FinderBuddy

Setup help

Can't see FinderBuddy when you right-click?

Easy fix. Your Mac keeps new Finder add-ons switched off until you turn them on. Follow the steps for your macOS version. It takes about a minute.

First, check your macOS version

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and choose About This Mac. Look at the number next to macOS, then pick your steps:

About This Mac window showing macOS Sequoia 15.1
Before you start, make sure FinderBuddy is in your Applications folder and you've opened it once. If you have other copies (for example in Downloads), delete them.

macOS 15.0 or 15.1

Fix it with Terminal

On these two versions, Apple left the switch for Finder add-ons out of System Settings. Apple brought it back in macOS 15.2. Until then, you can turn FinderBuddy on with Terminal. Don't worry, you only copy and paste two lines.

  1. 1

    Open Terminal

    Press Command + Space, type Terminal, and press Return.

    Spotlight search with Terminal typed in and Terminal selected as the top hit
  2. 2

    Copy this line into Terminal

    Click Copy, paste it into Terminal, and press Return.

    pluginkit -e use -i com.deepammishra.FinderBuddy.FinderMenu

    Nothing shows up after you press Return. That's normal. It means it worked.

    Terminal window with the pluginkit command pasted in
  3. 3

    Restart Finder

    Copy this line too, paste it into Terminal, and press Return.

    killall Finder

    Your Finder windows close and open again. That's normal.

    Terminal window with the killall Finder command
  4. 4

    Right-click any file

    You'll see FinderBuddy at the bottom of the menu. That's it, you're all set.

    Finder right-click menu with FinderBuddy at the bottom and its tools open
Rather not use Terminal? Update your Mac instead: Apple menu → System Settings → General → Software Update. Then follow the System Settings steps below.

macOS 15.2 or newer

Fix it in System Settings

Turn on FinderBuddy's Finder extension, then restart Finder.

  1. 1

    Open Login Items & Extensions

    Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, then System Settings → General → Login Items & Extensions.

    System Settings, General, with Login Items & Extensions highlighted
  2. 2

    Find FinderBuddy under Extensions

    Scroll down past Allow in the Background to Extensions. Choose By App, then click the ⓘ button next to FinderBuddy.

    FinderBuddy isn't in the Allow in the Background list. That's normal, it doesn't need to be.

    Login Items & Extensions with By App selected and the info button next to FinderBuddy highlighted
  3. 3

    Turn it on

    Switch on the FinderBuddy toggle, then click Done.

    FinderBuddy extensions sheet with the Finder extension switched on
  4. 4

    Relaunch Finder

    Hold the Option key, right-click the Finder icon in your Dock, and choose Relaunch.

    Finder Dock menu with Relaunch highlighted
  5. 5

    Right-click any file

    You'll see FinderBuddy at the bottom of the menu. That's it, you're all set.

    Finder right-click menu with FinderBuddy at the bottom and its tools open

macOS 14 or older

Fix it in Privacy & Security

Open System Settings → Privacy & Security, scroll to the bottom, and click Extensions. Choose Added Extensions and tick the box next to FinderBuddy.

On macOS 12, it's System Preferences → Extensions → Added Extensions. Then restart Finder: hold Option, right-click the Finder icon in your Dock, and choose Relaunch.

Still not showing?

Check that it's on

Open Terminal, paste this line, and press Return.

pluginkit -m -i com.deepammishra.FinderBuddy.FinderMenu

A + at the start means FinderBuddy is on. Restart Finder and right-click a file again.

See a - or nothing at all? Email support@finderbuddy.net with a screenshot of Terminal and your macOS version. We'll sort it out with you.

Contact supportFull setup guide
Terminal showing a plus sign before the FinderBuddy extension, which means it is on

New to FinderBuddy? Start with the setup guide.