How to select multiple files at once on Mac

Here's how to select multiple files at once on a Mac.

Select multiple contiguous files

If the files you want to select are in a particular sequence or list, selecting them all is easy.

First, open Finder and navigate to the folder containing the files you want to select.

If you're applying the Icons view in Finder, you'll have to change it to List, Columns, or Gallery. (This method does not work in Icons view). To make changes, at the top of the Finder window, click the square icon (with the little squares inside) and choose 'As List,' 'As Columns,' or 'As Gallery'.

Now that the Finder layout is in List, Columns, or Gallery view, click on the first file to select it.

Next, hold down the Shift key on your keyboard, then click the last file in the folder.

Immediately, Finder will select all the files in the middle (including the first and last) in the list.

Select non-contiguous files

If the files you want to select are scattered in different locations in the folder, there is still a way to select them all.

Start by opening the folder containing the files you want to select in Finder. Then click on the first file you need to select.

Press and hold the Command key on your Mac keyboard, then click another file that you want to select.

Both of these files are now selected. To select more files, simply hold down the Command key and click on each file you want to select.

Select multiple files with mouse or trackpad

First, open the folder containing the files you want to select in Finder.

In a Finder window, click the mouse pointer anywhere in the empty space, then drag the pointer over the files you want to select.

Immediately, the files that you have dragged the cursor over will be selected.

Select all files in a folder

Start by opening the folder containing the files you want to select in Finder.

Next, press Command + A to select all existing files in the folder. Or you can also navigate to Finder's menu bar and click Edit > Select All.

All existing files in the folder will be selected.

Hope you are succesful.

Micah Soto

Update 01 October 2021