How to Enable Finder Extensions on macOS Sequoia 15.2 (and Newer)

In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to enable Finder extensions on macOS Sequoia (15.2 and newer). We’ve covered how to do this on older macOS versions before, but since then Apple has rearranged the Settings pane so the steps you’ll find in older guides won’t help if you’re running macOS Sequoia.

Wait, Why macOS Sequoia 15.2 and Not 15.0?

When Sequoia 15.0 shipped, the familiar checkbox list used to enable Finder Extensions in System Settings completely disappeared. The only way users could enable Finder extensions on macOS 15.0 was via the command line (Terminal) or by installing third party apps. Apple acknowledged that this was a bug in the macOS operating system and fixed it in version 15.2. If you are running on a version of macOS Sequoia prior to 15.2, please update your operating system to restore Finder Extension functionality to System Settings.

A Brief Reminder of What Finder Extensions Are:

Finder extensions (sometimes called Finder Sync extensions) let apps bolt extra features onto the Finder like status-badge icons (✔︎/⚠︎), custom toolbar buttons, or right-click actions. They ship inside some of the apps you install but stay disabled until you turn them on in System Settings. 

Updated Instructions for macOS 15.2 and Later

  1. Open System Settings.
  2. In the sidebar choose General → Login Items & Extensions.
  3. Click File Providers (you may only see it if at least one app on your Mac contains a Finder extension).
  4. Turn on the toggle switch next to the extension’s name to enable it.
Enable Finder Extensions on macOS Sequoia from the File Providers section.
To enable Finder Extensions on macOS Sequoia, navigate to the “File Providers” section of System Settings as shown in this screenshot. Note that you must click on the little “i” button on the right side to open this section.
System Settings UI for enabling Finder Extensions shown under the "File Providers" section in macOS Sequoia.

Note: Don’t get confused by the Finder section under “Login Items & Extensions”

If you open System Settings and go to General → Login Items & Extensions, you’ll notice that there is a “Finder” section right above the “File Providers” section. This area is for enabling what used to be called Finder “Quick Actions” (although the text in System Settings now suddenly calls Finder Quick Actions Finder Extensions, which is confusing). If you are looking to enable or disable a Finder extension for an app you downloaded from the Mac App Store or from a developer’s website, you want to go to the “File Providers” section.

Quick Summary: To Enable Finder Extensions on macOS Sequoia

Remember this path in System Settings:

System Settings → General → Login Items & Extensions → File Providers

What if I’m running a version of macOS prior to Sequoia?

-If you are macOS Ventura or macOS Sonoma to enable Finder Extensions follow the instructions here.

-To enable Finder Extensions on macOS Monterey or earlier follow the instructions here.

File Cabinet Pro Version 4.2 Adds Finder Extension

File Cabinet Mac App Icon

            Download on the App Tyrant Store button.

File Cabinet Pro version 4.2 has been released for macOS.

What’s New?

-This update introduces the “File Cabinet Pro Document Creator” Finder extension. You can create new text documents in the current Finder window and open them in File Cabinet Pro’s text editor. To use this new feature, you have to enable the extension in System Preferences under the “Extensions” tab.

-Fixed issue that caused the Command+B keyboard shortcut to not make the selected text bold in the built in text editor.

-Fixed issue that caused the Command+I keyboard shortcut to not italicize the selected text in the built in text editor.

-Fixed potential crash during a drag and drop operation in column view when columns are spring loaded.

-Other minor bug fixes and performance improvements.


Desktop Ghost Pro 1.5 Update Adds Finder Extension, View Desktop Contents Button, and More!

Desktop Ghost Pro Mac App Icon

           

Desktop Ghost Pro version 1.5 has been released.

What’s New?

-Added a “View Desktop Contents” button to main window. Now you can view files on your desktop even when they are hidden in a separate window.

-You can now right click the desktop in Finder and show and hide files using the new Desktop Ghost Pro Finder Sync extension (to use this feature, you must enable the Finder Sync extension in System Preferences).

-You can open Desktop Ghost Pro’s preferences window when running the app as a menubar application; you no longer have to open the main window first.

-You can tell Desktop Ghost Pro to exclude files that are on your desktop from participating in show and hide file operations.

-The icon image in the menubar is now larger.

Updated Screenshots:

Desktop Ghost Pro version 1.5 Mac app screenshot of main window.
Desktop Ghost Pro version 1.5 adds a “View Desktop Contents” button to the main window.
Desktop Ghost Pro version 1.5 items added to Finder's context menu.
Show and hide files on your desktop using Desktop Ghost Pro’s Finder extension.
Desktop Ghost Pro version 1.5 Mac app screenshot including Preferences window. Desktop Ghost Pro version 1.5 Mac App screenshot running as a menubar app.