Finding files in macOS Sonoma, Sequoia and Tahoe: what changed
Updated
Apple changes the look of macOS every year, but the core of finding files has stayed steady. Most Finder shortcuts, Quick Look and Smart Folders work the same from Sonoma onward. The differences are mainly in where settings live and in Spotlight. This page sticks to changes that matter for finding, previewing and clearing files.
The versions at a glance
| Version | Number | Released |
|---|---|---|
| macOS Sonoma | 14 | 2023 |
| macOS Sequoia | 15 | 2024 |
| macOS Tahoe | 26 | 2025 |
The jump from 15 to 26 is a change in numbering, not a skipped decade: Apple now numbers its systems after the year that follows their release. To see which one you have, choose About This Mac from the Apple menu. See how to check your macOS version and chip.
What works the same everywhere
- Finder views: Command-1 for icons, Command-2 for list, Command-3 for columns, Command-4 for Gallery.
- View Options with Command-J, including icon size, Show Icon Preview and Calculate all sizes.
- Quick Look with Space, and Get Info with Command-I.
- Finder search with Command-F, rules such as Kind and Last opened date, and Smart Folders.
- Tags in the sidebar, iCloud Drive with Optimize Mac Storage, and the Trash with Put Back.
Every guide on this site uses those steps, so they apply whichever of these versions you run.
macOS Sonoma (14)
Sonoma kept Finder much as it was in Ventura. Two changes are relevant to files:
- Spotlight settings, including Spotlight Privacy for excluding folders, are under Siri & Spotlight in System Settings.
- A new Desktop & Dock setting, Click wallpaper to reveal desktop, moves windows aside when you click the wallpaper so you can reach Desktop files. If windows keep vanishing when you click the Desktop, that setting is why; it can be set to Only in Stage Manager.
Sonoma is also the oldest version FileSift runs on.
macOS Sequoia (15)
Sequoia added built-in window tiling: drag a window to the edge of the screen, or use Window, then Move & Resize, to place two Finder windows side by side. That makes moving files between two folders much easier without third-party tools. Sequoia also introduced iPhone Mirroring for supported Macs and iPhones.
With the arrival of Apple Intelligence in later Sequoia updates, Siri settings moved, and Spotlight settings may appear under a different name. If you cannot find them, type Spotlight into the System Settings search field.
macOS Tahoe (26)
Tahoe brought the biggest visible change in years, with Apple's new translucent design across Finder and the rest of the system. For files, the main changes Apple described are:
- Spotlight was redesigned. Apple added ways to browse and filter results, including separate views for apps, files, actions and clipboard history, so you can narrow a search to files without typing extra words.
- Folder customisation: you can change a folder's colour and add a symbol or emoji to its icon, which helps when you navigate by sight.
- Launchpad was replaced by an Apps view, which changes how you browse installed apps, but removing an app still works by dragging it from Applications to the Trash.
Tahoe is also the last major version Apple said it would release for Intel-based Macs.
Versions after Tahoe
This page covers the versions we can describe with confidence. When Apple releases a new version, check Apple's own What's New pages for Finder and Spotlight changes, and test any shortcut you rely on. The basic steps on this site have carried over from version to version, so they are a sound starting point.
Where FileSift fits
FileSift needs macOS 14 Sonoma or later and runs on Apple silicon and Intel Macs. Its features are the same on each supported version: folders shown as large thumbnails, plain-English search that shows the filters it understood, duplicates with a keeper, Clean Up, Finder tags and iCloud-only files marked, and Quick Look. It works next to Finder, so the version-specific changes above still apply to Finder as usual.
Common questions
Do these Finder shortcuts work on all three versions?
Yes. The view shortcuts, Quick Look, Get Info and Finder search work the same in Sonoma, Sequoia and Tahoe.
Does FileSift run on macOS Ventura?
No. FileSift requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later.
Related guides
- How to check your macOS version and whether your Mac has Apple silicon or Intel
- What to do when Spotlight cannot find a file on your Mac
- How to search for files on a Mac
- Finder vs FileSift: what each one is for
More in macOS versions, or see all guides.