Download ForkLift for Mac

In the edit

When you're juggling files across local folders, remote servers, and cloud storage, the Finder starts to feel like it was built for a simpler time. ForkLift 4 for Mac steps in as a proper dual-pane file manager and FTP client that doesn't make you choose between power and polish.

Can it handle both local and remote files in one view?

Yes. ForkLift shows two panels side by side or stacked, and each can point to a local folder, an FTP server, Amazon S3, WebDAV, SMB, AFP, or NFS volume. You drag files between them like you would in the Finder, but nothing leaves your sight.

What about archives and previews?

You can browse inside ZIP, RAR, and other archives without extracting them first. Photos, PDFs, and common document types preview right in the panel, so you don't need to open a separate app for a quick look.

Open files in your editor or launch a terminal from any folder

It opens text files on local or remote servers directly in your editor. You can also launch Terminal, iTerm, or Hyper from the current folder with one click, which saves a lot of cd-ing around.

Before you jump in, it helps to know what you're working with. ForkLift 4.7.6 runs on macOS 12 and later, and it's built for Intel Macs — so if you're on an Apple Silicon machine, it will run under Rosetta 2 without any extra setup. The app itself is lightweight; it doesn't demand a powerhouse, but a reasonably recent Mac with enough RAM for your usual file operations will feel snappier when you're handling multiple remote connections at once.

Installation quirks and how to get past them

The install process is straightforward, but macOS security can throw up a few hurdles. Here's the routine:

1. Mount the disk image.
2. Run Open Gatekeeper friendly — that's a small tool included in the package that streamlines the next step.
3. Press Enter in Terminal to bypass Gatekeeper. This is one of those steps that looks intimidating the first time, but it's just a single command.
4. Drag the app to your Applications folder.
5. Disable SIP if required. You'll know it's needed if the app won't launch after the other steps; it's not always necessary.

The most common snag people hit is forgetting to run the Gatekeeper bypass before launching the app. If you drag ForkLift to Applications and try to open it straight away, macOS will block it. The fix is simple: go back and run the Terminal step before you launch. Another thing to watch for is SIP — System Integrity Protection. On newer macOS versions, some users find ForkLift behaves better with SIP disabled, but test it first before making that change.

Drag-and-drop and selection improvements that speed up daily file work

The latest update isn't a complete overhaul, and that's fine. It focuses on two areas that affect how you work day to day. First, the user experience improvements when interacting with files — things like drag-and-drop feedback, selection behaviour, and how the app responds when you're moving items around. It's the kind of polish you notice after a few hours of use, not a flashy new feature.

Second, there are fixes for two issues that cropped up on macOS 27 Golden Gate. If you're running that version, you might have seen odd behaviour when connecting to certain remote volumes or when previewing specific file types. Those should be resolved now. For everyone else on macOS 12 through 26, the update is mostly about stability and smoother interactions.

If you've been using ForkLift for a while, you'll find the workflow hasn't changed. The panels, the remote connections, the sync tools — they all work the same way. What's different is the feel of the file operations, and that's exactly the kind of update a working photographer or system admin appreciates. No learning curve, just fewer friction points.

New this release

• User experience improvements when interacting with files.
• Fixes for two issues on macOS 27 Golden Gate.

Mac it needs

• macOS 12 or later
• Intel or Apple Silicon