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I'm recently switched to Mac from Windows. It was quite a pain but I am now adjusted to the Mac commands and shortcuts, except one. That is whenever I select a folder and press Return/Enter it executes the rename. While I was expecting it to open it?

Is there any way I can change the shortcut?

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  • 4
    It's really strange :)
    – Ahmad Behzadi
    Aug 22, 2020 at 17:10

5 Answers 5

Reset to default
133

To open it, you can use either of these two keyboard shortcuts:

  1. ⌘+O (the standard shortcut for opening files)
  2. ⌘+↓
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  • is there a way to change the shortcut key ?
    – Prashant Cholachagudda
    Apr 26, 2010 at 17:27
  • System Preferences app -> Keyboard, choose "keyboard shortcuts" tab. Click the + sign to add a custom shortcut. You can specify that it's only for Finder.... but you can't assign enter as the shortcut.
    – Doug Harris
    Apr 26, 2010 at 19:00
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    Thanks Doug, I found one moer shortcut :) command + down arrow
    – Prashant Cholachagudda
    Apr 26, 2010 at 21:19
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    Also, ⌘↑ will open the enclosing folder, like Backspace on Windows. Holding down the ⌥ (Option) key will also close the current window.
    – Kevin Reid
    Oct 28, 2010 at 21:16
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    @izy Can you be more specific – are you referring to MacOS 11 (aka Big Sur)?
    – Doug Harris
    Jan 11, 2021 at 20:24
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I use Command plus the ↑ or ↓ arrow keys.

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  • 8
    I find this way better than the accepted answer.
    – Meryovi
    Jun 6, 2013 at 23:05
  • 2
    It seems this is more expected behavior.
    – wonsuc
    Feb 13, 2019 at 1:50
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As well, you can also use Command+Shift+G while Finder is active and type the path of the folder you want to open in the box that appears. ie:

~/Pictures

will open your Pictures folder.

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  • This works great in combination with Finderpath.
    – dorien
    Jan 17, 2017 at 2:51
  • and tab-completion works in the dialog for choosing the path. It's a great combination.
    – Doug Harris
    Feb 6, 2018 at 14:41
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Same situation. But I eased my pain by switching to the "View as Columns" view (Command+3) and navigate to any needed place just using all the arrow keys.

If needed I can again quickly switch to my previous view with Command+1/2/3 or 4 shortcuts.

This is better (in my case) than staying in "Icons view" and navigating with arrows Up and Down.

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0

Updated combination: ⌘+ ↓

and as mentioned previously: ⌘+ o

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  • Welcome to Super User! Please don't try to answer old questions as your first posts, also please expand your answer to fully explain what it does.
    – Ξένη Γήινος
    Jan 10, 2021 at 6:50
  • OS version: Big Sur
    – izy
    Jan 12, 2021 at 22:17

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