/paste links from it into the post. It meant the message was repetitive. Unfortunately it seems there's no way to edit posts on this forum system. Everything after the "http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions...." link should be deleted.)

Anyway... onward and upward we go...

After a combination of messing around with the Finder prefs file (com.apple.finder.plist) and restarting a few times, it seems the issue has subsided. Hopefully it stays that way. 😎

Thanks for the suggested solutions. Gratefully, I've not had to try an implement them. But I will do, if the problem reemerges.

Cheers....

InspiredLife Author

Level 1

62 points

Aug 9, 2016 12:19 PM in response to RVRoadieT

@RVRoadieT.

I feel for you. I only had the issue for under 48 hours, and it was a royal pain in the butt. What steps have your taken to try and resolve it?

Aug 9, 2016 12:47 PM in response to InspiredLife

I have worked on it from time to time, looking on youtube and searching, but haven't put much effort into it. I've tried all the obvious things short of messing around in the .plist stuff. I've lost track of when this first showed up, but am pretty sure that I have been through several software updates, and maybe even a new OS.

If I hadn't been trying to figure out how to send a backup file to Dropbox, I never would have gone looking for a solution.

This forum is the first time I've come across any discussion of this problem. It is kind one of those things that is hard to search for and get meaningful results.

Thanks for any ideas.

Aug 9, 2016 1:16 PM in response to RVRoadieT

I tried removing the iCloud Drive in Favorites in Finder Preferences, then did a force relaunch of Finder.

All the favorites were removed, and unchecked in preferences. Got them all back by checking the boxes.

However, Force/Relaunch deletes them all again.

My guess is some kind of wayward .plist file that is being picked up on Save operations, and Force Relaunch, different that the one Finder is using.

Also, adding Favorites by checking in Finder Preferences works, but moving folders in Finder Favorites is not synced with preferences.

Weird. Any thoughts.

dialabrain

Level 10

122,609 points

Aug 9, 2016 2:39 PM in response to InspiredLife

InspiredLife wrote:

"dialabrain"... I apologise if the tone of my original post left room for misinterpretation.

Admittedly, after 15 + hours (across two days) of messing around trying to resolve odd issues caused by upgrading to El Capitan, I was likely not in my usual high spirits. 😕

No problem. I could have responded better. Sorry as well. Glad it's sorted.

dialabrain

Level 10

122,609 points

Aug 9, 2016 2:41 PM in response to RVRoadieT

RVRoadieT wrote:

Weird. Any thoughts.

RVRoadieT , did you try any of my suggestions?

Aug 9, 2016 4:53 PM in response to dialabrain

I tried restarting in Safe mode, but it failed to finish restart. Pressed shift key after tone and It spent a lot of time on the Apple logo with the progress bar moving... then nothing, black screen. After 30 minutes I pressed the power button. I was expecting to hold it down to power off, but it was already off. It started normally with about the same amount of time on the Apple logo and progress bar.

Now, finder works the way it is supposed to for Save. Go figure.

Not even sure what I actually did. But thanks anyway.

dialabrain

Level 10

122,609 points

Aug 9, 2016 5:09 PM in response to RVRoadieT

no problem. It sounds like your install has other issues but glad one issue is fixed.

Aug 11, 2016 8:48 AM in response to dialabrain

That solution was short lived. The problem is back. Finder windows have favorites, Open/Save dialogs do not.

Should I do a reinstall of OS X? Looks like I can do it by just downloading from my App Purchases.

I should note that I am using Parallels. It added the C:Windows 7 to my favorites in Finder. Not sure why that would cause problems, but who knows.

dialabrain

Level 10

122,609 points

Aug 11, 2016 8:52 AM in response to RVRoadieT

I would try the 10.11.6 combo updater mentioned above first.

Favorites are missing from sidebar in Save/Open dialogues (El Capitan)