---
slug: "finder-copy-full-path-to-clipboard-service"
title: "How to Add \"Copy Full File Path to Clipboard\" to Finder's Services Menu"
description: "How to create a Quick Action using macOS Automator that copies the full file path to the clipboard with a right-click in Finder."
url: "https://www.ytyng.com/en/blog/finder-copy-full-path-to-clipboard-service"
publish_date: "2026-02-10T23:29:53.164Z"
created: "2026-02-10T23:29:53.166Z"
updated: "2026-02-27T05:53:15.920Z"
categories: []
keywords: ""
featured_image_url: "https://media.ytyng.com/resize/20260210/e694311eb8194f8f9eabec30d65b4281.png.webp?width=768"
has_video: true
has_music: true
video_urls: ["https://media.ytyng.net/ytyng-blog/333/featured-video-1.mp4", "https://media.ytyng.net/ytyng-blog/333/featured-video-2.mp4", "https://media.ytyng.net/ytyng-blog/333/featured-video-3.mp4"]
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lang: "en"
---

# How to Add "Copy Full File Path to Clipboard" to Finder's Services Menu

When working in Finder, you often need to copy the full path of a file to the clipboard. Using the built-in Automator on macOS, you can create a Quick Action that lets you do this with a single right-click.

## Steps

### 1. Launch Automator

Open Spotlight (⌘ + Space), type "Automator", and launch it.

### 2. Create a New Document

Select "New Document" → "Quick Action".

### 3. Configure Settings

- Change "Workflow receives current" to **files or folders**
- Set "in" to **Finder.app**

### 4. Add a Shell Script

Double-click "Run Shell Script" from the action list on the left, then configure:

- Set the shell to **/bin/bash**
- Change "Pass input" to **as arguments**
- Enter the following script:

```bash
export LANG=ja_JP.UTF-8
for f in "$@"
do
    echo -n "$f" | pbcopy
done
```

**Note**: The `export LANG=ja_JP.UTF-8` line is needed to prevent garbled characters in non-ASCII file names. Automator's shell environment doesn't have locale settings enabled by default.

### 5. Save

Save with ⌘ + S. Name it something like "Copy Full Path".

## Save Location

The workflow is saved as a `.workflow` file in `~/Library/Services/`.

## Usage

Select a file in Finder → Right-click → Find it under "Quick Actions".

Note: Since macOS Monterey, the "Services" menu has been consolidated into "Quick Actions".

## Troubleshooting

If the action doesn't appear:

- Restart Finder: `killall Finder`
- Check System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Services → Files and Folders to ensure the service is enabled

## Copying Multiple File Paths with Newline Separators

Replace the script with:

```bash
export LANG=ja_JP.UTF-8
printf '%s\n' "$@" | pbcopy
```

This copies the paths of all selected files, separated by newlines.