How to copy a path to a file or a folder in Mac OS

With new Mac OS updates more and more new features become available. Many users were waiting for the opportunity to copy the path to the file or folder in just a couple of clicks and after the release of the update named El Capitan it finally became possible. Previously, it was much more difficult to copy, despite the fact that such a need quite often arises during active work with the Mac OS operating system.

How to copy a path to a file or a folder in Mac OS

If you need to copy the full path to a certain file, first you are going to need to open this file in Finder. This can be done by clicking on the icon in the lower dock, or on the desktop in the top menu by selecting “File” – “New Finder window”. Another option to open a new window in the Finder is to use the keyboard shortcut Command + N.

After opening the Finder, go to the needed file. It is worth noting that you can use the search in the corner of the Finder window, for example, if you do not know exactly where the file is located.

After reaching the desired file you need to right-click on it to display the context menu. You can also call it if you hold down the Ctrl key and left-click on the file. In the context menu, locate the “Copy” line, which will contain the name of the file or folder that you want to copy.

Next, hold down the Option (Alt) button on the keyboard, and you will notice that in the context menu, where you had previously proposed to copy the file, the line “Copy … as a pathname” appears, followed by the name of this file or folder. You need to click on this menu item.

After that, the file path will be copied to your clipboard.

In order to insert this path in any application, just press the Cmd + V key combination on the keyboard.