Kempt
In short
A backlog is different from new downloads: hundreds of files, unclear names, no memory of what they are. Work from what is identifiable to what isn’t, and never in one pass. Kempt’s Tidy a Folder reads every file in the folder you choose, proposes a name and a place for each, and moves only the ones you approve.
Without any app
Sort by kind, then by date
In list view, sort by Kind to separate photos, PDFs and installers, then by Date Modified inside each group. Old installers and duplicates go first.
Preview with the space bar
Select the first file and press Space, then use the arrow keys. Quick Look lets you see each document without opening an app.
Set a time limit
Twenty minutes a day beats one lost Sunday. Stop when the obvious files are done and leave the rest for tomorrow.
With Kempt
Point it at any folder
Click Tidy a Folder… in the sidebar and pick the folder. Its files appear like Downloads, with Kempt’s proposed name and folder for each.
Names you can actually check
Each row shows the full proposed name, the old one and a preview button, sorted by date, size or name.
Approve in batches
Tick what looks right, click Tidy, and undo any batch later from Activity. Files Kempt is unsure of stay where they are.
$27 once, 14 days freeRuns on every Apple silicon MacA question? Ask a person
Questions people ask
Does Tidy a Folder go into subfolders?
It works on the files at the top of the folder you choose. Pick a subfolder next if it needs the same treatment; folders you already organized stay as they are.
Can I tidy a folder on an external drive?
Yes, as long as the drive is connected. Files move into your Kempt library, so they end up on your Mac.
What about files I want to keep exactly where they are?
Untick them, or add them to Never touch in Settings so Kempt never proposes moving them again.