How to Add and Use Quick Actions in Finder on a Mac in 2025

You can easily add and use Quick Actions in Finder on a Mac to finish tasks quickly. These Quick Actions reduce effort and save important time. You don’t need to open separate apps repeatedly. 

Instead, Quick Actions let you rotate images, create PDFs, or trim videos directly. They work inside Finder, Services menu, and MacBook Pro Touch Bar.

What Are Quick Actions in Finder on a Mac

Quick Actions are simple workflows that help complete tasks faster. They remove the need to open apps repeatedly. For example, you can rotate a photo with one click. You can also create PDFs directly without opening Preview. These built-in tools improve productivity for students, professionals, and regular users.

The Quick Actions available depend on file type selected. If you choose an image, you see rotate, markup, and create PDF. If you choose a video, you see trim or rotate. If you choose documents, you may see compress or convert. Mac shows only actions useful for the selected file type.

Quick Actions first arrived in the macOS Mojave version. Later, macOS Ventura and Monterey made them more powerful. Apple also encouraged developers to add support for Quick Actions. Many third-party apps now offer their own Quick Actions. This makes the feature more useful for different professional requirements.

You can find Quick Actions in several different places. They appear in the Finder Preview pane at the right. They appear when you right-click a file inside Finder. They are also available in the Services menu from Finder. On the MacBook Pro, you can access them through the Touch Bar.

How to Add and Use Quick Actions in Finder on a Mac with Automator

You can also add and use Quick Actions in Finder on a Mac with the Automator app. Automator is a built-in macOS app for creating workflows. It helps you make Quick Actions for tasks you repeat often. You just drag and drop actions to build workflows.

Here is an example for creating a Quick Action:

1. Open Automator app from Applications folder on Mac.
2. Click New Document and select Quick Action option.
3. Select Actions in the left panel and open the Library section.
4. Choose categories like Photos to view related workflows.
5. Select Change Type of Images and drag to workspace.
6. Choose input types like Image Files for the workflow.
7. Adjust output format such as PNG in the drop-down box.
8. Save Quick Action with a name you will remember.

Now this Quick Action will appear in the Finder menu. When you right-click an image, choose the Quick Action. The image changes format automatically without opening another app. This is helpful for photographers or designers handling many files.

You can also edit any Quick Action later easily. Open Automator again and locate your Quick Action file. Make changes in the workflow and save again. The updated Quick Action replaces the old one instantly. This keeps your workflows flexible and always useful.

Automator is powerful for handling repetitive office or design tasks. You can chain multiple actions like resizing, renaming, or watermarking. This reduces effort and saves hours of unnecessary manual work. Automator helps customize your Mac exactly the way you prefer.

How to Add and Use Quick Actions in Finder on a Mac with Shortcuts

Another way to add and use Quick Actions in Finder on a Mac is using the Shortcuts app. Apple introduced Shortcuts for Mac with macOS Monterey version. Shortcuts are easier than Automator for new or casual users. It has a simple drag-and-drop style for quick workflows.

You can find many pre-built shortcuts already available. For example, Zip and Email shortcut compresses files and attaches them to email. This shortcut saves several steps and completes the task in seconds.

Here is how to set up a Quick Action:

1. Open Shortcuts app from Applications folder or Launchpad.
2. Search for a shortcut like Zip and Email.
3. Click Add Shortcut to move it to your library.
4. Double-click shortcut to customize file type or recipients.
5. Open Shortcut Details and check Use as Quick Action.
6. Also check Finder and Services Menu for easy access.

Now this shortcut appears inside the Finder Quick Actions menu. Right-click a file, select Quick Actions, and choose your shortcut. Instantly, files compress and open inside an email draft. This is perfect for professionals who share large files daily.

You can also edit Quick Actions inside Shortcuts easily. Open Shortcuts app, right-click shortcut, and select Edit. Make necessary changes and test them immediately. The Shortcuts app automatically saves changes to your workflow.

Shortcuts make tasks like adding watermarks or resizing files simple. You can also combine multiple steps into one single action. This makes your Mac work smarter and much faster every day.

How to Customize Quick Actions in Finder on a Mac

After you add and use Quick Actions in Finder on a Mac, the list may grow longer. You might not need every Quick Action regularly. Therefore, customizing the Quick Actions menu is very important.

Here is how you can customize Quick Actions:

1. Open Finder and right-click any selected file.
2. Move to Quick Actions and click the Customize option.
3. Or, open the Preview pane, click More, and choose Customize.
4. Another way is System Settings > Privacy & Security.
5. Then choose Extensions and click the Finder option inside settings.

Here you will see a list of available Quick Actions. You can tick checkboxes for the ones you want visible. You can uncheck boxes for actions you do not use. This keeps the Quick Actions menu neat and more efficient.

You can also drag Quick Actions up or down. This rearranges the order according to your daily preference. Place the most important actions at top for faster access. Click the Done button once you finish your customization settings.

Customizing the menu makes the Finder experience cleaner and more productive. You don’t waste time searching through unnecessary Quick Actions. Instead, you focus only on shortcuts that matter most. This feature helps improve everyday speed and comfort while working.

How to Use Quick Actions in Finder on a Mac

Finally, let’s learn how to add and use Quick Actions in Finder on a Mac practically. Once you create or enable them, using Quick Actions is simple.

Here are different ways to use them on Mac:

• Right-click the file in Finder and choose the Quick Actions option.
• Select file and pick Quick Action in the Preview pane.
• Open Finder menu bar, click Services, then Quick Actions.
• On MacBook Pro, tap Quick Actions using Touch Bar.

For example, with Automator Quick Action you can change image type. Right-click the image, choose Quick Action, and instantly convert to PNG. Similarly, with Shortcuts Quick Action you can zip files quickly. You can then email compressed files instantly with subject and recipients ready.

These Quick Actions remove the need to open large apps. You no longer open Preview, Photos, or Mail separately. Instead, everything works directly from Finder with just a few clicks. This makes working with files smoother, faster, and more enjoyable daily.

As We Conclude 

It is very easy to add and use Quick Actions in Finder on a Mac for better productivity. You can create new Quick Actions using Automator. You can also build shortcuts with the Shortcuts app. Customizing the Quick Actions menu keeps Finder clean and efficient. 

These actions help rotate photos, zip files, create PDFs, or send emails. Mastering Quick Actions saves time and simplifies everyday Mac tasks.