4 Ways to Select Multiple Files on a Mac [Quick Tip]

Mac users can store various files on their devices, including photos, documents, music, apps, and more. If you want to perform a specific action on these files, like copying or moving them, you need to select them first. Do you know how to select multiple files on a Mac?

Whether your answer is “yes” or “no,” this article will guide you through selecting files from a given folder location, whether it's adjacent or not. Read on for quick tips!

How to Select Multiple Files on a Mac

OS X provides several convenient ways to select the files and folders you want to work with. You can select contiguous and noncontiguous files, the first and last file, and all files in a particular volume. Here's how.

Fix 1: How to Select Multiple Adjacent and Non-adjacent Files In the Windows operating system, you can use the following methods to select multiple adjacent or non-adjacent files: 1. **Selecting Adjacent Files**: - Hold down the `Shift` key and then click the first and last file you want to select with your mouse. This will choose all files between them. 2. **Selecting Non-Adjacent Files**: - Hold down the `Ctrl` key and then click each file individually that you want to select. This allows you to choose non-consecutive files. 3. **Using Mouse Dragging in File Explorer**: - For adjacent files, hold down the left mouse button and drag across the file list to select a range of files. - For non-adjacent files, press and hold the `Ctrl` key while dragging your mouse over the files you want to select. This method might require a newer version of Windows. 4. **Using Keyboard Shortcuts**: - If you know the order of the files, use the `Arrow` keys to move the cursor, then press `Ctrl + A` to select all, followed by `Ctrl + Shift + Arrow Key` to deselect unwanted selections. These methods apply to most file managers and desktop operating environments, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. On mobile devices, the approach might differ, but there are usually similar selection mechanisms available.

On a Mac, contiguous files refer to files that follow each other sequentially. On the other hand, non-contiguous files are those located in the same folder or drive position but not in immediate succession. The Mac allows you to select files in both scenarios using keyboard shortcuts.

To select multiple adjacent files, do this:

Step 1: Open Finder and locate the position of the file you want to select.

Step 2: Click the square icon at the top of the Finder window. Set the view to “List,” “Columns,” or “Gallery.”

Step 3: Click on the first file in the list of files you want to select.

Click on the first file.

Step 4: Hold down the Shift key, then click the last file in the list. This will select all of the files in the list, from the first to the last one.

Please press and hold the Shift key.

To select non-contiguous files on a Mac, do the following:

Step 1: Open Finder and navigate to your folder location.

Step 2: Click on the first file you want to select.

Click on the first file.

Step 3. Then, hold down the Command key.

Step 4: Click another file that isn't next to the first one to add it to your selection. Hold down the Command key while doing this to select all remaining files. You've now selected all non-consecutive files.

Fix 2: How to Select All Files on Mac

To quickly select all files within a specific folder, use the keyboard shortcut Command+A. First, open the folder location containing the files you want to select. Then, press Command+A on your keyboard, and all files, whether it's 100 or just 5, will be selected at once. This is one of the easiest ways to select files.

Select all files

Fix 3: How to select the first and last file

Sometimes, you may need to select multiple files from top to bottom. You can do this with the “top and bottom file” trick. Click the file at the top of the list, hold Shift, and click the last file. This will select them all quickly.

Select the first and last one

It will automatically select all files in between, including the first and last one. It will also highlight the selected files.

Tip: Drag with your mouse to select the file you want.

In addition to the three solutions above, you can also select multiple files on Mac by dragging the mouse. The steps are as follows:

Step 1: Navigate to your file location.

Step 2: Click on a blank area with your mouse.

Click in the blank area

Step 3. Drag your mouse over the files you want to select. The Finder should automatically select all of the files your mouse passes over.

Drag the mouse to select the area.

Conclusions

The easiest way to select multiple files on a Mac is by using keyboard shortcuts. You can use the Shift key to select consecutive files, and the Command key to choose non-consecutive files. In both cases, you'll need to click the first file first. Additionally, to select all files within a specific folder at once, press Command + A.

To select files from the top to the bottom of a list, click the first file, then hold down the Shift key and click the last file. On a Mac, you can also use your mouse to select multiple files. Click in a blank area, then drag your mouse over the files you want to select. Was this helpful? If so, remember to apply the solution here and share this article with others.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Some common questions about selecting multiple files on a Mac include:

**How to Move Multiple Files on a Mac**

Press Command+A to select all of the files. Right-click on them, and click “New Folder with Selection.” This will move all of the files into a new folder.

**Why can't I drag multiple files on my Mac?**

Drag and drop functionality can stop working on a Mac for a variety of reasons, including connectivity issues with your mouse, dirt buildup on the trackpad, system updates, or new app installations. You can resolve these issues by reconnecting your mouse, cleaning your trackpad, or restoring your Mac to its state before a system update.

**3. How do I copy and paste multiple files at once?**

You can do so by following these steps:

1. Navigate to the folder containing the files you want to move, then press Command+A to select all of them. 2. Press Command+C to copy the files. 3. Go to the location where you want to paste the files, and then press Command+Option+V. This will paste all the files into the new location.