When you get to the Mac operating system, one of the things that strikes you is that there is no option to cut a file from a location to be able to stick it in another. In Windows if there is the possibility of cutting files from one place and then paste them in another so the process seems simpler than on Mac.
Why easier? Because on Mac what we have to do is copy the original file, then paste it in the new location and finally go back to the first location and delete the unwanted file.
As you can see, it works very differently from what we have in other systems such as Windows. Now, the fact that this option to cut is not available directly does not mean that it cannot be done with an alternative procedure and it is that in the Apple computer system a keyboard shortcut has been established that allows to do the same effect but without cutting or pasting, simply the "Move" procedure has been implemented.
When you select a file, if before you start moving it you press the «command ⌘» key, you will see that when you drop the file in the new location what you will have done is the movement of it disappearing from the initial location. You'd be doing a covert cut and paste. This is a very simple way to recover the longed-for Windows gesture of cutting and pasting files between locations within the system.
You can also do it with keyboard shortcuts: CMD + C to copy the file and CMD + ALT + V paste and move the file to the final destination
Very good and useful comment. Thank you Mauricio
Isn't it easier to say that just dragging files from one Finder window to another is enough? It is much more intuitive than Windows cut-paste.
I've been with Mac for 15 years and have never copied or cut-pasted files. You drag them and go. And with the cmd, control and option keys you choose whether to move, copy or make an alias.
I made the comment and it looks like it hasn't been sent. I put it again:
I add more information:
Drag between two Finder windows: Move (cut and paste in Windows)
Drag between two Finder windows + option (alt): Copy (copy and paste in Windows)
Drag between two Finder windows + option (alt) + cmd (⌘): Alias (shortcut on Windows)
Drag to an icon from the Dock: Open that file with that application (open with in Windows). If the application and file type are compatible, the application icon will be dark.
Note 1: The key must be pressed while dragging, not before. And you don't have to drop it until after you drop the file to the new location.
Note 2: While the file is being dragged, the different keys can be pressed and the cursor will change to indicate what will happen: When moving it is a normal cursor, when copying a “+” appears and an arrow appears when making an alias.
Note 3: If you regret while dragging the file, you can press the escape key to cancel or drop the file (s) in the menu bar (at the top).
Note 4: This can also be done in Windows, the difference is that the keys to press are different.
Note 5: What the article says about "if before starting to move you press the command key ⌘" is an error. Pressing that key before dragging the file does nothing.
I think this is much more intuitive and faster: You click on the file and without releasing it, you take it wherever you want and you release the mouse, in total one click and one mouse movement. It is easier than using keyboard shortcuts ("cmd + c" and "cmd + v") and much faster than using the conceptual menus, which include more mouse clicks and scrolling: Right click, scroll to "Copy" in the contextual menu, click on "Copy", scroll to the new location, right click, scroll to "Paste" in the new location, click on "Paste".
For more information:
Drag between two windows: Move (cut-paste in Windows)
Drag between two windows + option (alt): Copy (copy-paste in Windows)
Drag between two windows + option (alt) + cmd (⌘): Alias (shortcut on Windows)
Dragging a file to an application on the dock to open it with that application (open with in Windows), the application icon will be dimmed if it supports the file type.
Note1: The key is pressed while dragging, not before. And the key is not released until the file has been released, that is, it must be held down when releasing the mouse.
Note 2: While dragging the file, the different keys can be pressed and the icon will change depending on what is going to happen: When moving, nothing appears, when copying a "+" appears and when making an alias it appears an arrow.
Note 3: While you are dragging a file, you can place yourself on a folder icon and it will open so that you can browse its contents.
Note 4: If you regret while dragging, you can press the escape key to cancel or drop the file (s) that you are moving in the menu bar (at the top) so that they stay where they were.
Note 5: This is also valid in Windows, the difference is that other keys are used.
I think it is super intuitive and fast. More than doing keyboard shortcuts ("cmd + c" - "cmd + v") and much more than using the contextual menu that involves many actions with the mouse (right click on the file, select "Copy", right click on the new location, select "Paste").
What the article says about "if before starting to move you press the command key mover" is a mistake, pressing that key before moving does nothing. It does not matter to press it or not.
I am a new user on Mac and I have verified that sometimes the move works as you have explained it and sometimes it does not. I do not understand why