How to Customize the Finder Sidebar on macOS

Step by step

1. 30 sec

   Open Finder Sidebar Settings

   Launch Finder from your Dock. Navigate to the top menu bar, select Finder, and click Settings. Choose the Sidebar tab in the resulting window to view all available system items.

   Note: Settings are labeled as Preferences on older versions of macOS.
2. 1 min

   Toggle System Items

   Within the Sidebar tab, check the boxes next to categories you use regularly, such as Applications, Documents, or iCloud Drive. Uncheck any items that clutter your view to keep the interface minimal.

3. 30 sec

   Add Custom Folders to Sidebar

   Navigate to the folder you wish to add in a Finder window. Click and drag the folder icon directly into the Favorites section of the sidebar, placing it between existing items.

   Note: You can add files or folders to the sidebar; hold Command while dragging if you prefer to create an alias instead of moving the item.
4. 30 sec

   Reorganize Sidebar Items

   Click and hold any item within the sidebar. Drag the item vertically to your preferred position and release the mouse button to set the new order.

   Note: You can only reorder items within their designated sections, such as Favorites or Locations.
5. 30 sec

   Remove Unwanted Items

   Right-click (or Control-click) any item in the sidebar that you no longer require. Select Remove from Sidebar from the context menu to hide it immediately.

   Note: Removing an item from the sidebar does not delete the original file or folder from your Mac.