143

I find the Cmd + O shortcut to open a file in Finder unintuitive. Does anyone know how to change it? I'd like to set it so that enter opens a file instead of going into rename mode.

1
  • It's so annoying. Poses more the risk of accidentally renaming a file IMO. I want enter to open the file not to rename it...
    – Soerendip
    Jan 29 at 9:51

12 Answers 12

99

I'm not sure that's possible or recommended given that it is a basic function of the Finder. Keep in mind that Cmd-Down also opens the file if that is any more intuitive.

7
  • 6
    Could the person that down-voted this please do the courtesy of explaining why? Sometimes an answer to a question is indeed 'no'. It's a valid answer. Keyboard preferences doesn't let you override "enter" so I was offering an alternative.
    – Paulo
    Oct 22, 2009 at 20:28
  • While a sane person wouldn't do what I suggest in my answer, Enter can be used as a shortcut. It "just" requires manual editing of plist files in ~/Library/Preferences.
    – Daniel Beck
    Jan 25, 2011 at 12:22
  • 2
    Also good to know: Cmd+Right Arrow: to expand collapsed folder in Finder | Cmd+Left Arrow: to collapse expanded folder in Finder | Cmd+Up Arrow: Go to the parent folder of the current file\folder
    – RaamEE
    Jun 21, 2011 at 7:57
  • 41
    Both Cmd+Down and Cmd+O are extremely uncomfortable to use compared to pressing the 'Enter' key when navigating files with keyboard.
    – YemSalat
    Jan 16, 2015 at 1:02
  • 3
    Downvoting because it's not only possible to change the behavior, but also that I do recommend changing it - See @Russell Davis' solution as just one example - TY for attempted answer however
    – sean2078
    Sep 16, 2015 at 0:16
37

Use KeyRemap4MacBook (despite the name, it works on all Macs). In the Change Key section, navigate to For Applications, then Enable at only Finder, then check Return Key Opens a file.

Note: This is a free app that basically does the same as the commercial apps mentioned in Daniel's answer. It has the same limitations regarding pressing Return in other contexts inside Finder.

8
  • Nice. (Though I wouldn't use it as I like all computers I use to work the same, and like to be able to work with any Mac.)
    – Arjan
    Nov 18, 2011 at 23:25
  • 1
    @Daniel, it has the same limitations as you mention -- in fact, the UI warns "use F2 to rename but caution not to use Return when done typing or file opens". Nov 19, 2011 at 6:43
  • 5
    For anyone coming in via google search, this software is called Karabiner now, and rocks.
    – Bajal
    Nov 11, 2016 at 17:28
  • 7
    This is called "Karabiner Elements" now, go to "complex modifications" > "add rule" > "import from internet" > search for "finder".
    – Epskampie
    Jan 10, 2018 at 16:08
  • 1
    @Epskampie You should make it an answer.
    – Eric
    Dec 31, 2020 at 2:46
30

This behavior is not just intended by Apple, it's forced.

I was trying myself to circumvent it by redefining the shortcut in System Preferences > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Application Shortcuts (which is a goldmine, you can use it to assign pretty much anything that exists in a regular or context menu in any program to whatever you want (such as F10 to create a folder in Finder, F5 for refreshing pages, etc. This is unique to OS X AFAIK, and it's bloody awesome!).

As it turns out, you cannot assign the enter key alone to any action. And even if you assign something close, like Option+Enter, Finder will just ignore it. If you look in the drop-down, the Cmd+O shortcut is no longer listed there, and neither is Opt+Enter, it's just blank!

Hacks that used to work to get Finder to do things Apple don't think it's supposed to, are blocked with updates, like this hack to get folders listed before files, which was blocked with Lion: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1411019

I've previously used PathFinder as I find the native Finder app to be extremely bad, but it's a paid app, and it doesn't integrate very nicely with the system IMO (running side-by-side with the native Finder, destroying the gesture for revealing the desktop so that it's just a blank wallpaper, etc.).

