How to change the folder new Finder windows open to on a Mac

How do I change the default folder in Finder?

1. Click Finder in the Dock, then press ⌘ , to open Finder Settings.
2. Click General.
3. Open the menu under New Finder windows show: and choose a folder. Choose Other to pick any folder on your Mac.
4. Close the settings. The next new window opens there.

Which folder should Finder open to?

The folder you go to most. For most people that is Downloads, because that is where new files land. If you keep work in one project folder, pick that. Your home folder, the one with your name, is a good neutral choice that shows Desktop, Documents and Downloads one click away.

Why does Finder still open to a different folder sometimes?

The setting covers new windows made with ⌘ N or by clicking Finder with no window open. Opening a folder from the desktop, from Spotlight or from another app goes straight to that folder instead.

How do I jump to a folder from anywhere?

In Finder, the Go menu has shortcuts for the common ones: ⌥ ⌘ L for Downloads, ⇧ ⌘ H for your home folder, ⇧ ⌘ D for Desktop and ⇧ ⌘ O for Documents. ⇧ ⌘ G takes any path.

Tidy the sidebar while you are in Finder Settings: how to customise the Finder sidebar. Or set how folders look: the default Finder view.

Checked on 22 October 2026 on a MacBook Air (M1) running macOS 27.0.1: the label New Finder windows show was read from Finder's own settings.