How to Change the Default Folder for New Finder Windows on Mac

When you open a new window in macOS Finder by clicking its Dock icon or pressing Command + N, macOS navigates directly to a predefined default directory. By default, fresh macOS installations point new Finder windows to Recents. While Recents provides an aggregated stream of recently opened or edited documents, many users find it cluttered or inefficient for file navigation. Pointing Finder directly to your Home folder, Documents, Downloads, Desktop, or a custom project repository saves unnecessary clicks and streamlines everyday desktop workflows.

Customising this startup location takes only seconds within Finder Preferences (known as Finder Settings in modern macOS versions such as macOS Sonoma and macOS Sequoia). This tutorial walks you through setting your favourite startup folder and configuring Finder behaviour across your Mac.

How to Select a Default Startup Folder in Finder Settings

To configure which directory appears whenever you launch a fresh Finder window, follow these steps:

1. Activate Finder by clicking the Finder icon on the far left of your Dock, or by clicking anywhere on your empty desktop background.
2. Click Finder in the top menu bar in the upper-left corner of your display.
3. Select Settings… (or Preferences… on older macOS releases), or press the keyboard shortcut Command + Comma (Cmd + ,).
4. Ensure the General tab is selected at the top of the settings window.
5. Locate the section labelled New Finder windows show:.
6. Click the drop-down menu, which displays Recents by default.
7. Choose one of the common pre-populated locations from the list, such as Desktop, Documents, your personal user account folder (represented by a home icon), or iCloud Drive.

How to Set a Custom Directory as Your Default Finder Location

If you prefer Finder to open a specific project folder, an external volume, or a designated work repository that is not listed in the standard drop-down options:

1. Open Finder > Settings > General as outlined above.
2. Click the New Finder windows show: drop-down menu.
3. Select Other… at the bottom of the list.
4. In the navigation dialogue that appears, browse to the exact folder you wish to designate as your primary workspace.
5. Click Choose to confirm your selection.
6. Close the Finder Settings dialogue by clicking the red traffic-light button in the top-left corner.

Testing Your New Finder Window Configuration

Once you have selected your preferred location, test the updated configuration:

1. Press Command + N while Finder is active, or right-click the Finder icon in your Dock and select New Finder Window.
2. Verify that your designated folder opens immediately as the root view.
3. Note that opening a new tab inside an existing Finder window using Command + T may inherit your active directory or duplicate your default setting depending on your tab configuration.

Managing Tabs Instead of Separate Windows

In addition to setting your startup folder, you can configure whether Finder opens folders in separate standalone windows or as clean tabs within a single unified window. Under Finder > Settings > General, tick or untick Open folders in tabs instead of new windows. Keeping tabs enabled prevents multiple cluttered windows from stacking across your desktop workspace.