finder-copy-path

What It Does

Adds a Copy Path item to the Finder right-click menu. Right-click any file or folder, click Copy Path, and the full POSIX path is on your clipboard, ready to paste. If multiple files are selected, all paths are copied, one per line.

macOS already has this hidden behind holding Option while the menu is open. Nobody knows that. This extension puts it where it belongs.

When To Use

• Whenever you need a path to drop into Terminal, a code editor, a chat, or a script.
• For multi-file selections — gives you all paths at once, one per line, without having to repeat the Option-key dance.
• As a daily-driver Finder addition — set once, useful forever.

How It Works

1. Right-click a file or folder in Finder.
2. Click Copy Path.
3. The full POSIX path lands on your clipboard.

The extension is a FinderSync plugin with sandbox entitlements that grant absolute-path read so it can see paths anywhere on disk.

Where It Lives

• Repo: ~/apps/finder-copy-path/
• Bundle ID: com.ojhurst.CopyPathHelper.CopyPathExtension
• Tech: Swift, AppKit, FinderSync framework, XcodeGen for project generation. Targets macOS 13+.

Install

cd ~/apps/finder-copy-path
brew install xcodegen  # if you don't have it
xcodegen generate
xcodebuild -project CopyPathHelper.xcodeproj -scheme CopyPathHelper -configuration Release build
cp -R ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/CopyPathHelper-*/Build/Products/Release/CopyPathHelper.app /Applications/
open /Applications/CopyPathHelper.app
pluginkit -e use -i com.ojhurst.CopyPathHelper.CopyPathExtension

Verify it is loaded:

pluginkit -m -p com.apple.FinderSync

You should see + com.ojhurst.CopyPathHelper.CopyPathExtension in the output.

Reload After A Rebuild

pluginkit -e ignore -i com.ojhurst.CopyPathHelper.CopyPathExtension
pluginkit -e use    -i com.ojhurst.CopyPathHelper.CopyPathExtension

Uninstall

pluginkit -e ignore -i com.ojhurst.CopyPathHelper.CopyPathExtension
rm -rf /Applications/CopyPathHelper.app

Known Gaps / Quirks

• Cloud folders (Google Drive, iCloud Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive): the Copy Path item intentionally does not appear inside FileProvider mounts — Apple reserves those folders for the provider’s own FinderSync extension. Inside a cloud folder, use the macOS shortcut instead: select a file and press Option + Command + C. Same result. Platform limitation, not a bug.
• The extension is ad-hoc signed (CODE_SIGN_IDENTITY: "-") — fine for personal install, would need a real Developer ID for distribution.
• Architecture mirrors finder-move. Keep them in sync if patterns change.