How do I customize Finder toolbar with expanded 'view' options on Mac?

I'm running 15.7.2, trying to customize the finder toolbar, is it possible to have the expanded "view" option in the toolbar? ie four seperate icons "icons, list, column, gallery"? All i can seem to get is an icon for "view" with a drop down to select on of those four options.. but it's an unneccesary click each time.. even if i clear the entire toolbar and just put the "view" icon, it still doesn't expand it :(

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Finder toolbar customization question

Posted on Nov 12, 2025 6:18 AM

Top-ranking reply

Blaskowitz

Level 3

565 points

Posted on Nov 12, 2025 7:23 AM

Yep — it's not you, Finder's just picky about space. The little segmented View control only expands into the four separate icons when there's enough room in the toolbar. So even if you set Customize Toolbar → Show "Icon and Text", a narrow window will still collapse it into the single dropdown.

What I do (when I want to avoid the extra click): use the shortcuts — ⌘-1 = Icon, ⌘-2 = List, ⌘-3 = Column, ⌘-4 = Gallery. Way faster than dragging the window every time. Otherwise you either make that Finder window wider (like ~60% of screen, as you noticed) or keep the dropdown and live with the click.

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16 replies

dialabrain

Level 10

135,527 points

Nov 12, 2025 7:38 AM in response to borped

borped wrote:

All i can seem to get is an icon for "view" with a drop down to select on of those four options.. but it's an unneccesary click each time.. even if i clear the entire toolbar and just put the "view" icon, it still doesn't expand it :(

About this ^… It's still only one click. You click and hold and drag to make your selection.

How do I customize Finder toolbar with expanded 'view' options on Mac?