macOS · Apps
Manage Finder, Share, and system extensions
Extensions settings let you enable or disable add-ons that other apps install into Finder, the Share menu, Today widgets, and other system surfaces, giving you control over what third-party code can hook into.
How to open Extensions
- Open System Settings → General → Login Items & Extensions
- Scroll to the Extensions section
- Expand a category like Finder Extensions or Share Menu
- Toggle individual extensions on or off as needed
What you should know
- Finder extensions add custom icons, actions, or sidebar items
- Share Menu extensions add destinations like cloud services to the Share sheet
- Action extensions add right-click quick actions in Finder
- Grouped alongside Login Items in the same settings pane for a unified view of what runs automatically
Why it matters
Extensions are a common way for apps to quietly extend their reach across the system, whether that is adding a cloud storage option to every Share menu or inserting a Finder sidebar shortcut. Reviewing this list periodically helps catch extensions left behind by uninstalled apps, and gives visibility into what third-party code is actively integrated into core system surfaces like Finder and the Share menu.
Best practices
- Periodically review enabled extensions and disable ones tied to apps you no longer use
- Disable Share Menu extensions you never use to keep that menu shorter and faster to scan
- Check Finder extensions after installing cloud storage or utility apps, since many add one silently
- Investigate any extension you do not recognize before leaving it enabled
Common problems and fixes
- A Finder sidebar item or icon overlay will not go away
- Find the related extension in Extensions settings and toggle it off, then relaunch Finder.
- Share menu has too many entries
- Disable unused Share Menu extensions from the Extensions list to trim the menu.
- An extension reappears after being disabled
- The parent app may be re-enabling it on launch; check that app's own preferences for an extension toggle.
Tips and tricks
- Use this pane right after installing a new utility app to see exactly what it added to the system.
- Disable extensions one at a time if troubleshooting a Finder slowdown, to isolate the cause.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as browser extensions?
No, this covers system-level Finder, Share, and Action extensions; browser extensions are managed separately within each browser.
Does disabling an extension uninstall the app?
No, it only stops that specific extension from being active; the parent app remains installed.
Why are Login Items and Extensions combined in one settings pane?
Apple grouped them together since both represent background functionality apps add without an active window.
Related settings
- Login Items & ExtensionsLogin Items & Extensions settings control which apps and documents open automatically when you log in, plus which system extensions — like Finder add-ons, sharing options, and background helper processes — are allowed to run.
- General & Default AppsThe General settings pane covers system-wide basics like software update, storage, and login items, while default app settings let you choose which app opens web links, email, and specific file types instead of relying on Apple's built-in apps.
- Mission Control & SpacesMission Control gives you a bird's-eye view of every open window and virtual desktop (called a Space) on your Mac, so you can quickly find a window or switch contexts. Spaces let you group apps by project or activity instead of piling every window onto one desktop.
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