Many Mac users have reported issues, stating that Finder is not responding on their Mac Catalina, Mojave, or other OSs. Here are 7 troubleshooting methods that could help you resolve the issue of Finder not responding on Mac.
However, knowing what caused your Finder not to work or respond is always advised. Let’s see what might be causing Finder not to respond on Mac.
Why is Finder not Responding/Opening on my Mac?
Various reasons could cause trouble for Finder, but here are a few major reasons:
Finder Configuration: Bad Finder configuration or corrupt Finder configuration often makes Finder unresponsive on Mac.
Low Storage: When running multiple applications on a Mac with low storage, the Mac slows down its performance along with the applications.
System Preferences: The Finder is unresponsive if the system preferences get corrupted on Mac.
Sometimes, even an error in the User profile could also cause Finder not to work properly. In such situations, logging out and logging in might fix the problem.
Once you have identified the cause of the problem, let’s proceed to troubleshooting methods to fix it.
How to Fix Finder Not Responding on macOS?
As these problems are easily fixable, you can try each sequence to make your Finder work.
Method 1: Relaunch the Finder When Not Responding
Relaunching the Finder is the easy way to fix whenever the Finder stops responding
1: Go to the upper menu bar → click on the Apple logo.
2: Click on Force Quit Finder
3: From the application list à Select Finder
4: Click on Relaunch and then on Relaunch again.
Method 2: Force Quit Finder from the Activity Monitor app
If Relaunching the finder didn’t help you fix the issues with Finder
1: Go to your Launchpad and find Activity Monitor → open it.
2: Locate and click on Finder.
3: Click on the X in the upper right corner of the Activity Monitor window.
4: Then click on the Force Quit button.
Most of the time, Relaunching or Forcing Quit should resolve the problem of the Finder not responding. If the problem is related to corrupt configuration files or something else, follow all the methods below and verify if the Finder is responding at the end of each method.
Method 3: Fix Finder Not Responding by Power Cycling the Mac
Power Cycling removes corrupted temporary configurations. This may help you resolve problems with the Finder
1: Go to the upper menu bar and click on the Apple logo.
2: Click on Log Out → Shut down your Mac.
3: Disconnect the power cable and all the associated peripherals.
4: Wait for some time, turn on your Mac, and log into your user profile.
Method 4: Fix Finder Issues by Deleting Finder Files that are Corrupted
There is a chance that when Finder .plist files get corrupted, those files must be deleted immediately to make your Finder work. You can delete corrupted files using a terminal app.
1: Navigate to Launchpad
2: Find the Terminal and Open it
3: Type the line: rm ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist → Enter → Restart Mac
Method 5: Clear Storage to Repair Finder when it doesn’t open
Manage your storage space by deleting your files and unnecessary content. Transfer your important files and documents to an external drive. Having a low storage space on a Mac can cause Finder to go unresponsive and slow down the machine’s performance.
Method 6: Reset to Factory Settings to Fix Finder in Disk utility not Responding
If you have tried all the above-mentioned methods and none worked for you, the problem might be with internal files/folders that users cannot access. Restoring the Mac to factory reset helps you fix the problem with Finder.
Note: Before following the steps below, back up all your important files and folders, as resetting to the Factory setting will erase all the data.
1: Restart your computer by holding the power button, Next select Restart when it appears
2: While the computer restarts hold down the Command + R keys
3: Once you see the Apple logo appear, release the Command + R keys
4: When you see a Recovery Mode menu, select Disk Utility
5: Make sure the Macintosh HD startup disk is highlighted in your Disk Utility window –> select Erase
(You can recover accidentally erased Macintosh HD in Disk utility)
6: When Pop-pop Window appears, change the Format to macOS Extended (Journaled) → select Erase again
7: Select Quit Disk Utility in the Disk Utilities menu
8: A window will then appear giving you the option to reinstall macOS → select Install macOS
9: After the new macOS is installed, your computer has been successfully factory reset
If you have not backed up your data, do not worry! You can always rely on SFWare Mac Data Recovery Software, which works on all macOS, including the latest Sonoma, Ventura, and Monterey, etc.
Method 7: Finally, Check for third-party plugins to Fix Finder not Responding
Sometimes, third-party plugins can start conflicting with the system and cause Finder to not respond. If you have recently installed any application and the issue occurs, the recent application is causing the problem. As every configuration is different for an individual user, you must find a faulty plugin by yourself.
1: Find the Finder → Applications Folder.
2: Under the View function, Click on List.
3: Select the plugin that might be causing the problem → Delete.
4: Restart your Mac and Restart your Finder.
Conclusions:
With the help of the above-mentioned methods, you will surely be able to fix the issue of the Finder not responding. A few methods may cause data loss from a Mac. Make sure you back up your important files. If you fail to do so, do not worry! You can always use SFWare Mac Data Recovery software for easy and hassle-free data recovery.
