Finder navigation guide
How to go up one folder on Mac
Press Command–Up Arrow in Finder to open the folder containing the current folder. That is different from going back in history. SADFinder maps the parent-folder action to Backspace.
Quick answer
Press Command–Up Arrow in Finder to open the folder containing the current folder. That is different from going back in history. SADFinder maps the parent-folder action to Backspace.
Open the parent folder in Finder
- Make the Finder window active
Click the window or switch to Finder with Command–Tab.
- Press Command–Up Arrow
Finder opens the folder that contains the current folder.
- Use Command–Left Bracket only for history
That shortcut goes to the previously viewed folder, which is not always the parent.
Parent folder and previous folder are not the same
The parent is determined by the path: the parent of ~/Documents/Projects is ~/Documents. Back history depends on where you navigated before, so it might lead to an unrelated folder.
Apple calls the parent action 'open the folder that contains the current folder' and assigns it to Command–Up Arrow. The Go menu also exposes Enclosing Folder.
Use Backspace to go up
SADFinder assigns Backspace to the parent-folder action, matching Windows File Explorer muscle memory. It does not merely replay navigation history.
The editable path bar also lets you jump directly to any ancestor or type a completely different path.
| Action | Finder | SADFinder |
|---|---|---|
| Open parent folder | Command–Up Arrow | Backspace |
| Go back in history | Command–[ | Command–[ |
| Go forward in history | Command–] | Command–] |
Native Mac reference: Apple: Mac keyboard shortcuts.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the shortcut for the parent folder on Mac?
Press Command–Up Arrow in Finder.
Why doesn't Backspace go up in Finder?
Finder does not assign Backspace to parent-folder navigation. Use Command–Up Arrow, or use a file manager such as SADFinder that supports Backspace for this action.
Is Command-[ the same as going up?
No. Command–[ goes back in navigation history. Command–Up Arrow always opens the folder containing the current folder.