A file path tells you exactly where a file or folder is stored on your Mac. For example, a path might look like this:
Macintosh HD > Users > YourName > Documents > Project
The easiest way to show a file path in Finder is to turn on the Path Bar. Open a Finder window, choose View > Show Path Bar, and Finder will display the selected item’s location at the bottom of the window.
You can also view a path from the Finder title bar, open a file’s details with Get Info, copy the full pathname, or reveal the item’s containing folder.
Quick Answer: Show the Path Bar in Finder
- Open Finder.
- Open the folder containing the file or folder.
- Choose View > Show Path Bar from the menu bar.
- Select an item in the Finder window.
The path to the selected item appears at the bottom of the Finder window. Click any folder in the Path Bar to open that location.
The Path Bar remains visible in Finder windows until you hide it. To hide it later, choose View > Hide Path Bar.
Use the Finder Path Bar
The Path Bar is the most convenient way to see where an item is located while browsing files. It shows the hierarchy from the Mac’s storage drive or another location down to the selected file or folder.
Turn on the Path Bar
- Click the Finder icon in the Dock.
- Open a Finder window if one is not already open.
- Choose View in the menu bar.
- Select Show Path Bar.
- Click a file or folder.
The location appears along the bottom of the window. Depending on the window’s width, Finder may shorten or hide some folder names. If that happens, make the window wider or use another method described below.
Open a folder from the Path Bar
You can use the Path Bar to move to any parent folder—the folder that contains the current item.
- Select a file or folder in Finder.
- Locate its path at the bottom of the window.
- Double-click a folder in the path to open it.
You can also Control-click a folder in the Path Bar to see additional options, such as opening it in a new window or copying its name.
Copy a folder from the Path Bar
To copy a folder’s location or use it elsewhere:
- Control-click the folder in the Path Bar.
- Look for an option related to copying or opening the folder.
- Choose the available copy option.
The exact options can vary depending on whether you select a file, folder, drive, or network location. If you need the complete pathname as text, use the dedicated copying method below.
Show the Path from Finder’s Title Bar
Finder can display a menu containing the current folder’s location in the title bar. This is useful when you want to inspect the hierarchy without leaving the current view.
- Open a Finder window.
- Hold down the Command key.
- Click the current folder’s name or icon in the Finder title bar.
A menu opens showing the folder hierarchy. Select any parent folder to open it.
For example, if you are viewing a folder inside Documents, the title-bar menu may show the folders above it, including your home folder and the storage drive.
This method shows the path for the folder currently displayed in the Finder window. To see the location of a specific file inside that folder, select the file and use the Path Bar, Get Info, or the copy-path shortcut.
Use Get Info to See a File’s Location
The Get Info window displays information about a file or folder, including its location.
- In Finder, select the file or folder.
- Choose File > Get Info.
- Find the Where line in the information window.
The Where field shows the folder containing the selected item. It does not always present the location in the same visual format as the Finder Path Bar, but it is useful when you need to confirm where an item is stored.
You can also open Get Info with this keyboard shortcut:
Command-I
To close the Get Info window, click its red close button or press Command-W while the window is active. Closing the window does not affect the file.
Copy a File Path on Mac
If you need to paste a file’s location into an email, document, support request, or another app, use Finder’s Copy as Pathname command.
- Open Finder.
- Select the file or folder.
- Hold down the Option key.
- Choose Edit > Copy “item name” as Pathname.
The wording includes the selected item’s name. For example, if you select a file named Report.pdf, the command may appear as Copy “Report.pdf” as Pathname.
You can then paste the path into another app:
- Open the destination app.
- Place the insertion point where you want the path.
- Press Command-V.
The pasted result is the item’s full pathname rather than only its name.
Use the keyboard shortcut to copy a pathname
After selecting a file or folder in Finder, press:
Option-Command-C
This copies the selected item’s pathname to the clipboard. Switch to another app and press Command-V to paste it.
If the shortcut does not work, select the item again and confirm that Finder is the active app. You can also hold Option and open the Edit menu to verify that the pathname command is available.
Copy a path without opening the file
Selecting an item and copying its pathname does not open it. This is useful for files that you want to reference but not launch.
Be careful not to confuse Copy as Pathname with ordinary Copy. Standard copying prepares the item for duplication or moving in Finder. Copying a pathname copies text that describes the item’s location.
Reveal a File’s Containing Folder
Sometimes you do not need to copy the path—you simply need to find the folder that contains a file.
Reveal the file in Finder
If a file is open in another app, or you can locate it through a search result, use Show in Finder when available.
From Finder or another app:
- Select the file.
- Choose File > Show in Finder, if that command is available.
- Finder opens the folder containing the item and selects it.
