MacOS – How to copy-paste in Finder when there’s no right-click space

copy/pastefindermacos

I'd be very surprised if this doesn't trouble anyone else.

Sometimes I want to paste a copied file in a Finder window, but there is just no "empty" space for me to right-click on and hit 'Paste item', as right-clicking anywhere on this window will open the right-click context menu for a file/folder.

Usually, I just resize the window till I can find some empty space below all the files/folders for me to right-click on, but sometimes (as in my screenshot below) there are way too many files/folders for to resize the finder window up to that point.

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Basically:

How can I be able to right-click somewhere (to know exactly where I'm pasting) and hit 'Paste Item'?

As you can tell, I am currently using the column view, and hope there is a solution in this view.
I also do not just want to hit Cmd+V because it's hard to tell which is the target directory when I have a folder open in the column-view.

Best Answer

It seems that the problem you're trying to solve is actually this:

it's hard to tell which is the target directory when I have a folder open in the column-view

If your preferred method is clicking, you can still be sure of your target directory by left-clicking. Either:

  • Click on the name of the folder you want to paste into, or
  • Click on the name of a file that's already in the folder you want to paste into.

(In the crowded view you describe, you should still be able to do at least one of these two.) Then just choose Edit > Paste or use ⌘+V.

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