Finder Is File Explorer With Its Own Superpowers

Finder is the Mac version of Windows’ File Explorer, but the layout and navigation style can feel a bit jarring at first. The sidebar is your friend here, as it can show your most-used locations like Downloads, Applications, iCloud Drive, external drives, and network locations.

Where Finder really shines is in how flexible the views are. List view will feel familiar, but Column view is where Windows users often have an “aha moment.” You can drill through folders quickly without opening a stack of separate windows.

If you feel lost, start by learning a few Finder basics and customizing the sidebar so it matches your workflow. 

For instance, start by opening Finder, which you can do by clicking the smiling face icon in the Dock. Next, use the sidebar to jump to common locations like Downloads and Applications. 

Also, try the view buttons at the top to switch between List, Column, and Grid. You can further customize your Finder experience by changing the way the toolbar looks. Simply click on View > Customize Toolbar. Play around with the settings to find your perfect layout.