2 min read MacOS

How to Make Finder Windows Larger on macOS

How to Make Finder Windows Larger on macOS

Here's a quick guide to controlling Finder window size, position, and view settings on your Mac.

Quick Ways to Resize a Finder Window

  • Option + double-click any edge of a Finder window to auto-expand it to fill the screen in that direction.
  • Hold Option (⌥) and click the green button (top-left corner) to zoom the window to fit its contents.
  • Click the green button normally to expand the window to full screen.

Set a Larger Default Size for All New Windows

  1. Open a new Finder window.
  2. Drag the corners/edges to your preferred large size.
  3. Hold Command (⌘) while closing the window (click the red button) to save the preference.
  4. Next time you open Finder, it will launch at your customized size.

Permanently Save View Settings

To set your preferred folder layout (Icon, List, or Column view) across all folders:

  1. With your Finder window open, go to View → Show View Options (or press Command + J).
  2. Click Use as Defaults to apply that size and layout to every folder on your Mac.

How Finder Remembers Windows & Settings

Finder tracks three things independently:

1. Window Size & Position

Position data is saved per location (e.g., the Documents folder), not per window. If you reopen a window to the same folder, Finder restores the last-used position and size.

2. Folder View Mode

The view you're browsing (Icon, List, or Column) is remembered per folder. However, opening a new Finder window uses a universal default — whatever view mode was last used when opening a new window.

3. View Options Per Folder

In Show View Options (Command + J), you'll see two settings:

  • Always Open In — overrides the default for this specific folder.
  • Browse In — used when you double-click into a subfolder while already browsing.

Pro Tips

  • Open folders in new windows instead of tabs: Command + double-click a folder, or Control-click → Open in New Window.
  • Keep one Finder window open at all times and use Tabs for different folders — this avoids the frustration of Finder resetting window sizes and positions every time you open a new one.
  • Hide the toolbar (View → Hide Toolbar) if you prefer the classic Finder behavior where every double-click opens a new window — though the toolbar is generally more useful.
  • Use View → Show View Options to fine-tune icon size, sorting, and other display settings per folder.

Based on content from MacMost.com.