Terminal Tips: Enable "path view" in Finder

When you open a Finder window and start browsing to a folder, do you lose track of the path to that folder? If you do, the Terminal command below will enable path view in the Finder -- this means that you will see the directory path to the current folder you are browsing in the title bar, instead of only seeing the name of the current directory.

To make directory paths visible atop Finder windows, open Terminal.app (/Applications/Utilities/) and type the following command:

defaults write com.apple.finder _FXShowPosixPathInTitle -bool YES
Once you run the above command, you will also need to restart the Finder, so you can either type "killall Finder" and hit return, or use the Force Quit option under the Apple menu to relaunch it. The Finder will restart, and you will start seeing the paths to directories in the title bar.

Update: As some have pointed out in the comments below, this Terminal command will only work with Mac OS X Leopard (version 10.5).
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When you open a Finder window and start browsing to a folder, do you lose track of the path to that folder? If you do, the Terminal...

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HandyMac

This can also be done in the freeware tool OnyX, as can the latest Terminal Tip, showing the Address Book Debug menu.

December 06 2008 at 10:28 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

dinobots

Nice tips this is all i need.

December 06 2008 at 12:36 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Jackbob

Best terminal tip ever.... seriously, this is one of those things that makes life easier.

December 05 2008 at 10:09 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

mrchin

I'd rather not have the elongated path view. Much easier without a command and better viewing method for anyone would be to do the following.

Just Command (ï£¿) Click on the Title in your Finder window and you get a menu drop down with the path.

December 05 2008 at 9:51 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Rolf

Great tip. This is better than View > Show Path Bar because it doesn't waste space with all those stupid folder icons! Once you go down more than one or two levels all you see is icons and triangles, whereas a Posix path is a lot more useful and compact.

Shame you can't get the Finder to show search results using Posix paths too.

December 05 2008 at 9:03 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Chris McIntyre (theferf)

Brilliant! I am one of those people who always wants to know where I am when browsing and searching files.

December 05 2008 at 7:56 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Edie

What about us poor schmucks running 10.4?

Upgrade? Not. An. Option. I'm unemployed, and have NO money.

December 05 2008 at 6:40 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Edie's comment

James

Clearly

December 06 2008 at 3:34 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Luigi193