Whenever you consider switching over to a Mac-based desktop or laptop from a Windows or Linux-based PC, the entire migration process usually involves a steep learning curve that you need to get acquainted with. Although macOS is an intuitive and user-friendly platform that shares a similar set of features and functionalities with other popular Operating Systems, you can, at times, run into difficulties while performing certain productivity tasks.
Based on this notion, one of the most frequently asked questions online about macOS happens to be the ways in which a user can select multiple files inside Finder. If this is your first time using an iMac or a Macbook as your daily driver and you’re looking for the most efficient ways to execute such an operation, then this guide will definitely help you out!
The following sections of this article will provide a comprehensive list of all the different methods using which you can select multiple files, folders, and applications inside the default file manager on macOS. Make sure that you go through the entire article to gain a better understanding of the possibilities and limitations of such techniques.
Select Multiple Files on Mac Using the Click & Drag Feature
The Click & Drag feature on macOS is arguably one of the most convenient methods using which you can select multiple files inside a folder or multiple folders at once. Since this feature functions flawlessly across all Finder views (Icon, List, Column, and Gallery), you’ll be able to drag and drop multiple items on a different folder or on your home screen.
To select multiple files on Mac using the Click & Drag feature, click on an empty space with your mouse or trackpad and drag the cursor over all the relevant files to create a rectangular box. After that, release the button on your mouse or trackpad to highlight the selected items inside a folder.
If you’ve mistakenly selected or missed a few files while performing this action, hold down the Cmd⌘ key on your keyboard and click on those files to add or remove them from the selection box. Alternatively, you can hold down the Shift or Cmd⌘ key on your keyboard and use the Click & Drag feature to add more files to the previous selection.
Select Multiple Adjacent Files on mac Using the Shift Key
If the files are arranged in a sequence, selecting them on macOS is relatively simple. However, it should be noted that the following method will only work when the Finder view is selected to List, Columns, or Gallery.
From the home screen, click on the Finder icon available in the Dock to open up a new window. Once you’ve done that, navigate to the appropriate folder and select either the List, Columns, or Gallery view from the View icon located at the top of the screen.
After changing the View option for a specific folder, select the first file in the sequence by simply clicking on it with your mouse or trackpad. Now, hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and click on the last file in the sequence to finalize your selection. Doing so will select all the files that are present between the first file and the last file automatically.
Select Multiple Non-Adjacent Files on Mac Using the Shift or Command Key
If the files that you want to select are non-adjacent or scattered inside a folder, you can make use of an alternative method to select such non-contiguous files effortlessly. As this method is devoid of any specific Finder view option (Icon, List, Column, or Gallery), you should be able to select multiple non-sequential files without a hitch.
Open up the appropriate folder inside Finder that contains all the relevant files you intend to select. After clicking on the first file using your mouse or trackpad, press and hold down the Shift or Cmd⌘ key to add unarranged items to your selection list.
Select All Files Inside a Folder
If you want to select all the files present inside a folder, the easiest way to perform such an action is by using either a keyboard shortcut or a toolbar option. Navigate to the appropriate folder inside Finder and press the Cmd⌘+A keys on your keyboard to select all files from that folder.
However, if you prefer using the toolbar option for selecting all files inside a folder, open up the Edit section from the Finder’s menu bar and click on Select All. To deselect all files inside a folder, press and hold down the Option+Cmd⌘+A keys on your keyboard or click on the Deselect All option from the Edit section.
Make File Selection Easier on MacOS
Now that you’ve come to know about all the methods related to multiple file selection on macOS, you should be able to perform this basic function with ease. Hope you found this article useful! For more simple yet intuitive How-To guides, leave a comment down below.