# How to show a port's project folder in Finder with NotchStar

> The folder icon on a Ports row reveals the process's working directory in Finder. It is disabled when NotchStar cannot read that folder.

Canonical: https://www.notchstar.com/help/show-port-project-in-finder-notchstar/
Last updated: 2026-11-04

Published 2026-11-04.

To find where a running server lives on disk, open **Disk**, then **Monitor**, then **Ports**, and press the folder icon on its row. Finder opens with the process's working directory selected. For a dev server this is usually the project it was started from.

## What it reveals

NotchStar asks `lsof` for the current working directory of each process that is listening. That is the folder the program was started in. It is shown in the grey path on the row, and it is what the folder icon reveals. It is not necessarily the folder the program file is in.

For a dev server run from a terminal, those are the same: you changed into the project, then ran `npm run dev` or similar. For a program started by another tool, the working directory can be somewhere unexpected.

## Steps

1. Find the row, using the filter if needed.
2. Press the folder icon, labelled Show project in Finder.
3. Finder opens at that folder, and the header confirms it.

## When it is disabled

The button is greyed out when the working directory is empty or `/`. That happens when NotchStar cannot read it, which is typical for system services and for processes owned by another user. The row then shows the process ID instead of a path.

## Why this helps

When two projects both want port 3000, or something is still running from last week, the project name on the row and the Finder reveal let you see which one it is before you decide to [stop it](https://www.notchstar.com/help/stop-process-on-port-notchstar/). The row's name logic is explained in [the Ports list columns](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-ports-list-columns/). The [Disk feature page](https://www.notchstar.com/features/disk/) lists the rest of the tab.

## Quick answers.

### Why is the folder icon greyed out?

NotchStar could not read the process's working directory, or it is the root folder. This is common for processes owned by another user or by the system.

## Keep reading.

- [Disk space, duplicates, apps and cleanup](https://www.notchstar.com/features/disk/): See free space, find big folders, duplicates and app leftovers, compress media and clean caches from your Mac notch. Everything goes to the Trash.
- [What the NotchStar Ports list shows](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-ports-list-columns/): Ports lists every TCP port something is listening on, with the project folder, the command, local or network, and Open, Show and Stop buttons.
- [How to open a localhost port from NotchStar](https://www.notchstar.com/help/open-localhost-port-notchstar/): The arrow icon on a Ports row opens http://localhost and that port number in your default browser. It always uses http, not https.
- [How to stop a process on a port with NotchStar](https://www.notchstar.com/help/stop-process-on-port-notchstar/): Press Stop on a Ports row, then press it again to confirm. NotchStar sends SIGTERM, a polite quit request, and never forces a process.

## More in Ports.

- [What the NotchStar Ports list shows](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-ports-list-columns/): Ports lists every TCP port something is listening on, with the project folder, the command, local or network, and Open, Show and Stop buttons.
- [How to open a localhost port from NotchStar](https://www.notchstar.com/help/open-localhost-port-notchstar/): The arrow icon on a Ports row opens http://localhost and that port number in your default browser. It always uses http, not https.
- [How to stop a process on a port with NotchStar](https://www.notchstar.com/help/stop-process-on-port-notchstar/): Press Stop on a Ports row, then press it again to confirm. NotchStar sends SIGTERM, a polite quit request, and never forces a process.
- [What NotchStar cannot stop and why](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-cannot-stop-process/): Stop only asks your own processes to quit. It cannot stop system services, other users' processes or programs that ignore SIGTERM, and never forces.