How to copy a file path on a Mac

If you’ve ever needed to share the exact location of a file on your Mac for troubleshooting, development work, or Terminal commands, you might have noticed it’s not as obvious as on Windows. Luckily, macOS has a few ways to quickly copy a file path.

Here are some easy methods:

Method 1: Copy file path using the Option Key

1. Open Finder and locate the file or folder.
2. Hold down the Option key on your keyboard.
3. Right-click (or Control-click) the file or folder.
4. Click “Copy [item name] as Pathname.”
5. Paste it wherever you need it (Terminal, email, document, etc.).

The copied path will look something like:

/Users/yourname/Documents/example.txt

Method 2: Use the keyboard shortcut Command + Option + C

For Mac power users, there’s a super-fast keyboard shortcut:

1. Select the file or folder in Finder.
2. Press Command + Option + C.
3. The full path is now copied to your clipboard.
4. Paste it anywhere you need.

This is quicker than right-clicking and works seamlessly if you use it regularly.

Method 3: Drag the file into Terminal

Perfect for developers or anyone using command-line tools:

1. Open Terminal (Applications → Utilities → Terminal).
2. Drag the file or folder from Finder into the Terminal window.
3. The full path appears automatically.
4. Copy it from Terminal if needed.

Method 4: Use finder’s path bar

1. Open Finder and go to View → Show Path Bar.
2. Navigate to your file.
3. Right-click any folder in the path bar at the bottom of the Finder window.
4. Select Copy [folder name] as Pathname.

When would you need a file path?

• Running Terminal or shell commands
• Configuring software or development tools
• Sharing file locations with IT or support teams
• Debugging apps or permissions issues

Pro Tip

If you copy file paths often, Command + Option + C is the fastest method, and holding Option while right-clicking is a solid backup. Once you know these tricks, copying file paths on macOS is effortless.