Use tags to organize files

You can tag files and folders to make them easier to find. Tags work with all your files and folders, whether you store them on your Mac or keep them in iCloud.

Tag files and folders

You can add multiple tags to any file.

  • Tag an open file: Hold the pointer to the right of the document title, click the arrow, click in the Tags field, then enter a new tag, or choose one from the list.

  • Tag a new file when you save it: Save the file. In the Save dialog, click in the Tags field, then enter a new tag, or choose one from the list.

  • Tag a file on the desktop or in the Finder: Select the item and open the File menu. You can also Control-click the item, or tap it with two fingers. Choose a color below Tags, or click Tags to choose from more tags or enter a new tag.

    In a Finder window, you can also select the item, click the Tags button , then enter a new tag, or choose one from the list.

Find items you tagged

  • Click the Finder icon in the Dock to open a Finder window. To see everything with a certain tag, click the tag in the Finder sidebar.

    To change the items you see in the sidebar, choose Finder > Preferences, click Tags, then select the tags you want to see.

You can also sort items in the Finder by tag, or search for a tag. To search for a tag, enter the tag color or name in the Finder search field, then select the tag from the suggestions.

Remove tags

  • Remove tags from an item: Control-click the item or tap it with two fingers, then click Tags. Select the tag(s) you want to remove, then press Delete.

  • Remove tags from your Mac: In the Finder, choose Finder > Preferences, then click Tags. Select the tag(s) you want to remove, then click the Remove button .

Edit tags

In the Finder, choose Finder > Preferences, click Tags, then do any of the following:

  • See a tag in the Finder sidebar: Select the blue checkbox to the right of the tag.

  • Change a tag color: Click the color next to the tag , then choose a new color.

  • Change a tag name: Click the tag, click the tag’s name, then enter a new name.

  • Create a new tag: Click the Add button .

  • Delete a tag: Select the tag, then click the Remove button .

  • Add a tag to the shortcut menu: Select the tag in the list, then drag it over the tag you want to replace in the favorites section at the bottom of the window. There can be up to seven tags in the shortcut menu that appears when you Control-click a file.

  • Remove a tag from the shortcut menu: Drag the tag out of the Favorite Tags section until you see a gray remove sign (x).