The problem with copying file paths on Mac
macOS has a hidden way to copy a file path: select the file in Finder, hold the Option key, and the context menu swaps "Copy [filename]" to "Copy [filename] as Pathname." It works, but it's not discoverable and it doesn't handle multiple files. PowerClick makes Copy Path a first-class, always-visible action in Finder's right-click menu.
How Copy Path works in PowerClick
Select one or more files in Finder, right-click, and choose Copy Path from the PowerClick submenu. The full absolute paths are copied to your clipboard immediately — no keyboard modifier needed. For multiple files, all paths are copied newline-separated.
Typical use cases:
- Pasting a file path into a terminal command
- Adding file references to a README or documentation
- Passing file paths to a script or build tool
- Copying multiple paths for a batch operation in another tool
Quick File Info
Beyond the full path, PowerClick's Quick File Info feature lets you copy specific file metadata from the right-click menu without opening Get Info:
- File name — just the filename with extension
- Full path — the complete absolute path
- File size — human-readable (e.g., 2.4 MB)
- Creation date — when the file was first created
- Modification date — when the file was last changed
- Image dimensions — width × height for image files
Copy Path for terminal and script work
Copy Path is most useful the moment you need to reference a file outside Finder. Instead of dragging a file into Terminal to auto-fill its path, or typing out a directory structure from memory, right-click the file and choose Copy Path — the absolute path lands on your clipboard ready to paste into a cd, cp, or open command. For multiple files, PowerClick copies every path on its own line, which pastes cleanly into a shell loop, a build script, or a list in a text editor.
This also removes a common source of shell errors: paths with spaces. Copy Path returns the exact path as Finder sees it, so you avoid mistyped folder names or missing escape characters when pasting into Terminal.
Copy Path vs. the built-in Option-key shortcut
macOS technically already has a path-copying shortcut, but it is easy to forget because it is hidden behind a modifier key and only shows up conditionally. PowerClick's Copy Path is a permanent, visible menu item — no keyboard combination to remember, and it works the same way whether you select one file or fifty.
Troubleshooting Copy Path
If Copy Path doesn't appear in the right-click menu, check that the PowerClick Finder extension is enabled in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Extensions → Finder Extensions. If it's enabled but the menu still doesn't show up, relaunch Finder from Activity Monitor (search "Finder", select it, click Relaunch). This resolves the vast majority of cases where a Finder extension fails to load after a macOS update. Further steps are on the Support page.