If Finder on your Mac running macOS Catalina has suddenly stopped responding, won’t open, or keeps freezing — don’t panic. It’s a common problem that often stems from low storage, corrupt preferences, or system glitches. Luckily, there are several fixes you can try to get Finder working again.
1. Force Quit Finder and Relaunch It
Sometimes Finder just needs a quick reset to get back on track. You can force quit it in two ways:
Option A: Using Force Quit Shortcut
- Press Option + Command + Esc on your keyboard.
- From the list, select Finder.
- Click Relaunch.
Option B: Using Activity Monitor
- Open Launchpad and search for Activity Monitor.
- Launch the app and find Finder in the list.
- Click on it, then hit the “X” icon in the top-left corner.
- Click Force Quit when prompted.
2. Log Out and Back Into Your Mac
This method stops all background processes and reloads your profile cleanly.
- Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner.
- Select Log Out [Your Username].
- Confirm by clicking Log Out in the prompt.
- Enter your password to log back in.
After logging in, try opening Finder again.
3. Power Cycle Your Mac
This is like a full refresh — it clears temporary glitches and cache that might be messing with Finder.
- Log out of your account.
- Click the Apple logo, then select Shut Down.
- Once your Mac is off, unplug the power cable (or adapter).
- Wait 2–3 minutes.
- Reconnect everything and press the Power button to turn it on.
- Log back in and test Finder.
4. Free Up Storage Space
Low disk space can cause Finder and other apps to act weird. Aim to keep at least 5GB of free space on your drive.
Here’s what you can do:
- Delete old files, large videos, or unused apps.
- Empty your Trash.
- Go to Apple Menu > About This Mac > Storage to see what’s taking up space.
- Use the Manage button to review recommendations and clear space efficiently.
Restart your Mac after freeing up space, then relaunch Finder.