FileUtils provides some advanced file operations and utilities and since it operates as a Finder Sync extension, it's natural it should access all files that Finder can access. In that regard, using the non-sandboxed variant of FileUtils seems like the most logical thing to do. Non-sandboxed variant of FileUtils can access all files on your disks and you will see FileUtils's menu commands in Finder's contextual and toolbar action menus for every file you can see in Finder.
However, some people still prefer sandboxed applications, they prefer an application to access only the files a user has consensually given access to. Sandboxed variant of FileUtils is intended for such audience. It can access only files and folders a user has allowed FileUtils to access. Defining which files are accessible is done in Folders section of FileUtils settings. Go to FileUtils > Settings… > Folders (available only in sandboxed and MAS variants) and add accessible folders, like in the picture below:
Note that you don't need to add to the list separate folders if all folders in a parent folder are to be accessed. Just add the parent folder instead. For files and folders outside of accessible folders hierarchies, FileUtils will not show menu commands in Finder's contextual and toolbar action menus, not can it execute any operations on them.
Mac App Store (MAS) variant of FileUtils is exactly the same as the sandboxed one, with additional limitation of not being able to execute any operations which require privileges escalation. That usually happens when logged-in user has insufficient access rights to execute a specific operation on a file and macOS shows a prompt panel, asking for administrator's username and password. Applications which can escalate privileges are not allowed in MAS by Apple. In such cases, instead of showing a prompt for administrator's credentials, MAS variant of FileUtils shows an appropriate access denied error, with additional anchor with detailed explanation about this specific error.
However, experience shows that many people prefer using applications they get from MAS, hence the availability of MAS variant of FileUtils.
The trial version of FileUtils is fully functional for 30 days. After that period, FileUtils will occasionally and randomly pop up a nagging panel, reminding you how nice it would be if you supported its further development by purchasing and registering the application. After dismissing the nagging panel, FileUtils continues being operational as usual.
Mac App Store variant does not have any trial period. Once it is purchased in the MAS, it is fully functional.
Currently, there isn't a very strict license policy imposed. FileUtils doesn't check on how many Macs a single license is used; not by contacting our server, not by checking running instances in the local network, not by keeping any local reference to number of used licenses. Some reasonable usage would be one license on 3 - 5 Macs and we rely on people being fair enough not to abuse that.
There aren't any specific license packs (family, site, business) at the moment, but if the demand for those grow big enough, such licensing may be introduced as well.
No, there aren't such limitations. First of all, FileUtils is NOT a subscription-ware and it will never be! Being categorized as a utility tool, we strongly believe FileUtils is in the software category, that should NOT be distributed through subscription.
We still stick to the old school licensing model; full price for the first purchase, upgrade price for major upgrade versions. Currently the next major version is still 2 - 3 years away.
Menu commands in Finder are provided by a Finder Sync extension embedded in FileUtils. The first thing to check is if FileUtilsSync extension is enabled. If you use FileUtils variant not purchased on the Mac App Store (MAS), the extension should be automatically enabled the first time you launch FileUtils, but perhaps something went wrong with OS extension system. If you use the MAS variant, then you need to enable the extension manually (you have to do it only once, but as mentioned, macOS extension system gets weird sometimes, so it may happen you need to repeat the procedure after updating FileUtils from the MAS). On macOS 13 Ventura and later (as of this writing, this DOES NOT APPLY to macOS 15 Sequoia, see a special note below), extension settings are buried deep inside System Settings application. Open System Settings application, select Privacy & Security in the sidebar on the left, scroll down completely the right pane, until you see Others: Extensions. Click on it and the right pane will change, revealing Added extensions at the top. Click on it and in the window sheet that appears there should be FileUtils listed, with Finder extensions checkbox, like it the picture below:
Make sure the FileUtils: Finder extensions checkbox is ticked, which means FileUtilsSync extension is enabled.
On macOS 12 Monterey and earlier, extension settings are much easier to find, inside System Preferences application. Open System Preferences application and click on Extensions in the main pane. There should be Finder Extensions section in the list to the left of the window. Reveal Finder Extensions section and in the list that appears on the right there should be FileUtilsSync extension listed, like it the picture below:
Tick the checkbox on the left of extension name to enable it.
