# How to group files by kind in Finder on Mac: toolbar, View menu, and fixes

> Group files by kind in Finder on Mac with the Group button or View > Use Groups. Steps, shortcuts, and fixes for when Group By is missing.

URL: https://www.lazur.app/how-to/group-files-by-kind-in-finder
Updated: 2026-11-08

To group files by kind in Finder on Mac, open the folder, click the Group button in the toolbar, and choose Kind. If there is no Group button, choose View > Use Groups, then set Group By to Kind in View Options.

## Quick answer

- Open the folder in Finder, click the Group button in the toolbar, and choose Kind.
- No Group button? Choose View > Use Groups, then set Group By to Kind in View Options.
- Group By stays hidden until Use Groups is on. Press ⌘J to reopen View Options.
- Grouping only changes the view. Your files stay where they are.
- In List view, Option-click a column heading to sort inside each kind section.

Applies to: Finder on macOS, any view (Icon, List, Column), per Apple and MacMost. Time: 2 min. Difficulty: Easy.

## What you need

- A Finder window open on the folder you want to sort
- Finder active, so the View menu appears in the menu bar
- Any view works. Apple says grouping works in any view, including Icon, List, and Column

## How to Group files by kind in Finder on Mac in Finder on a Mac

1. **Open the folder.** Open a Finder window and go to the folder you want to sort. If no window is open, click the Finder icon in the Dock first. Grouping applies to the window in front of you.
2. **Pick a view.** Shortcut: ⌘1 / ⌘2 / ⌘3. Choose Icon, List, or Column view. Apple says grouping works in any view. List view is the easiest to scan, so it is a good place to start.
3. **Click the Group button.** Look at the Finder toolbar at the top of the window. Click the Group button. A list of options opens, and Kind is among them. Tip: No Group button? Skip to the View menu step and use View > Use Groups instead.
4. **Choose Kind.** Choose Kind from the list. The window splits into sections, with one heading per file kind. Apple's list also offers Date Last Opened and Size.
5. **Use the View menu instead.** (View > Use Groups) If you cannot find the Group button, open the View menu in the menu bar and choose Use Groups. Grouping turns on, and the Group By options appear.
6. **Set Group By to Kind.** (View > Show View Options) Shortcut: ⌘J. Open View > Show View Options, or press ⌘J. Find Group By and choose Kind. Group By only shows up after Use Groups is on.
7. **Sort inside each group.** Shortcut: ⌥ + click heading. In List view, Option-click a column heading such as Size. The files inside each kind section sort by that column, as MacMost describes.
8. **Check the sections.** Scroll to each kind heading and confirm the files you expect are there. Grouping only changes the view, so your files stay in the same folder.
9. **Save the layout for other folders.** (View > Show View Options) Shortcut: ⌘J. Open View > Show View Options, or press ⌘J, then click Use as Defaults. Apple says this applies the settings to other folders with the same view. The button is not available in Column view.

Grouping by kind is the fastest way to stop scrolling through a messy folder. Finder splits the window into labeled sections, and each section holds one type of file. Documents sit in one block, images in another, and installers in a third. You see every file of one type at once. You stop hunting through one long list.

![Person at a Mac learning how to group files by kind in Finder on Mac](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/group-files-by-kind-in-finder/how-to-group-files-by-kind-in-1-e0401c.jpg)

## Why group files by kind at all?

Searching costs time. Adobe's 2023 survey of 1,118 employed Americans found that over 1 in 10 employees spent more than four hours a week searching for digital documents. The same Adobe article says 48 percent of respondents named difficulty finding documents quickly as a top organizational issue. The survey covers documents in general, not files sorted by kind. Treat those numbers as context, not as proof about your own Mac.

- **Over 1 in 10** employees spent more than four hours a week searching for digital documents, in Adobe's 2023 survey ([source](https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2023/09/29/how-digital-organization-impacts-employees-workplace))
- **48%** of respondents named difficulty finding documents quickly as a top organizational issue ([source](https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2023/09/29/how-digital-organization-impacts-employees-workplace))

The survey is a useful reminder, not a measurement of Finder. Your own folders may be tidy, or they may be a disaster. Grouping by kind gives you a quick way to see which situation you are in. Downloads is a common place to start, because it collects files from every app and website you use.

## Group files by kind with the Group button

Apple's guide gives the most direct route. Open any Finder window and look at the toolbar along the top. Click the Group button, then choose Kind. Apple lists Kind next to Date Last Opened and Size, so the same menu covers those too. Apple says grouping works in any Finder view, so you do not need to switch to List view first.

![MacBook on a desk, a common setup for grouping files by kind in Finder](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/group-files-by-kind-in-finder/how-to-group-files-by-kind-in-2-97e248.jpg)

Here is what you should see. The window keeps its usual look, but the files now sit under section headings. Each heading names a kind. Files that share a kind sit together under that heading.

