Is It Possible to Add a Column in Finder to View File Open Frequency on Mac OS?

MacOS users often seek ways to enhance their file management experience by customizing the Finder interface. One common query is whether it's possible to add a column in Finder to view the file open frequency directly within the file list. In this article, we will explore the current state of Finder's capabilities on macOS and provide some alternatives for users looking to track file open frequency.

Current Capabilities of macOS Finder

As of the latest version of macOS (macOS 12.6), Finder does not natively support the addition of custom columns to display the file open frequency. This feature is currently unavailable due to limitations in the Finder's built-in functionality.

If you are looking to add such a column manually, you can still utilize alternative methods. For instance, third-party applications like Path Finder offer a more flexible interface where you can customize the view options to include additional columns. However, these alternative apps do not come with the same seamless integration and user-friendliness as macOS's built-in Finder.

Other Methods to Track File Open Frequency

Although macOS Finder does not support custom columns for file open frequency, there are other methods to track this information:

Using the “Recents” Location

macOS includes a “recents” location that is a virtual folder. This folder displays the files you have created and saved most recently. You can access this folder by navigating to the Show Recents section in the Finder sidebar, which is also known as Finder Favourites. To make the “Recents” location more accessible, you can also set it as the default folder for new Finder windows.

Steps:

Open Finder Select Finder in the menu bar Go to the Preferences option Under the General tab, check the box for “Show All Folders” Navigate to the Recents location in the sidebar and drag it to your desired position To make it the default folder, go to the General tab in Finder Preferences and select “Recents” from the dropdown menu for New Finder Windows Show Location

Using the “Sort By Date Last Opened” Option

While this method does not add a custom column, it still allows you to access and sort files by their last open date, which is a step towards understanding file usage patterns.

Steps to use the “Sort By Date Last Opened” option:

Open the Finder Select the folder or collection of files you want to sort Click on the View menu in the menu bar Go to the Show View Options option In the dialog box that appears, under the Show View Options section, select “Sort By Date Last Opened”

This method will rearrange the files in the current view based on when they were last opened, making it easier for you to locate and manage frequently accessed files.

File Attributes and Other Methods of Tracking Usage

MacOS stores file attributes to track modifications and writes, but not the specific frequency of file openings. However, you can still use other methods to track file usage without adding a custom column. For instance, you can use third-party tools that monitor file access or log events related to file use.

One such tool is Activity Monitor, which can be used to track system activity and potentially monitor file access patterns, although it does not provide a direct solution for sorting files by open frequency in Finder.

Conclusion

While macOS Finder does not offer the ability to add a custom column for file open frequency directly, there are alternative methods and tools available to help you manage and track file usage. Whether through the “Recents” location, sorting by date last opened, or using third-party apps, you can still get a good grasp on which files are used most often.

For more advanced functionality, third-party applications like Path Finder offer enhanced view options and customization features, although they are not part of the built-in macOS ecosystem.