SPECIAL NOTE for macOS 15 Sequoia: Apple removed the Finder Sync extensions configuration interface from System Settings in macOS 15 Sequoia. Managing these extensions is possible only using the command line tool pluginkit. To avoid using the terminal, you can use FinderSyncer, a small tool I created for this purpose. There is the whole story surrounding its creation, which you might be interested to read. It enables managing of Finder Sync extensions the same way as in System Settings/Preferences application, as shown in the picture below:
If FileUtilsSync extension is enabled, but you still don't see its menu commands inFinder while FileUtils is running, check if the extension is running as well. Open Activity Monitor application and see if the process(es) named FileUtilsSync is running. If it is not, then it wasn't started by the OS. FileUtilsSync extension is started by the macOS, not by FileUtils application itself. In order to ensure reliable starting or the extension, FileUtils HAS to be installed in either /Applications (macOS applications folder) or ~/Applications (your home applications folder). Installing FileUtils in any other location DOES NOT ensure successful start of the extension. It may work, but it also may not.
If FileUtilsSync is running but you still don't see its menu commands in Finder, and you're running sandboxed variant of FileUtils, perhaps you forgot to add folders, which sandboxed FileTools is able to monitor and control. You should do so into Folders in FileUtils settings. This has to be done due to FileUtils's sandboxed nature. Go to FileUtils > Settings… > Folders and add your monitored folders, like in the picture below:
Note that you don't need to add to the list separate folders if all folders in a parent folder are to be monitored. Just add the parent folder instead.
Finally, some system folders cannot be monitored by Finder Sync extensions. Such folders are iCloud Drive, and some subfolders of /System and /Library (system and system library folders). FileUtils cannot show contextual menu and toolbar item menu items for these unmonitored folders and folders and files inside their hierarchies. However, you can still execute FileUtils commands on these folders (and folders and files inside their hierarchies) using Finder Services provided by FileUtils.
FileUtils integration is provided by a Finder Sync extension FileUtilsSync, which primary function is integration with Finder. Hence, FileUtils doesn't integrate with other file managers for macOS.
FileUtils provides a dedicated Finder Service for each operation it can execute. This enables invoking FileUtils operations in Finder from the main menu action Finder > Services, just like using Finder's contextual and toolbar action menus. But more importantly, those service actions can have key shortcuts assigned to them, which enables invoking FileUtils operations in Finder using keyboard only, without clicking and revealing any menus.
By default, FileUtils enables all its Services, but they don't have any key shortcuts assigned to them. Enabling and disabling particular Services, as well as assigning key shortcuts to them is done in System Settings application. On macOS 13 Ventura and later, open System Settings application, select Keyboard in the sidebar on the left and click Keyboard Shortcuts… in the right pane. In the window sheet that appears, select Services> in the sidebar on the left and in the right pane you will find FileUtils related Services under the Files and Folders section, like it the picture below:
On macOS 12 Monterey and earlier, open System Preferences application, and click on Keyboard in the main pane. In tabs which appear, select Shortcuts and then in the list that appears on the left select Services. In the right pane you will find FileUtils related Services under the Files and Folders section, like it the picture below:
Enable or disable a particular Service by ticking its checkbox ON/OFF and assign preferred key shortcuts in the right pane. NOTE: When assigning key shortcut to Services, make sure those shortcuts are NOT already taken by Finder (examine carefully all Finder's main menu items for particular key shortcut). If you assign to a Service a key shortcut already taken by Finder, it will invoke already assigned action in Finder, not FileUtils operation.
In a sad case of wanting to get rid of FileUtils, it's easy as dragging its icon to the Trash and emptying the Trash. In a highly unlikely case of getting alert "The item “FileUtils” can’t be moved to the Trash because some of its extensions are in use", open Activity Monitor, find FileUtilsSync process(es), select it/them and perform Force Quit on it/them. After that you'll be able to delete FileUtils.
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