macOS Tahoe's Finder Columns View Shows a Deeper UI Regression

The discovery of a broken columns view in macOS Tahoe's Finder isn't just a single bug—it's a window into how Apple's aggressive Liquid Glass redesign has compromised fundamental user interface patterns that have worked reliably for decades.

The Immediate Problem

In macOS Tahoe, the horizontal scroller in Finder's columns view now sits directly on top of the column resizing widgets, making them impossible to click. This isn't a subtle visual change; it's a functional regression that breaks a core workflow. Users who rely on columns view—which has been part of macOS since its early days—can no longer adjust column widths through the intended interface.

The issue appears specific to the default "Automatically based on mouse or trackpad" scrollbar setting. When scrollbars are set to always visible, the resizing widgets remain accessible. This suggests the bug emerges from the interaction between the new scrollbar behavior and the columns view layout, not from an intentional removal of the feature.

A Pattern of UI Compromises

This Finder bug fits into a broader pattern observed in macOS Tahoe's Liquid Glass redesign. The new visual language—characterized by increased transparency, rounded corners, and floating elements—has introduced several regressions:

1. Window chrome inconsistencies: As noted by John Gruber, the new window styling creates visual confusion where elements that appear rounded actually retain rectangular hit areas
2. Scrollbar behavior changes: The automatic hiding of scrollbars now affects interface elements that depend on their positioning
3. Toolbar redesign: The "free-floating monstrosity" the author describes represents a shift away from the structured, predictable toolbars that defined macOS interface conventions

Testing and Prioritization Questions

The most concerning aspect isn't the bug itself, but what it reveals about Apple's development process. Columns view is a primary navigation mode for many power users, and the interaction between scrollbars and resizing widgets is fundamental to its operation. That this combination wasn't tested—or was tested and deemed acceptable—suggests either:

• A breakdown in quality assurance for core macOS applications
• A prioritization of visual redesign over functional reliability
• A siloed development process where the Finder team and UI redesign team weren't coordinating

The author's observation that "the Finder team did not even test with the combination of columns view and always show scroll bars" points to a deeper issue: the regression affects a specific but common configuration that should have been caught in basic testing.

Community Sentiment and Adoption Signals

Early reactions from the developer and power user community have been mixed but generally critical:

Adoption signals: Some users are adapting by changing their scrollbar preferences or using keyboard shortcuts for column resizing. Others are avoiding the columns view entirely, switching to list or gallery views despite their workflow preferences.

Counter-arguments: A minority defend the changes, suggesting that the visual consistency of the new design outweighs minor functional regressions. Some argue that the automatic scrollbar behavior is actually an improvement for most users, and the bug affects only a subset of power users.

Community sentiment: The dominant sentiment among technical users is frustration. The bug represents a pattern where Apple's design team appears to be making changes without adequate consideration for established workflows. This has reignited debates about Apple's shift from "it just works" reliability toward more experimental design directions.

Broader Context: Apple's Design Direction

This Finder bug exemplifies a tension in Apple's current design philosophy. The Liquid Glass redesign appears to prioritize visual novelty and consistency with iOS/iPadOS aesthetics over the established conventions that made macOS productive for technical work.

The columns view regression is particularly symbolic because it affects a feature that has remained functionally unchanged since Mac OS X. The ability to resize columns by dragging their borders is a fundamental interaction pattern that users have built muscle memory around. Breaking this pattern doesn't just create a bug—it breaks user expectations and trust in the interface.

Technical Implications

For developers and power users, this regression raises several concerns:

1. API stability: If Apple is willing to break core UI patterns in their own applications, what does that mean for third-party developers relying on consistent system frameworks?

2. Accessibility implications: The automatic hiding of scrollbars creates accessibility challenges for users who rely on visible interface elements for navigation

3. Workflow disruption: Power users who have built workflows around columns view—developers managing file hierarchies, designers organizing assets, writers managing documents—must now adapt or find workarounds

The Path Forward

The question becomes whether this is a bug that will be fixed in subsequent beta releases, or whether it represents a deliberate design decision that users must adapt to. Historical patterns suggest Apple typically fixes obvious functional regressions, but the timeline and priority remain uncertain.

For now, users experiencing this issue have several workarounds:

• Set scrollbars to "Always" in System Settings > Appearance
• Use keyboard shortcuts for column resizing (Option-drag column borders)
• Switch to list view for file management tasks
• Wait for potential fixes in future beta releases

Conclusion

The broken columns view in macOS Tahoe serves as a microcosm of larger questions about Apple's design direction. It's not just about whether a resizing widget works—it's about whether Apple's pursuit of visual consistency is coming at the expense of functional reliability. For a company that built its reputation on "it just works," this pattern of regressions suggests either a significant shift in priorities or a concerning breakdown in quality assurance.

The ultimate test will be whether Apple addresses these issues before Tahoe's public release, and whether the broader pattern of UI compromises extends beyond this single Finder bug. For now, the broken columns view stands as a tangible example of how even the most fundamental interface patterns can be compromised in the pursuit of visual redesign.