In this article, I’m guiding you that Why is my finder not working? on macOS Ventura or earlier fix all apps quit unexpectedly mac. Let’s see here resolving the finder problem on mac like a Pro guide. It is very irritable when the major functions stop responding as Finer quit unexpectedly and creates a different kind of trouble. Some of the users recently reported that the finder is not working after updating to Mac, finder keeps crashing randomly, finder search not working, or Finder Works Slow, and much more.
Luckily, there are straightforward steps that can fix the finder not responding issue quickly and reliably. We have listed the workarounds as per your problems with the finder to sincerely follow the steps and don’t end up in a bad situation.
Solved Finder not Responding on Mac Computer
Finder is slow but working, Suddenly Stopped After Not Responding
Solution #1: Check Mac Storage if mac finder freezes at startup
How do I fix the finder quit unexpectedly? Follow The storage requirement of Mac is at least 20% if you really want to enjoy it. Otherwise, you will have to face every day a new issue. So before making space on Mac, you must check out the storage.
- Step #1: Click on the “Apple” logo.
- Step #2: Now, click on “About This Mac”.
- Step #3: There you will find “Storage”, which is indicated by different colors.
So if you are out of storage in Mac then go for optimizing the storage.
- Step #4: Click on “Manage” and then select any of the options, which are suitable for you.
Solution #2: Spotlight is indexing
- Frequently it happens when you are transferring huge files to the Mac after restoring the Mac or updating to the latest version.
- For a while, your Mac will be messed up, and so Spotlight will take some time to index every single file. So the question is, how do you know Spotlight is indexing files?
→ So here solution is to Wait for more time until the complete index. in more, you should cancel or Kill the Finder on a Mac.
Solution #3: Problematic Finder Preferences Files
We don’t know. Sometimes the preference files are the real culprits that create chaos while using MacBook, and it directly affects the finder. The simplest way to fix the finder not responding to macOS is to delete those files.
- Step #1: Open the “Spotlight”.
- Step #2: Now enter the code directly,
~/Library/Preferences/
Next, open Preferences and then find and delete the com.apple.finder.plist File.
- [Backup this file on the desktop folder at first]
- Also, Empty the bin/Trash folder. before restarting your Mac.
- Step #3: Close everything and Reboot Mac. after rebooting your Mac, Your Apple Mac File system will create a new finder plist file. and fix the problem.
- If your Mac persists in the same problem, then going to the next workaround will help you fight an issue Finder is not responding to.
Solution #4: Finder is Totally Unresponsive [Unable to Find above File]
When Finder does not respond in any way, then there is a simple solution for this. We will clear the clutter right from the terminal and fix the finder not responding to macOS Big Sur/macOS Catalina.
- Step #1: Launch “Terminal” from the Spotlight.
- Step #2: Now, write the command,
~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
- Step #3: Hit Enter. You will see the highlighted file. Delete it.
Step #4: Lastly Restart the Mac or MacBook.
Still suffering Finder not responding issues then you should try force quit Finder [Press Command+Option +Escape].
Relaunch Finder using Terminal
This is another way to relaunch the Finder, if you’re good with Terminal, then go for it.
- Press command+space to open Spotlight search and open Terminal.
- Enter: killall –KILL Finder
- Press return.
Solution #5: Reset SMC of Mac
By doing this, power, battery, and a few other hardware features reset.
MacBook with Non-removable battery
- Turn off your Mac.
- Now, power on the Mac, while holding Shift+Control+Option(Alt) plus hold the power button for 10 seconds.
- Leave all the keys after 10 seconds and then press the power button to start Mac.
MacBook with Removable battery
- Shut down the Mac.
- Take out the battery from MacBook.
- Press the power button for 5s.
- Put back the battery in its chamber.
- Turn on Mac, by pressing the power button.
Desktop Computers
- Power off the Mac.
- Remove the power cord from the socket.
- After 15 seconds, plug the power cord.
- Again wait for 5 seconds and turn on the Mac.
Solution #6: Reset NVRAM or PRAM on Mac
You can reset the following features by resetting NVRAM and PRAM, Sound Volume, Startup-disk selection, time zone, display resolution, and recent kernel panic information.
- Power off your Mac.
- Press the power button to turn on, and immediately hold down the Option+Command+P+R keys for 20 seconds.
Solution #7: Restart Mac in Safe Mode
- Shut down your Mac.
- Press the Power button to turn on Mac and then spontaneously hold down the Shift key.
- When Safe Boot appears in the upper-right side, release the shift key.
- Access the Mac by entering a password.
Solution #8: Create and Use New Admin account on the Same Mac
[Reinstall macOS is the best way to repair big issues like that, do this if you don’t have time to reinstall macOS], Creat a new Admin profile on the same Mac under the system Preference. follow the below steps.- Go to the Apple logo on Mac > System Preferences >Users & Group. Click on the lock icon and Enter your Mac password to make changes under Mac privacy.
- Now, click on the plus icon to add another profile, Select Administrator from Account dropdown option.
- Enter Full name, Account name, Enter new Password & Verify new Password.
Solution #9: Repair your Mac Disk with Given Simple Steps to Fix Finder issues on Mac Catalina
- Step #1: Restart your Apple Macbook Pro or MBA or iMac.
- Step #2: Now open up Disk Utility which is located in /Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility
- Step #3: on the screen, select the disk on the left side.
- Step #4: Now Choose the tab “First Aid” and click on Run
and Finally, check out that your Macbook Run normally. let me know in the comments and unluckily this answer will work out. Then follow the last solution that is re-install macOS.
Solution #10: Reinstall macOS Without Data lost
Reinstall macOS on Mac is a very healthy process to repair any MacOS version. reinstallation will not erase the Mac Data, this process only installs the latest version of macOS and replace the old file system that might be currepted and buggy after too many years of use. Most of the Mac users have been installed the third-party buggy apps. Now those apps are incompatible with the latest file system and Mac kernel.
- Restart your Mac (Go to the Apple logo on Mac > Restart).
- After the Mac Startup sound, Quickly press and hold the Command + R key from your Mac Keyboard. Until your Mac Screen sees the macOS utility window.
- The second option is Reinstall macOS. just go with this option. follow the on-screen instruction, And the process will take time depends on your internet connection speed. Because your Mac will download the latest version of macOS from the apple server and install it after download complete.
Set up your Mac and Check it should be fixed.
I am more or less clueless on how to fix computer issues. But I have been suddenly having issues with Finder crashing when I do anything even though I updated to Mojave maybe a month ago. I know where to look for the preferences file and I do not have a finder.plist file. I have reinstalled Mojave to try and fix these issues but they are still here. Any advice or reason why I wouldn’t have this file?
I have tried ALL of these including wiping the HD and starting all over again without restoring from backup, so… everything should be perfect. But it’s not. Only moments after setting up my new mac, the Finder begins to become unresponsive. There’s nothing else going on… no large uploads or downloads… nothing… AND I can’t restart the Finder. I MUST reboot. It’s annoying
First, Try in another login, Create another account on the Same Mac.
Secondly, Backup your Mac Data to External Drive and Clean install the latest macOS [Erase All Data first and install online]. That is helped me last time. https://www.howtoisolve.com/how-to-clean-install-macos-catalina-10-15-on-macbook-pro-air-imac-and-mac-mini/