I've just come across XtraFinder ( http://www.trankynam.com/xtrafinder/ ), which is a free plugin for Finder. It's not as feature-filled as PathFinder or Total Finder, but as it's not an app but a plugin, it's much leaner and non-intrusive. It adds tabs, enter-to-open (with your choice of shortcut for renaming, e.g. F2), ordering folders before files, and much more.

It also adds the possibility to refresh the Finder view (which is a more than welcome addition if you've ever tried browsing a network share where a file just appear, yet there's no way to refresh Finder, so it doesn't pick it up until you restart the system (seriously!))

I think it's pretty cool, and it'll sort you out with regards to your problem :)

4
  • 1
    Thanks for mentioning XtraFinder. It makes the 'Enter' and 'Backspace' keys work as you expect.
    – user45909
    Jan 29, 2015 at 5:41
  • with Sierra's latest update (Higher Sierra or something), XtraFinder is completely broken. What a shame it was a wonderful app.
    – PatrickT
    Jan 15, 2018 at 17:59
  • I've been using Path Finder for years. But they are experiencing many very bad bugs with High Sierra. It's getting to the point that I may have to switch from using what had been an excellent product. (It's possible that Apple may have made changes intentionally to cause Path Finder problems--wouldn't put it past 'em.)
    – SMBiggs
    Apr 11, 2018 at 8:39
  • XtraFinder has been revived, and is now available all the way up to the current Mojave. It does come with less functionality than the old version, but still great! Feb 21, 2019 at 14:14
23

I am a new Mac user (switched from Windows) and I found Command+ to be extremely unintuitive to open a file (Why would it be anything except Enter/Return?).

I Use BetterTouchTool to manage my keyboard shortcuts and set it to trigger the Command+ shortcut when I press Enter in Finder. That did it for me (you have to note that by doing this, you cannot use Enter for anything else in Finder, which is fine by me).

enter image description here

11

You can use XtraFinder (free, Mac OS X 10.6.8 to 10.10):

enter image description here

1
  • Sadly not working anymore after Sierra's latest update...
    – PatrickT
    Jan 15, 2018 at 18:01
8

Karabiner is yet another alternative to remap the return key, along with pretty much any other key you might want: https://pqrs.org/osx/karabiner/

You can remap keys, change repeat rate, customize the menu bar, and other functions.

enter image description here

2
  • 2
    The linked page isn't working for me right now, which is a perfect example of why link-only answers are discouraged. Please add more information to your answer so the answer itself is useful, even if the link breaks or the site it points to is down. May 19, 2015 at 8:19
  • 1
    "We made new Karabiner as Karabiner-Elements-11.0.0 from scratch due to kernel architecture changes in macOS Sierra." Way to go!
    – PatrickT
    Jan 15, 2018 at 18:26
7

It is possible using third party software, because they intercept keystrokes before they arrive at the frontmost application.

Using Butler I was able to define a Keystrokes item that presses Cmd-Down whenever the hot key Return is pressed only in Finder. For a more detailed description, see this somewhat related answer.

The problem is similar to the other answer's:

A significant downside to this sledge-hammer-solution: You cannot ever press return in Finder to have it mean something else. Committing changes to a Get Info dialog to rename something, or triggering a dialog's default button: Return is not going to work.


It is definitely not possible using system methods.

Using System Preferences » Keyboard » Keyboard Shortcuts » Applications I defined a shortcut so that Return triggered the Open menu item (with some manual editing of plist files, it's possible):

Return still triggers renaming.

Even using a Service* to trigger the action won't work:

  • Shortcuts for application specific services are configured the same way as custom shortcuts to regular menu items
  • Shortcuts in .GlobalDomain.plist for all applications don't work either. I tried.
1
  • This answer deserves more upvotes. There's a free third party app, KeyRemap4MacBook, that will do this as well (see my answer for more details). Nov 18, 2011 at 22:36
3

I can confirm that at time of writing (Sept. 9, 2012), PresButan v1.4 does exactly this for OSX Lion. (Please comment if anyone can confirm support for Mountain Lion.)

PresButan: An idiotically named solution to a spectacular UI oversight (rather apropos, eh?). It also lets you use either the backspace or delete key to delete files.

