Cut & Move is a native macOS menu bar app that adds Cmd+X → Cmd+V file moves to Finder. Use familiar cut-and-paste shortcuts while Finder handles the actual move and any conflicts.
Current source: v2.0.2 (published release). Published download: v2.0.2.
Download v2.0.2 · Marketing page · Setup guide · v2.0.2 release notes
| Product fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Published version | v2.0.2 — signed and notarized DMG / ZIP |
| Current source | v2.0.2 — published release |
| Compatibility | macOS 26.1 or later; Apple silicon only (M1 or later) |
| Permission | Accessibility access for Finder keyboard shortcuts |
| License | Free for uses permitted by PolyForm Strict 1.0.0 |
| Distribution | GitHub Releases; no Mac App Store version |
| Privacy | No keystroke recording, analytics, or application network requests |
| Creator and support | Richard Crane, MILL5 · rich@mill5.com |
- Menu bar app -- lives in your menu bar with a scissors icon, no Dock clutter
- Launch at Login -- optional auto-start via the menu bar dropdown
- Visual feedback -- scissors icon changes when cut mode is active
- Finder-only -- only intercepts keyboard events when Finder is the active app
- Zero dependencies -- pure Swift using system frameworks only
- Cmd+X in Finder -- the app copies the selected files (Cmd+C) and enters "cut mode"
- Cmd+V in Finder -- the app converts the paste into a move (Cmd+Option+V), relocating the files instead of duplicating them
- The menu bar scissors icon fills in while cut mode is active
Cancel cut mode at any time with Escape or Cmd+C.
- macOS 26.1+
- Accessibility permissions -- the app needs permission to modify Finder keyboard events. It requests access at launch and rechecks permission automatically; enable access in System Settings when prompted.
- Download
CutAndMove.dmgfrom Releases. - Open the DMG and drag CutAndMove into Applications, then launch it.
- Grant Accessibility permissions when prompted (System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility)
The app is signed with MILL5's Developer ID and notarized by Apple. It is distributed directly, not through the Mac App Store. A ZIP is also available.
Open CutAndMove.xcodeproj in Xcode to develop locally, or use make build and make test.
Releases follow MacEdgeLight's workflow: archive → Developer ID upload for notarization → export the notarized app → verify → package a signed DMG and ZIP → GitHub Release.
Requirements: full Xcode selected with xcode-select (or DEVELOPER_DIR), the MILL5 Apple account configured in Xcode, its Developer ID Application certificate/private key, create-dmg, authenticated GitHub CLI access, and a valid notarytool Keychain profile for the signed DMG. Create it locally with xcrun notarytool store-credentials CutAndMoveNotarize --team-id FS6453639M; enter the Apple ID and app-specific password in Terminal, never in source or chat. Use NOTARY_PROFILE=existing-profile with make to select another saved profile.
make release
# Commit the release changes, then create and push the matching vVERSION tag.
make publishUpdate MARKETING_VERSION (always major.minor.patch), CURRENT_PROJECT_VERSION, and docs/RELEASE_NOTES_VERSION.md before releasing. Run make marketing to synchronize the full version across this README, the marketing page, metadata, FAQs, and llms.txt. make marketing-check and CI reject stale generated content. The current version comes from Xcode; the published download version comes from marketing.json. make release checks the app's signature, stapled ticket, and Gatekeeper acceptance, then signs, notarizes, staples, and verifies the outer DMG. It refuses to overwrite existing DMG/ZIP files; use a fresh BUILD_DIR for a new build. To retry notarization of an already-created DMG, run make BUILD_DIR=your-build-folder notarize-dmg. This submits a new request; it does not resume an earlier timed-out submission. Regenerate SHA256SUMS after stapling changes the DMG bytes. make publish requires the tag to exist on GitHub and verifies the DMG ticket/Gatekeeper assessment and package checksums.
The export plists use method=developer-id; destination=upload sends to Apple's notary service, not App Store Connect publishing. Keep the bundle identifier M5.CutAndMove and team FS6453639M. Downloads are available from GitHub Releases. Update marketing.json only after a new release is actually published.
