How to Select multiple files on Mac

Selecting multiple files on your Mac can help you perform tasks like moving, copying, or deleting multiple items at once. Whether you’re organizing your files, sending multiple items, or deleting clutter, macOS offers various ways to select multiple files efficiently.

1. Select Multiple Consecutive Files (Click and Drag)

If the files you want to select are located next to each other in a list or grid view:

Steps:

1. Open Finder or the folder containing the files.
2. Click and hold the left mouse button or trackpad on the first file.
3. Drag the cursor over the other files to highlight them.
4. Release the mouse or trackpad once the desired files are selected.

2. Select Multiple Non-Consecutive Files (Command + Click)

To select files that are not next to each other:

Steps:

1. Open the folder containing your files.
2. Hold down the Command (⌘) key.
3. Click on each file you want to select.
4. Release the Command (⌘) key once all the desired files are selected.

3. Select a Range of Files (Shift + Click)

To select a continuous range of files:

Steps:

1. Open the folder containing your files.
2. Click on the first file in the range.
3. Hold down the Shift key.
4. Click on the last file in the range.
5. All files between the first and last file will be selected.

4. Select All Files in a Folder (Command + A)

To select every file in a folder:

Steps:

1. Open the folder in Finder.
2. Press Command (⌘) + A on your keyboard.
3. All files in the folder will be highlighted.

5. Use the Finder Search Bar

If you want to select files based on specific criteria (like name or type):

Steps:

1. Open Finder and navigate to the desired folder.
2. Use the Search Bar in the top-right corner to filter files (e.g., type “PDF” for PDF files).
3. Use Command (⌘) + A or Command (⌘) + Click to select the filtered files.

6. Selecting Files with Click and Keyboard Navigation

To select multiple files using your keyboard:

Steps:

1. Use your arrow keys to navigate through the files.
2. Hold down the Shift key and press the Arrow Down/Up keys to select consecutive files.
3. To skip files, hold Command (⌘) and use the arrow keys, clicking on files as needed.

7. Deselect Files

If you accidentally select a file you don’t want:

• Hold down the Command (⌘) key and click on the unwanted file to deselect it.

FAQs

1. Can I select files across multiple folders?

No, Finder doesn’t allow selecting files across multiple folders directly. You can copy files from different folders into one folder and then select them.

2. How do I select files with the same type?

Use Finder’s Search Bar to filter by file type (e.g., PDFs, images) and then select the files using Command (⌘) + A or Command (⌘) + Click.

3. Can I select files using only the keyboard?

Yes, use the Arrow Keys to navigate and hold Shift or Command (⌘) to select multiple files.

4. What if I want to deselect all selected files?

Click anywhere in the folder outside of the selected files, or press Command (⌘) + Click on selected files to deselect them one by one.

Tips for Selecting Multiple Files

• View Options: Switch between List View, Icon View, or Column View in Finder for easier file selection.
• Smart Folders: Use Smart Folders in Finder to automatically group files based on criteria like date, type, or tags.
• Trackpad Gestures: If you use a MacBook, dragging with the trackpad offers precise file selection.

By mastering these methods, you can efficiently manage and organize your files on macOS. Happy file handling!