Mac 101: Hovering to copy

Many new Mac users think that in order to drag a file into a folder, that it must already be open on your screen. In fact, OS X offers a lovely trick that allows you to navigate through folders as you perform your drag and drop. To make this happen, start dragging the file you want to relocate. When you reach the parent folder of the folder you want to relocate to, hover for a few seconds. Finder recognizes that you're hovering and opens that folder for you. You can then locate the next folder down in the path, hover there, and so on until your reach your destination.

This is particularly useful when dragging items onto other desks, especially networked disks. You can drag and hover items onto disks in Finder window's source pane as well to move files between computers.

And what do you do if the item you want to drag onto is off screen? Drag in the direction you need to go. Finder is smart enough to help scroll the window for you.