## Use View > Use Groups when the Group button is missing

Some Macs show a different route, and the sources differ a little here. MacMost's video from January 2026 uses the menu bar. Choose View > Use Groups. Grouping turns on, and the Group By options appear. Then choose Kind from Group By. MacMost's video refers to macOS Tahoe, so compare the labels with your own menus before you rely on them.

Why does Group By vanish? Group By only appears after grouping is on. Many people look for it straight away, see nothing, and assume the feature is missing. Turn on Use Groups first. Then the option appears.

## Set Group By in View Options with ⌘J

View > Show View Options, or ⌘J, opens the same settings. Group By lives there. It stays hidden until Use Groups is on. Pick Kind, then close the panel. If the menu looks empty, go back to View > Use Groups and reopen the panel with ⌘J. Changes apply to the window you have open.

| Route | Where to find it | What it does |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Group button | Finder toolbar | Groups the window by Kind (Apple's guide) |
| Use Groups | View menu | Turns grouping on so Group By appears (MacMost) |
| Show View Options | View menu, or ⌘J | Holds the Group By setting for the window (MacMost) |
| Stack By | Desktop | Stacks Desktop files by Kind (MacMost) |

_Four ways to reach grouping by kind, and where each one lives._

## Why Apple and MacMost describe different menus

Apple's Organize your files guide describes a Group button in the toolbar. The Apple pages checked did not name a View menu Group By item. MacMost describes View > Use Groups, then Group By. These are not the same path on paper. Both sources end in the same place, a window grouped by Kind. Check the toolbar first. If the button is not there, use the View menu.

Apple's pages carry a version label, but the release notes did not load for this check. What changed in the newest release is not confirmed here. Use the steps on this page as a starting point, then check your own menus.

## Icon view and Clean Up By

Icon view has its own sorting command. Apple's sorting guide says to choose View > Clean Up By, then pick an option such as Date Created or Kind. Clean Up By is a separate command from Group. Use Clean Up By when you want Icon view arranged by Kind. Use Group when you want sections. Check the result on your Mac, because the sources here did not show how Clean Up By looks next to Group.

## What grouping changes, and what it leaves alone

Grouping is a view setting. It changes how Finder arranges the files in one window. It does not move a file, rename it, or change what kind it is. The files stay in the same folder, so grouping is safe to try. If you do not like the result, return the setting to what it was before.

Grouping does not decide what to keep. It only shows you the same files in a new order. That makes it a good first step before any cleanup, because nothing is removed while you look.

## Pick Kind, Date Last Opened, or Size

Kind answers what is this file. Date Last Opened answers when did I last use it. Size answers what is taking up room. Apple lists all three in the same menu, so you can switch when your question changes. Use Kind when you are tidying by type. Use Date Last Opened when you are clearing out old work.

Grouping helps most in a mixed folder. A folder that holds only photos gets one section, so grouping adds little. Downloads and Desktop are where kind groups pay off, because they hold documents, images, installers, and archives side by side.

## Group the Desktop with Stack By

The Desktop works a little differently. MacMost says the Desktop uses Stack By, so choose Stack By > Kind. Stacks change how Desktop files look on screen. The files themselves stay where they are, just as they do with grouping. Use this route when your goal is a tidy Desktop instead of a Finder window.

## Sort inside each kind group in List view

Grouping sorts files into sections, but the order inside each section may not suit you. Switch to List view with ⌘2. Then Option-click a column heading. MacMost says this sorts within the groups. Option-click Size, and each kind section sorts by size.

Sort By in View Options sets the order for the whole window. Use it when you want one order across every section. Open View > Show View Options, or press ⌘J, then find the Sort By pop-up menu.

## A worked example: find the big files in Downloads

Say your Downloads folder has become a pile. Open it in Finder and press ⌘2 for List view. Then click the Group button and choose Kind. Each section now gathers one file type. Installers sit with installers. Photos sit with photos.

Option-click the Size heading, and each section sorts by size. Now you can see the largest installer, the biggest video, and the heaviest archive without scrolling past everything else.

Read the names before you delete anything. Move only the files you no longer need to the Trash. Grouping shows where the space goes, but it does not decide what to keep.

## Mistakes people make with grouping

- Looking for Group By before turning on Use Groups. The option stays hidden until grouping is on.
- Expecting files to move. Grouping only changes the window, so files stay in their folder.
- Mixing up Group and Sort. Grouping creates sections. Sort By in View Options sets the order inside them.
- Trusting one set of labels. Compare the steps here with your own menus, because the sources describe different routes.

## Reuse the layout for other folders

Once a window looks right, you can reuse the settings. Open View > Show View Options, or press ⌘J. Click Use as Defaults. Apple says this applies the settings to other folders with the same view. The button is not available in Column view, so switch to Icon or List view first.

