How to Remove Folders from Desktop Without Deleting on Mac
“Ugh, my desktop is a mess!” I exclaimed, looking at the cluttered icons and folders. I couldn’t find the files I needed quickly, and it was driving me nuts. I realized it was time to clean up my desktop, but I didn’t want to delete anything important.
Hide Folders
One way to remove folders from your desktop without deleting them is to hide them. By hiding folders, they will no longer be visible on your desktop, but they will still exist on your Mac. To hide a folder, simply select it and press Command + Shift + . (period). The folder will instantly disappear from your desktop.
To unhide a folder, open a Finder window and select the “View” menu. Then, click on “Show Hidden Files” and the hidden folders will reappear.
Use Stacks
Another way to remove folders from your desktop without deleting them is to use stacks. Stacks are a feature in macOS that allows you to group similar files and folders together. This can help to declutter your desktop and make it easier to find what you are looking for.
To create a stack, simply drag and drop files and folders on top of each other. A stack will be created and the files and folders will be grouped together. To access the files and folders in a stack, simply click on the stack and it will expand.
Move Folders to iCloud Drive
If you want to remove folders from your desktop and make them accessible from anywhere, you can move them to iCloud Drive. iCloud Drive is a cloud storage service that allows you to store files and folders online.
To move a folder to iCloud Drive, simply select the folder and drag it to the iCloud Drive icon in the Finder sidebar. The folder will be uploaded to iCloud Drive and will be accessible from any device that is connected to your iCloud account.
Use Terminal
If you are comfortable using Terminal, you can use the following command to remove folders from your desktop without deleting them:
chflags hidden ~/Desktop/foldernameReplace “foldername” with the name of the folder you want to hide. The folder will be hidden from your desktop but will still exist on your Mac.
Tips and Expert Advice
- Consider using a desktop organizer app. There are several desktop organizer apps available that can help you to keep your desktop organized and clutter-free. Some popular desktop organizer apps include:
- Declutter
- CleanMyMac X
- Alfred
- Create a separate folder for files that you don’t need on your desktop. If you have a lot of files that you don’t need on your desktop, you can create a separate folder for them. This will help to keep your desktop clean and organized.
- Use keyboard shortcuts. There are several keyboard shortcuts that can help you to manage folders on your Mac. Some useful keyboard shortcuts include:
- Command + N: Create a new folder
- Command + Shift + N: Create a new folder on the desktop
- Command + J: Open a folder in a new window
- Command + W: Close a folder window
- Take advantage of macOS features. macOS has several features that can help you to keep your desktop organized. Some useful features include:
- Stacks: Group similar files and folders together
- iCloud Drive: Store files and folders online
- Hidden files: Hide files and folders from your desktop
FAQ
Q: How do I remove folders from my desktop without deleting them?
A: You can hide folders, use stacks, move folders to iCloud Drive, or use Terminal to remove folders from your desktop without deleting them.
Q: What are stacks?
A: Stacks are a feature in macOS that allows you to group similar files and folders together. This can help to declutter your desktop and make it easier to find what you are looking for.
Q: How do I move folders to iCloud Drive?
A: To move a folder to iCloud Drive, simply select the folder and drag it to the iCloud Drive icon in the Finder sidebar. The folder will be uploaded to iCloud Drive and will be accessible from any device that is connected to your iCloud account.
Q: How do I use Terminal to remove folders from my desktop?
A: If you are comfortable using Terminal, you can use the following command to remove folders from your desktop without deleting them:
chflags hidden ~/Desktop/foldernameReplace “foldername” with the name of the folder you want to hide. The folder will be hidden from your desktop but will still exist on your Mac.
Conclusion
By following the tips and tricks outlined in this article, you can easily remove folders from your desktop without deleting them. This can help to declutter your desktop and make it easier to find what you are looking for.
Are you interested in learning more about how to organize your Mac? Let me know in the comments below!
