How to make Finder open folders in tabs instead of new windows

Stop Finder covering the screen with windows: open folders in tabs, merge open windows into one, and the setting that makes every app prefer tabs.

Guide · Updated 16 October 2026

How do I open folders in tabs in Finder?

Choose Finder, Settings, General, and tick Open folders in tabs instead of new windows. Folders you open with ⌘ and double click then open as tabs. A plain double click opens the folder in the same window.

How do I combine Finder windows into one?

With a Finder window in front, choose Window, Merge All Windows. Every open Finder window becomes a tab in one window. See merging windows into tabs.

How do I make every app open documents in tabs?

System Settings, Desktop & Dock, Prefer tabs when opening documents: Always, In Full Screen or Never. On our Mac it was set to Never (manual in its settings file). Set it to Always and apps that support tabs open new documents as tabs.

What are the Finder tab shortcuts?

ToPress
New tab⌘ T
Next and previous tab⌃ Tab and ⌃ ⇧ Tab
Close tab⌘ W
Show the tab bar⌘ ⇧ T

Tabs or windows in general: tabs against windows.

Checked on 16 October 2026 on a MacBook Air (M1) running macOS 27.0.1, by reading its settings and the labels in System Settings. Nothing was changed.

Questions

How do I stop Finder opening new windows?

Finder, Settings, General, tick Open folders in tabs instead of new windows.

How do I merge Finder windows on Mac?

Choose Window, Merge All Windows with a Finder window in front.

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