I can confirm it works (just installed it). Apparently it leverages the accessibility system and uses a daemon to catch the return events.

If you are on 10.3-10.5, you also have the option of using ReturnOpen.

-- @Fake Name via Apple StackExchange site: Open Folder with Enter in Finder

2

As for today the simple solution is:

  1. Install Karabiner-Elements: https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/docs/getting-started/installation/

  2. Add complex modification rule:

    a) Automatically - one click import from official rules site: https://ke-complex-modifications.pqrs.org/#finder_improved_navigation

    b) Or manualy - add code into to complex modifications:

{
  "title": "Finder: enter -> open, f2 -> rename",
  "rules": [
    {
      "description": "Use Return as Open if not renaming file",
      "manipulators": [
        {
          "conditions": [
            {
              "bundle_identifiers": [
                "^com.apple.finder"
              ],
              "type": "frontmost_application_if"
            },
            {
              "type": "variable_unless",
              "name": "onedit",
              "value": 1
            }
          ],
          "from": {
            "key_code": "return_or_enter",
            "modifiers": {
              "optional": [
                "any"
              ]
            }
          },
          "to": [
            {
              "key_code": "o",
              "modifiers": [
                "right_command"
              ]
            }
          ],
          "type": "basic"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "description": "Use Return to finish renaming when onedit=1",
      "manipulators": [
        {
          "conditions": [
            {
              "bundle_identifiers": [
                "^com.apple.finder"
              ],
              "type": "frontmost_application_if"
            },
            {
              "name": "onedit",
              "type": "variable_if",
              "value": 1
            }
          ],
          "from": {
            "key_code": "return_or_enter",
            "modifiers": {
              "optional": [
                "any"
              ]
            }
          },
          "to": [
            {
              "key_code": "return_or_enter"
            },
            {
              "set_variable": {
                "name": "onedit",
                "value": 0
              }
            }
          ],
          "type": "basic"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "description": "Use F2 as Rename and set onedit",
      "manipulators": [
        {
          "type": "basic",
          "from": {
            "key_code": "f2"
          },
          "to": [
            {
              "key_code": "return_or_enter"
            },
            {
              "set_variable": {
                "name": "onedit",
                "value": 1
              }
            }
          ],
          "conditions": [
            {
              "type": "frontmost_application_if",
              "bundle_identifiers": [
                "^com.apple.finder"
              ]
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
} 

The original answer is posted here: Making the Backspace key go to the previous folder in Finder

1

Could you use this method to add an action for the Finder application?

Keyboard prefs > keyboard shortcuts tab > +

0
0

You can't do it. "Enter" or "Return" aren't single key options, you have to have a modifier. Probably why pressing enter or return doesn't open the file in the first place, because the way the system is set up actions need a modifier key.

4
  • 2
    the way the system is set up actions need a modifier key — but then why would Return without any modifier trigger file renaming?
    – Arjan
    Nov 18, 2011 at 23:23
  • @Arjan: No idea.
    – Josh K
    Nov 19, 2011 at 0:21
  • 1
    So, I mean: then the system is not set up in a way that actions need a modifier key? Sorry for bugging you with such an old post ;-) Ah, or maybe you're referring to the System Preferences for keyboard, when mentioning "actions"?
    – Arjan
    Nov 19, 2011 at 9:00
  • 2
    @Arjan I'm actually not sure what I meant. This is such an old post I can't even remember answering it.
    – Josh K
    Nov 22, 2011 at 18:14
0

This might probably help you:

http://forums.macosxhints.com/archive/index.php/t-31633.html

Also have a look at ReturnOpen.

3
  • @Bobby Why did you remove the ReturnOpen reference? While "google it" isn't that useful, you could have inserted a direct link to it.
    – Daniel Beck
    Jan 25, 2011 at 12:39
  • @Daniel Beck: True, mea culpa.
    – Bobby
    Jan 25, 2011 at 18:41
  • 1
    ReturnOpen no longer works for Mac OS X 10.6. I suspect it's just an application automating what I described as not (no longer) working in my answer.
    – Daniel Beck
    Jan 25, 2011 at 18:44

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