How To Copy A File Path On Mac In 6 Ways [Quick & Easy]

Have you ever needed to share or use the file path of a document, folder, or image on your Mac but didn’t know how to copy it?

Knowing how to copy the path of files and folders on a Mac can save you time and effort. Fortunately, macOS offers several simple ways to grab the full path of a file or folder quickly.

In this article, we’ll walk you through 6 easy methods to copy file paths.

Ready to make file management on your Mac smoother? Let’s dive in!

Why copy a file path?

Copying file paths on a Mac is a quick and efficient way to share the exact location of a file or folder within the file system.

This can be especially helpful when you need to reference files in Terminal commands, locate files for software or development purposes, or simply share the file path with others.

By copying the complete path, you ensure that the recipient knows precisely where the file is stored.

Additionally, being able to copy file locations streamlines tasks like navigating directories, moving files, or linking assets in various applications, saving time and reducing errors.

How to copy a file path on Mac?

Knowing how to copy file paths on Mac can save you time and simplify your workflow.

Below, we’ll explore multiple easy and efficient ways to get the full file path of any file or folder on macOS so you can choose the method that best suits your needs.

Now, let’s get into it!

Use Finder’s context menu to “copy path”

One of the easiest ways to copy path on Mac is through the Finder window using the context menu.

It’s quick and straightforward, requiring just a couple of clicks.

1. Open Finder and navigate to the file or folder whose path you want to copy.
2. Right-click (or Control-click) on the file or folder to open the context menu.
3. Hold down the Option key to reveal the hidden option. See how the standard Copy option changes.
4. Click Copy [filename] as Pathname to copy the file path to your clipboard.
5. Paste the copied path wherever you need it.

This method is the most intuitive for Mac users who prefer to work within the Finder and offers a quick way to access the complete path without any fuss.

Copy a file path with the Path Bar in Finder

Finder provides many efficient ways that you can use to find file path on your Mac.

1. Open a new Finder window and select View from the menu bar.
2. Choose Show Path Bar to enable a bar at the bottom of each Finder window.

3. Navigate to the file or folder in Finder, and the entire folder path will appear at the bottom of the window.

4. Right-click on the path bar to copy any part of the directory path that you need. The copied pathname will be the complete path to the file or folder.

This method provides a clear, visual way to navigate through folders and select the exact location of any file or folder, making it an excellent option if you want to understand the file system hierarchy while working.

Use the Get Info window to copy any items path

Another simple method to find file path on your Mac computer is using the Info window.

This option is built into macOS and offers more detailed information about any file or folder.

1. Open Finder and locate the file or folder you want.
2. Select the file, then press Command + I to open the Get Info window. You can also show the right-click menu and select Get Info.

3. In the General section, you’ll see the Where field which shows the path name to the enclosing folder.

4. Copy the folder path to your clipboard, then add the file name to get the complete item path.

This approach is helpful for those who prefer to manually extract the file path while also checking other details, such as file size or permissions, in the Info window.

Copy file paths with the Terminal app

For users who regularly use Terminal, copying a file path through drag and drop is a quick and efficient way to get the full file path without typing it manually.

1. Open Terminal by going to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
2. Open Finder and locate the file or folder whose path you want to copy.
3. Drag the file or folder from Finder and drop it into the Terminal window.
4. The full path will automatically appear in the command line of Terminal.

This approach is excellent for users who are comfortable with Terminal and want a fast way to transfer a file path without manually navigating through folders.

Use the Go to Folder to copy a file path

The Go to Folder feature in Finder allows you to easily copy the file path by dragging a file or folder into a dialog box.

1. In Finder, click on Go in the menu bar and select Go to Folder… or press Command + Shift + G.
2. Once the dialog box opens, click the [X] button to clear the current path.
3. Drag the file or folder from Finder into the search bar.

4. The complete file path of the file or folder will automatically appear.
5. Copy the displayed file path from the text box and paste it wherever needed.

This method is handy when you want to access or share a file path without hunting through directories.

Create an Automator Service to copy file path

For those who prefer automation, creating a custom Automator service can make copying file paths a one-click action. This service will appear in your Finder‘s context menu and save you time in the future.

1. Open Automator from Applications > Automator.
2. Create a new Quick Action and set it to receive selected files or folders in Finder.
3. Search for the Copy to Clipboard action from the Library and add it to the workflow.

4. Save the service with a name like Copy File Path.

5. Now, when you right-click on any file or folder, you’ll see the service in the Quick Actions section of the context menu.

This method is excellent for Mac users who frequently need to copy file paths and want to speed up their workflow with a simple custom tool.

Conclusion

Copying a file path on a Mac is an essential task for both everyday users and those working in more technical environments.

There are plenty of ways to copy file paths on Mac OS. Choose the method that best fits your workflow, and soon, you’ll be copying file and folder paths in no time.

Each method offers something unique, ensuring that you have the right tool for the task, whether you need a quick copy or prefer something more automated for long-term use.