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On a Mac, a folder shortcut is usually called an alias. It opens the original folder from another convenient location—such as your desktop—without moving the folder itself.
What a Mac folder shortcut means
Apple describes an alias as “a shortcut to an item on your Mac.” When you open one, the original item opens. That makes an alias a convenient route to a particular folder, rather than a second copy of its contents. Apple’s guide to creating and removing aliases explains how they work.
Create an alias for a folder
Use Finder’s menu
- In Finder, select the folder.
- Choose File > Make Alias.
- Move the new alias to the place you want to access it, such as the desktop.
The original folder stays where it is; moving the alias does not move the original.
Create an alias while dragging
Hold Option-Command while dragging the folder to the destination, such as the desktop or another folder. This creates an alias there. You can make multiple aliases for the same folder. Dragging without the modifier keys can move the folder, while holding Option alone copies it; Apple distinguishes these actions in its guide to organizing files in folders.
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Put a folder within quick reach
Finder sidebar
Drag the folder to the Finder sidebar’s Favorites section to add a quick-access entry. To remove it, drag the entry out of the sidebar; this removes the alias, not the original folder. To find the original in Finder, Control-click the sidebar entry and choose Show in Enclosing Folder. See Apple’s instructions for customizing the Finder sidebar.
Dock
Drag the folder to the Dock to add a quick-access entry. To remove it, drag it out of the Dock. Control-click the Dock entry and choose Options > Show in Finder to locate the original. These sidebar and Dock entries are aliases to the original, as described in Apple’s alias guide.
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Alias or Smart Folder?
Use an alias when you want a convenient route to one known folder. A Smart Folder serves a different purpose: it automatically gathers documents that match criteria you set. Choose an alias for direct access to a specific folder, or a Smart Folder for a changing collection of matching items. Apple describes both options in its guide to quickly seeing items in Finder.
Quick Recap
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