Published release. The enhancements below describe the current source, not an older download.
- Clear keyboard setup: separate permission, monitoring-unavailable, and ready states.
- Persistent recovery: Retry Monitoring and Done controls, with content-sized diagnostics.
- Accurate native labels: Keyboard Shortcut Settings, the product homepage in About, and counted Finder actions.
- Readable downloads: full hardware requirements, stronger contrast, and clearer release/help wording.
- Existing Finder integration: keyboard, context-menu, toolbar, badges, and validated menu moves remain available.
See verification status for test coverage and remaining live-Finder checks.
Cut & Move is a native macOS menu bar utility that adds Cmd+X followed by Cmd+V for moving files in Finder. It uses Finder's built-in Move Item Here command rather than replacing Finder.
Without an app, select files in Finder, press Cmd+C, open the destination, then press Cmd+Option+V to move them. With Cut & Move running, use Cmd+X followed by Cmd+V instead.
The published download is Cut & Move v2.0.2, available as a Developer ID signed, Apple-notarized DMG or ZIP on GitHub Releases. The current source is v2.0.2 (published release). It is not distributed through the Mac App Store.
Cut & Move v2.0.2 requires macOS 26.1 or later and supports Apple silicon only (M1 or later).
Accessibility permission lets the app intercept and modify keyboard events for Finder shortcuts. The app does not record keystrokes, collect analytics, or transmit file contents. You can revoke access in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility.
Cut & Move targets Finder. Other apps keep their normal Cmd+X and Cmd+V behavior. Keyboard moves use Finder's Move Item Here command and conflict dialogs.
The published v2.0.2 release includes a Finder Sync extension with right-click Cut, Move Here, and Cancel Cut, a toolbar menu, and pending-cut badges. Enable it once for automatic coverage of local folders and mounted drives; no folder setup is needed. macOS permissions still apply. The main app performs menu-driven moves without automatic overwrites.
Press Escape or Cmd+C to cancel a pending cut. The menu bar scissors icon indicates whether cut mode is active.
Cut & Move is free for uses permitted by PolyForm Strict 1.0.0. Its source is available on GitHub, but it is not offered under an unrestricted open-source license. Read LICENSE for use, modification, and distribution restrictions.
Cut & Move was created by Richard Crane, Microsoft MVP and founder of MILL5. Contact rich@mill5.com for support.
CutAndMove/
CutAndMoveApp.swift # App entry point, menu bar UI, window definitions
GlobalKeyboardHandler.swift # Core keyboard interception via CGEvent tap
FinderIntegration.swift # Shared keyboard/menu cut state and requests
FileMoveService.swift # Validated menu-driven file moves
LaunchManager.swift # Launch-at-login via ServiceManagement
PermissionsView.swift # Accessibility permissions request UI
AboutView.swift # About window
Assets.xcassets/ # App icons and colors
CutAndMoveFinder/
FinderSync.swift # Native Finder menus, toolbar, and badges
Shared/
FinderBridge.swift # Local app-group communication
The keyboard interception uses a CGEvent tap (CFMachPort) on the main run loop. A tested synchronous state machine transforms real key-down/key-up pairs; it does not inject synthetic keystrokes. Accessibility focus checks protect text fields, and disabled event taps are automatically recovered.
- Swift + SwiftUI + Cocoa
- CGEvent / CFMachPort for low-level keyboard access
- ServiceManagement (SMAppService) for login items
- Finder Sync for contextual actions, toolbar, and pending-cut badges
- No third-party dependencies
Created by Richard Crane — Microsoft MVP and founder of MILL5.
- MILL5: mill5.com
- Microsoft MVP profile: mvp.microsoft.com/…/Richard-Crane
- Podcast — Inventing Fire with AI: inventingfirewith.ai
- Support: rich@mill5.com
Built in Visual Studio Code and shipped on GitHub.
Licensed under PolyForm Strict 1.0.0. Copyright © 2025-2026 Richard Crane.
Free for uses permitted by the license. See the full terms for restrictions on use, modification, and distribution.
Powered by MILL5.