Click-pause-click file renaming not working in macOS 27.2 list/column view

I do not believe Apple has intentionally removed or changed this functionality in macOS 27.2. It appears more likely to be a Finder regression or bug.

Other users have reported similar behaviour since macOS 27.2: the traditional click-pause-click method of renaming a file no longer works in List or Column view, although it continues to work in Icon view.

The fact that you have  experiencing this on both an M4 Mac mini and an M1 Pro MacBook Pro makes a hardware-specific problem unlikely.

In the meantime, there are two simple alternatives:

Select the file and press Return to edit its name.

Right-click (Secondary Click) the file and select Rename.

For anyone unfamiliar with Secondary Click, Apple explains how to use it with either a mouse or trackpad here:

Right-click on Mac

You can also hold down Control while clicking to bring up the contextual menu and choose Rename 

Apple's documentation still supports the traditional file-renaming methods, so there is no indication that this is an intentional change.

Hopefully, it is simply a Finder bug that Apple will address in a subsequent update.

I would recommend reporting it using the  Product Feedback which may put this on Apple's radar.

I cannot replicate the behavior you describe. On my 16" M4 Pro MBP running macOS 27.2, I can click on a file or folder, wait a moment then click in the name field and the name field becomes editable. For example, a new folder that I just created.

Note there there are other ways to edit the name of a file – you can select an item then press return, or you can Force Click on the name field. Those methods are documented by Apple (unlike the click, wait, click again method though as stated, that still works).

More info from Apple: Rename files, folders, and disks on Mac - Apple Support

Have you rebooted your Mac? If not, that's the first step. If that does not help, then see if the problem is present when you boot in safe mode. That process performs some system cleanup and clears caches, and also disables 3rd party extensions that may cause problems.

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

If that does not correct the issue, test in a new user account. A newly-created user account will have all settings at default, and if the issue does not occur in that new account then it provides guidance on what may need to be changed to correct the issue.

Add a user or group on Mac - Apple Support

Once the testing is complete, the new account can easily be deleted.

Delete a user or group on Mac – Apple Support

Those steps will help to isolate the problem.

Icon view works normally for me, it's list and column view that do this behaviour.

I have no trouble editing file names. It's just that 20 years of muscle memory getting shut down can be a drag.

Safe boot brought no help.

Adding a user and logging into it, I found something. File rename in list view worked with a new user, with the trackpad set without tap-to-click. When I changed the trackpad settings to tap-to-click it wouldn't work. I found I can edit names with tap-pause-CLICK. Not tap-pause-tap. Rebooted back, and that still works.

I can live with that. Still odd though. Haven't found anything in the Trackpad settings that would do this.

I tested click-pause in list view first on Apple apps. Does not work.

Then I tested in list view in a folder of documents I created:

No issues getting it to highlight or edit.

This is on an M4 Pro MacBook Pro running 27.2 and no extraneous add-ons. Sometimes for recent updates, it seems we need a second restart after the one that finishes the update process. Tried that?

ccunderground wrote:

It would be helpful to know if using a mouse or trackpad, clicking or tapping, is giving anyone else problems.

For me, using a trackpad (internal or external) the post-wait TAP does not allow editing of the file name. Click or tap, then wait, then click does work. The second click on a Magic Mouse works (tap is not an option).

The other options of select an item then press return and Force Click on the name field work. Seems unlikely to be an intentional behavior change, more likely a bug.

Bugs can be reported to Apple here:

Feedback - macOS - Apple

Same here, just noticed it today. Exact same issue, probably a newly introduced bug.

I can't count the number of times I've restarted since 27.2. I'm only having a problem with the second tap on a trackpad; a full click isn't a problem. It would be helpful to know if using a mouse or trackpad, clicking or tapping, is giving anyone else problems.

I have now reported it to Apple.

Not sure if it's a bug tho. If many with tap-to-click enabled on a trackpad were inadvertently renaming instead of opening files, (slow double-click) this could be how to fix that. Tap-pause-click still works, and editing in icon mode works since most would double-click the icon to open it, not the name.

Just to confirm that the earlier post was on my Mac mini. Works the same on my MacBook Pro. Both use trackpads.

I have the same problem. All other rename methods work fine, except the click-pause-click behaviour.

MacBook Air - M4

I just tried it tonight for the first time since 27.2, and I have the same issue. I know I can hit return to rename - I just always had the habit of click pause click.