Windows and Linux versions are on the way
Tote is coming to more computers. Windows comes first, then Linux. Same tote, same shake.
Tote
NewTote is coming to Windows and Linux→
Free for Mac
Free for Mac
Somewhere to put files mid‑drag.
Start dragging, give the mouse a little shake, and Tote pops up right under your cursor. Drop your files in, go and find where they need to go, then drag them all back out in one go.
Free · Version 1.0.1 · macOS 14 Sonoma or later · Apple silicon & Intel · 1 MB
How it works
Shake. Drop. Carry.
No more juggling two Finder windows or dumping everything on the desktop.
1
Shake while dragging
Pick up any file and give the mouse a quick wiggle. A tote appears right where your cursor is. Or press ⌃ ⌥ Space.
2
Drop it in
Let go over the tote. Keep adding files from anywhere: different folders, Photos, Mail, Safari. They all wait in one place.
3
Drag them all out
Found the right spot? Drag the stack out to drop everything at once, or open the list and take them one at a time.
The little things
Small app. Handy everywhere.
Takes almost anything
Files and folders, photos straight from Photos, Mail attachments, images and links from Safari, even a bit of text.
Quick Look built in
Press Space to preview what's in the tote without opening anything.
As many totes as you like
Open a few at once and sort files as you go: one for the client folder, one for the email.
Nothing leaves your Mac
No account and no tracking. The only time Tote goes online is a quick daily check for a new version, and you can switch that off.
No permissions needed
No Accessibility or screen-recording prompts. Install it and it works.
Out of the way
Lives in the menu bar, not the Dock. A tote closes itself once you've moved everything out.
Installing
Up and running in a minute
There's one extra click the first time you open it. Here's why.
1. Install
- Download Tote and open the file.
- Drag Tote onto the Applications folder.
- Open Tote from Applications. A little bag appears in your menu bar.
2. The first time you open it One-off
- macOS will say it can't check Tote for malicious software. Click Done.
- Open System Settings → Privacy & Security.
- Scroll down and click Open Anyway next to Tote, then confirm.
Tote is made by one person and isn't signed with Apple's paid developer certificate, so macOS asks you to confirm it once. After that it opens like any other app.
Free, and staying that way
There's no trial and nothing to unlock. If Tote saves you a bit of hassle and you'd like to say thanks, you can leave a tip on Ko-fi. It helps keep the app going.
Support Tote on Ko-fiNews
The latest from Tote
Tote 1.0.1 is out
Shaking now works when you drag files out of a Dock stack, and Tote lets you know when there's an update.
Tote launches
A free little drag-and-drop helper for Mac. No account, no adverts, no catch.
Changelog
What's new
Every version of Tote, newest first. Tote tells you when there's an update.
Version 1.0.1
Latest5 October 2026- Shaking now opens a tote when you drag files out of a Dock stack, like Downloads.
- Tote checks once a day for new versions and lets you know when one is out. You can switch this off in the menu.
- Clearer explanation when macOS asks about your Downloads, Desktop or Documents folder.
Version 1.0.0
4 October 2026- First release. Shake while dragging to open a tote, drop your files in, then drag them all out at once.
- Takes files and folders, photos from Photos, Mail attachments, and images, links and text from Safari.
- Quick Look, as many totes as you like, the ⌃ ⌥ Space shortcut, and Open at Login.
Questions
Good to know
Is it really free?
Yes. Every feature, no adverts, no time limit. Tips on Ko-fi are completely optional.
Which Macs does it work on?
Any Mac running macOS 14 Sonoma or later, with either an Apple silicon or an Intel chip.
Why does my Mac ask about my Downloads folder?
The first time you drop in a file from a protected folder such as Downloads (especially from a Dock stack), macOS asks whether Tote can access it. Click Allow. Tote needs it to show a preview of the file and hand it on when you drag it out. It never changes or uploads your files, and you're only asked once.
How do I get updates?
Tote checks once a day and lets you know when a new version is out. A small + appears on the bag in your menu bar. Click Update Available, download the new version and drag it into Applications to replace the old one. Your settings are kept. You can also choose Check for Updates… from the menu at any time.
The shake doesn't open a tote. What should I check?
Make sure you're holding a file while you shake (the shake only works mid-drag), and that "Shake While Dragging to Open" is ticked in Tote's menu-bar menu. Three quick left-right swings is all it takes. You can always use ⌃ ⌥ Space instead.
Does dragging out move or copy my files?
It works just like Finder: on the same drive files are moved, and onto another drive they're copied. Hold ⌥ while you drop to always copy.
Can it start when my Mac starts?
Yes. Click the bag in the menu bar and tick Open at Login.
How do I uninstall it?
Click the bag in the menu bar, choose Quit Tote, then drag Tote from Applications to the Bin.