How to Open Terminal in a Folder on Mac
Open Terminal in a specific folder on Mac in one step. Learn how JoyClick adds Terminal, iTerm2, VSCode and Sublime Text shortcuts to the right-click menu.
Short answer: To open Terminal in a folder on Mac, you normally need to navigate to the folder after launching Terminal. JoyClick adds a right-click action that opens Terminal, iTerm2, VSCode or Sublime Text directly in the current folder.
Why this happens
- Terminal opens in the home directory by default, not the folder you are viewing.
- Typing or pasting a path for every session is slow.
- The same problem applies to opening a folder in a code editor.
How to do it without extra tools
- Open Terminal and use "cd" to navigate to the folder.
- Drag a folder onto the Terminal window to change into it.
- Use Finder’s Services menu, if a suitable service is installed.
How JoyClick helps
JoyClick adds Quick Open With actions to the right-click menu. It opens Terminal, iTerm2, VSCode, Sublime Text and other installed terminals and editors directly in the current folder, and only shows the apps you actually have installed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which terminals and editors does JoyClick support?
JoyClick can open Terminal, iTerm2, VSCode, Sublime Text and other installed terminals and editors. The menu only shows apps that are installed on your Mac.
Will JoyClick open an app I do not have installed?
No. Quick Open With only shows the terminals and editors that are actually installed on your Mac.
Solve this on your Mac with JoyClick
Download JoyClick - Right-Click Tools on the Mac App Store. Requires macOS 14.0+, $8.99 one-time purchase, privacy: Data Not Collected.