Set Finder's Default View Style via defaults
Use FXPreferredViewStyle to make new Finder windows open in list, column or gallery view instead of icons.
Run `defaults write com.apple.finder FXPreferredViewStyle -string "Nlsv" && killall Finder` (Nlsv=list, icgv=icons, clmv=columns, glyv=gallery).
01Command
Command
$ defaults write com.apple.finder FXPreferredViewStyle -string "Nlsv" && killall Finder02What it does
FXPreferredViewStyle is the preference Finder consults for windows whose folder has no stored per-folder view. The four accepted values are Nlsv (list), icgv (icon), clmv (column) and glyv (gallery); Nlsv is the classic power-user choice because it sorts files cleanly and shows sizes and dates. killall Finder applies the change immediately without a logout.
03Risk
!Warning: Folders where you already changed the view manually keep their own per-folder setting — this only changes the default.
04Undo
Undo
$ defaults delete com.apple.finder FXPreferredViewStyle && killall Finder05Sources
- macOS defaults - read, write and delete macOS user defaultsEvidence: Documents `defaults write domain key -string value` for string preference keys and restarting Finder (killall Finder) to apply preference changes.
- macOS setup dotfiles (.macos)Evidence: Contains 'defaults write com.apple.finder FXPreferredViewStyle -string "Nlsv"' with a comment setting Finder to list view by default.
Last verified: 2026-09-19 · Category: Files & Folders
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