The command’s availability depends on the app and the context. For example, it may appear when you select a downloaded file, a search result, or an attachment.
Use Spotlight to reveal a file
You can also search for a file with Spotlight and reveal it in Finder:
- Press Command-Space to open Spotlight.
- Enter the file’s name.
- Select the result.
- Use the available option to show the item in Finder, or press Command-R when supported.
Finder opens the containing folder and highlights the file. From there, turn on the Path Bar or use Option-Command-C to copy its pathname.
Reveal a file from an open app
Many Mac apps include a File menu with a command such as Show in Finder or Reveal in Finder. The exact wording varies by app.
If you see a file’s name in a document window or an Open dialog, Control-clicking the item may also reveal an option to show it in Finder. These commands do not move or modify the file; they open its current location.
Useful Finder Keyboard Shortcuts
These shortcuts can help you inspect file locations more quickly:
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open a new Finder window | Command-N |
| Open Get Info | Command-I |
| Copy the selected item’s pathname | Option-Command-C |
| Paste copied text or a pathname | Command-V |
| Open the Go to Folder window | Shift-Command-G |
| Search with Spotlight | Command-Space |
| Close the active Finder window | Command-W |
Go directly to a known folder path
If you already know part or all of a folder’s location, use Finder’s Go to Folder command:
- Open Finder.
- Choose Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter the folder path.
- Press Return.
You can also press Shift-Command-G to open the window directly.
For example, entering this path takes you to the Documents folder in your home folder:
~/Documents
The tilde (~) is a shortcut representing your home folder. If you paste a pathname copied from Finder, Finder can use it to navigate to that location.
Show a Path When the Path Bar Looks Incomplete
The Path Bar may not show every folder name if the Finder window is narrow. Try these solutions:
- Make the Finder window wider.
- Select the file or folder again.
- Control-click a folder in the Path Bar to inspect available options.
- Hold Command and click the current folder name in the title bar.
- Open Get Info and check the Where field.
- Copy the complete pathname with Option-Command-C.
The path can also be less obvious for files stored on external drives, network volumes, cloud-storage folders, or locations managed by another app. In those cases, the drive or service name may appear at the beginning of the path.
Troubleshooting
“Show Path Bar” is missing
Make sure Finder is the active app. Click a Finder window, then open the View menu again. Finder’s menu commands change depending on which app is active.
The Path Bar is visible, but no path appears
Select a file or folder in the Finder window. The Path Bar usually needs an item to be selected before it can show that item’s complete location.
If you are viewing a special Finder location, such as a search or a system-generated view, the path may not behave like a standard folder path. Try selecting the result and opening Get Info.
The copied path will not paste
Select the item again, then press Option-Command-C. Switch to the destination app and press Command-V.
If nothing pastes, the destination app may not accept text in the current field, or the Finder window may not be active when you use the shortcut.
The path contains unusual characters
File paths can include spaces, punctuation, and other characters from the file or folder names. Do not remove or change those characters unless you are deliberately editing the path for a specific purpose.
When pasting a path into an app, include the entire pathname. A missing folder name or character can point to a different location or cause Finder to report that the item cannot be found.
I cannot find the original folder
Use Get Info to check the Where field, or select the file and choose File > Show in Finder when available. If the file was moved, renamed, deleted, or stored on a disconnected external drive, its previous path may no longer be valid.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest way to show a file path on a Mac?
Turn on Finder’s Path Bar with View > Show Path Bar, then select the file. The path appears at the bottom of the Finder window.
How do I copy a file path in macOS?
Select the file in Finder and press Option-Command-C. Then paste the pathname with Command-V. You can also hold Option and choose Edit > Copy “[item name]” as Pathname.
Can I see a file path without opening the file?
Yes. Select the file in Finder and use the Path Bar, Get Info, or the pathname-copy shortcut. These actions do not open the selected file.
How do I find the folder containing a file?
Select the file and choose File > Show in Finder when that command is available. You can also use Spotlight to locate the file, then reveal it in Finder.
What is the difference between a file name and a file path?
A file name identifies the item, such as Photo.jpg. A file path identifies its complete location, including the drive and all folders that contain it.
Can I show paths for folders as well as files?
Yes. Finder can show the path to both files and folders. Select the folder and use the Path Bar, title-bar path menu, Get Info, or Copy as Pathname.
How do I hide the Finder Path Bar?
In Finder, choose View > Hide Path Bar. This changes only Finder’s display and does not affect your files.
Final Thoughts
For everyday use, the Finder Path Bar is the simplest way to show a file path on Mac. Use the title-bar path menu to move through parent folders, Get Info to confirm an item’s location, and Option-Command-C when you need to copy the complete pathname into another app. If you only need to locate a file, use Show in Finder to open its containing folder.