How can I increase the size of thumbnails when opening files?

Solution 1:

This answer applied to whatever version of OS X I was using in 2014.

Run

/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c 'set FK_StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:iconSize 48' ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist

where 48 is the new icon size, and restart to apply the changes. Just logging out and back in does not seem to apply the changes.

The FK_StandardViewSettings settings are used by FinderKit and file dialogs. They are not changed when you press the "Use as Defaults" button from Finder's view options.

If you run the command on a new installation and there is an error like Set: Entry, "FK_StandardViewSettings:IconViewSettings:iconSize", Does Not Exist, open a file dialog once in some application first.

Solution 2:

slowernet's answer is almost there, but not quite. On my Yosemite OS, the correct command is:

/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c 'set FK_DefaultIconViewSettings:iconSize 192' ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist

And the command takes effect immediately.

Solution 3:

Try this:

• Open Finder
• Change View to Icons
• Hold CMD Then press + or -

Then, while in finder command+f and repeat above steps.

Mac stores each view setting for finder, two that I know of.

One, when you open a new window for finder and One, when you are searching within finder.

Solution 4:

When you are in the Finder folder, click on View-->Show View Options and then a screen will pop up with an Icon Image slider so you can adjust the size from there.