If new windows open in the wrong place, [change the default folder for new windows in Finder](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/change-the-default-folder-for-new-windows-in-finder). That is a separate setting from the view options on this page.

## What to do next

Try one folder for a week. If the kind sections help, set the same view on your other folders with Use as Defaults. If you also tag files, [add a tag to a file in Finder](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/add-a-tag-to-a-file-in-finder) gives you a second way to find things. Tags and kinds answer different questions, so use both where they fit.

## Where Lazur fits in

Lazur does not change Finder for you. It does not click Group or pick Kind. It points. Hold ⌥ ⌘ and ask where the Group button is. Lazur draws a circle and a label around it on your screen. Ask for the whole sequence, and Lazur guides you one click at a time, waiting for each click before the next step.

Ask follow-up questions while you work. Ask why Kind is missing from the menu, or ask Lazur to show you the View menu. Lazur answers out loud and points at the next item. You stay in control of every click.

Lazur is a voice assistant for the Mac that lives in the notch. It answers out loud and points at things in any app on screen. It runs on Apple silicon and Intel Macs. Windows is planned, not available. The trial is 3 days, with no credit card. Check the [pricing page](https://www.lazur.app/pricing) for plans, or [download Lazur](https://www.lazur.app/download) to try it.

![Laptop with folders on screen, the kind of mixed files Finder grouping helps sort](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/group-files-by-kind-in-finder/how-to-group-files-by-kind-in-3-b0de71.jpg)

## Shortcuts

- Icon view: ⌘1
- List view: ⌘2
- Column view: ⌘3
- Show View Options: ⌘J
- Sort inside groups (List view): ⌥ + click heading

## If it does not work

- **Group By is missing from View Options.** Turn on View > Use Groups first. Group By only appears after that. Then press ⌘J again to reopen View Options.
- **There is no Group button in the toolbar.** Use View > Use Groups from the menu bar, then pick Kind from Group By. MacMost's video shows this route.
- **Use as Defaults does not show up.** You are probably in Column view. Apple says Use as Defaults is not available there. Switch to Icon or List view, then try again.
- **Sorting does not change inside the groups.** Switch to List view with ⌘2, then Option-click the column heading. MacMost describes this as sorting within groups.
- **Your menu labels do not match these steps.** Your macOS version may use different labels. Use the closest match in the View menu, and check Apple's Organize your files guide for the current wording.

## With Lazur

Lazur is a voice assistant for the Mac that lives in the notch. Hold ⌥ ⌘ and ask; it sees your screen, answers out loud, points at buttons and walks you through apps. Hold fn to dictate. Free for 3 days, then $18/month: https://www.lazur.app/download

- “Where is the Group button in this Finder window?”: Lazur draws a circle and a label around the Group button in the toolbar. You click it yourself. (Points at it)

## FAQ

### Does grouping by kind move my files?

No. Grouping is a view setting. It changes how the window arranges the files you already have. Each file stays in its folder.

### Can I group by kind in Column view?

Apple's guide says grouping works in any view. The Use as Defaults button is the part that does not work in Column view.

### What is the difference between grouping and sorting?

Grouping splits files into labeled sections, one per kind, date, or size. Sorting sets the order of files. Sort By in View Options controls that order, and Option-click works inside List view groups.

### Can I group by kind and sort by size at the same time?

Yes, in List view. Group by Kind first, then Option-click the Size heading. Each kind section sorts by size.

### Is there a keyboard shortcut for grouping by kind?

The sources checked do not list one for turning grouping on. The useful shortcuts are ⌘1, ⌘2, and ⌘3 for views, and ⌘J for View Options.

### Does this work on the Desktop?

The Desktop uses Stack By instead. Choose Stack By > Kind to group Desktop files by kind, as MacMost describes.

### Does this work on iCloud.com?

This guide covers the Finder on a Mac only. The web version was not checked, so use these steps on your Mac.

## Sources

1. [Organize your files in the Finder on Mac, Apple Support](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/organize-your-files-in-the-finder-mchle9f0a1b2/mac), Apple, checked 2026-11-09
2. [Sort and arrange items in the Finder on Mac, Apple Support](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/sort-and-arrange-items-in-the-finder-on-mac-mchlp1745/mac), Apple, checked 2026-11-09
3. [Change how folders are displayed in the Finder on Mac, Apple Support](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/change-folders-displayed-finder-mac-mchldaafb302/mac), Apple, checked 2026-11-09
4. [Live: Mac Finder Views and View Options, MacMost](https://macmost.com/live-mac-finder-views-and-view-options.html), MacMost, checked 2026-11-09
5. [How Digital Organization Impacts Employees And The Workplace, Adobe Blog](https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2023/09/29/how-digital-organization-impacts-employees-workplace), Adobe, checked 2026-11-09