[quanfer]

Hey, new to OSX here. I've downloaded some files and music, and the files don't seem to be showing up in finder. However, if I search for the file specifically, finder will find it, and only then will it show up in finder when I browse through the folders. Can someone help me out with this?

Also, is there a way to have finder automatically clean up and sort alphabetically, or do I have to manage it on my own everytime I add a new file? Thanks

[JKT]

Can't help with the first part, but be aware that MacOS will automatically sort newly added items to their logical position in the Finder window rather than needing the view to be refreshed, so if you are expecting to see the file at the bottom of the listing like you would in Windows, it won't be there - it'll be whereever it is meant to be based on your sorting criteria (generally speaking - sometimes it takes a second or two to sort it correctly).

To change how things are sorted for each of the views, when in the Finder, select the view you wish to change the properties for (that is, pick Icon, List or Column view) and choose Show View Options from the View menu in the menubar. Note, Icons and List view can be sorted by a number of criteria (alphanumerically, date created, kind , etc) but Column is limited to alphanumeric sorting only.

For the Desktop, click the Desktop to give it focus then choose Show View Options again and pick your sort order (personally, I use Kind):

[rehoot]

Depending on how your have your files sorted, sometimes the new files appear at the top (or bottom) of the list, but they are out of the scroll region--even if you were already at the top (or bottom). It might be a scrolling issue.

I have had a problem similar to yours when I create a new file, and I'm in Safari trying to upload that file, but Safari shows a file list that does not contain the new file. Perhaps this is what you experience directly in Finder. I have found that if I switch to Finder, display the directory where the new file is, then flip back to Safari, the new file magically appears in the file list.

I don't have a good fix, but you can try going up a folder and then back into the directory where the new file is, or maybe closing the window, opening a new Finder window (Commnad-N) and going to the folder.