finder-move

What It Does

Adds a Move Item Here (Paste) option to the Finder right-click menu. Copy a file with Cmd+C, navigate somewhere else, right-click in empty space, and pick the new menu item — the file moves instead of duplicating.

macOS can already do this with Cmd+Option+V, but nobody remembers that shortcut. This extension puts the option in the context menu where it belongs.

When To Use

• Whenever you would normally Cmd+C, navigate, and Cmd+V — but you actually want a move, not a copy.
• For drag-free file moves when the source and destination are not both visible in Finder at the same time.
• As the daily-driver companion to finder-copy-path — same architecture, paired tool.

How It Works

1. Copy a file or folder in Finder (Cmd+C).
2. Navigate to the destination folder.
3. Right-click in the empty space.
4. Click Move Item Here (Paste).

The file moves. The clipboard clears. Done.

If the destination already has a file with the same name, you get a system prompt to replace or skip — same as a normal Finder paste.

Where It Lives

• Repo: ~/apps/finder-move/
• Bundle ID: com.ojhurst.MoveHelper.MoveHereExtension
• Tech: Swift, AppKit, FinderSync framework, XcodeGen for project generation. Targets macOS 13+.

Install

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

Verify it is loaded:

pluginkit -m -p com.apple.FinderSync

You should see + com.ojhurst.MoveHelper.MoveHereExtension in the output.

Uninstall

pluginkit -e ignore -i com.ojhurst.MoveHelper.MoveHereExtension
rm -rf /Applications/MoveHelper.app

Known Gaps / Quirks

• Same FileProvider limitation as finder-copy-path — does not appear inside cloud folders (Google Drive, iCloud Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive). Use Cmd+Option+V directly inside those folders.
• Architecture mirrors finder-copy-path. Keep them in sync if patterns change.
• Ad-hoc signed for personal install — distribution would require a Developer ID.