Failure of keyboard shortcuts, specifically Command-Double-Click

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Level 6

19,958 points

Failure of keyboard shortcuts, specifically Command-Double-Click

After a recent shut-down forced by a power cut, I lost many settings. Most have been restored, no matter how tediously.

Those which remain are that Command-Double-Click no longer works, some few Messenger chats are no longer accessible and prolly crucially, KeyboardSetupAssistant will not launch, however it's spelt

My long experience is that Command-Double-Clicking on a Folder should Open that Folder in a new Window with a slightly off-set position, while keeping open the containing Folder, as confirmed by umpty WWW descriptions/explanations.

My fall-back Utility for correcting odd behaviour on my iMac, running High Sierra 10.13.6 is Onyx 3.4.1, which has never before let me down, but now makes no difference.

I suspect KeyboardSetupAssistant might help but I say again, it will not launch.

Has anyone experienced the exact same behaviour?

Has anyone experienced the same Command-Double-Click failure, with or without other symptoms?

Does anyone suspect this could be due to a particular macOS version, particularly since I've swapped my usual keyboard for the one I use on a more modern iMac, with no different result?

iMac 27″

Posted on Jul 22, 2025 01:03 PM

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Answer 1

Camelot

Level 9

57,873 points

Jul 23, 2025 12:17 PM in response to Robbie Goodwin

> Thanks and that's not relevant.

How is that not relevant?

Your original post stated:

> My long experience is that Command-Double-Clicking on a Folder should Open that Folder in a new Window with a slightly off-set position, while keeping open the containing Folder

Now, follow my response... bear with me here...

Finder -> Settings -> Open Folders in tabs -> ON

-> Command-double-click on a folder and a new window DOES NOT OPEN.

Finder -> Settings -> Open Folders in tabs -> OFF

-> Command-double-click on a folder and a new window DOES OPEN.

Are you saying you actually checked this setting and compared the results with it on and off, and it didn't change what you see?

Seems to me that this preference setting is the most likely answer to your question of why command-double-clicking a folder in the Finder no longer opens a new window, especially since you say numerous preference settings were somehow lost. Seems way more likely to me than some arcane hacking voodoo.

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Answer 2

Camelot

Level 9

57,873 points

Jul 23, 2025 10:40 AM in response to Robbie Goodwin

Check Finder -> Settings -> General

There's an option to 'Open folders in tabs instead of new windows'.

When this is enabled, Command-double-clicking open the folder in a new tab in the current window, vs. a new distinct window.

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Answer 3

Robbie Goodwin Author

Level 6

19,958 points

Jul 23, 2025 11:47 AM in response to Camelot

Thanks and that's not relevant.

Opening a Folder in a new Tab could just possibly be an improvement, but it's far from the Answer and I don't see how it could come into this technically, nor in terms of design philosophy.

Thanks for your suggestion and please be aware, I'm not interested in any work-around… only in restoring my iMac with High Sierra 10.13.6 to it's default behaviour

I suspect that can be done only by burrowing into the OS to a level where a stupidly simple tweak will set all to rights… and for all my years, I lack the terminology to describe either the tweak or even the level.

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Answer 4

Robbie Goodwin Author

Level 6

19,958 points

Jul 24, 2025 08:44 AM in response to Camelot

Thanks Camelot,

I'm sorry, I misread 'Command-double-clicking open the folder in a new tab in the current window, vs. a new distinct window…' as a suggestion that Opening the Folder in a new Tab might be an improvement.

Unchecking Open folders in tabs… did cure the problem, for which double thanks.

However, it also reminded me, the problem had been worse than I first described. My System had not merely mysteriously checked that choice for itself, unbidden. Rather, it had both stopped Opening Folders in separate new Windows, and started replacing the original, parent Window's contents with the child Folder's… (I don't think that's official Apple terminology. I find myself unsure what names to use for single panes which would be Tabs if Tabs were in use, when they're not in use. If you or anyone can offer a Link to a comprehensive lecture on the nomenclature of Windows, Folders, Tabs and their interactions at that level, I'll happily swat up.)

That doubly odd behaviour may be what prevented me from even thinking about Open folders in tabs…, which may be why I was so quick to dismiss your suggestion. Again, sorry.

For the record, re-checking Open folders in tabs… does not replicate the problem, and I don't want to experiment to find out what might.

Again, thanks.

Again,sorry.

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