# How to Enable Picmal's Finder Extensions

> Learn how to activate Picmal's Services to add Convert and Compress options directly to your right-click context menu on Mac.

Source: https://picmal.app/blog/how-to-enable-picmal-right-click-menu

Picmal can add "Convert" and "Compress" options to your Finder right-click menu. Instead of opening the app and dragging files in, you right-click an image and you're done.

Apple buries this setting in a place you'd never think to look. Here's where to find it.

## What are macOS Services?

Services are how macOS lets apps hook into the right-click menu.

Once enabled, Picmal adds two options when you right-click image files:

- **Convert with Picmal**: opens your selection for format conversion
- **Compress with Picmal**: opens your selection for compression

Works on one file or fifty. Select them all, right-click, done.

## How to enable Picmal's right-click options

### Step 1: Open System Settings

1. Click the **Apple menu** () in the top-left corner
2. Select **System Settings** (called System Preferences on older macOS)

### Step 2: Find the Keyboard Shortcuts panel

Yes, keyboard shortcuts. Apple decided this is where right-click menu options live.

1. Click **Keyboard** in the sidebar
2. Click **Keyboard Shortcuts...**
3. Select **Services** from the left panel

### Step 3: Enable Picmal's Services

1. Scroll down to **Files and Folders**
2. Find these two entries:
   - **Convert with Picmal**
   - **Compress with Picmal**
3. Check the boxes next to each one
4. Close System Settings

![macOS System Settings showing Keyboard Shortcuts with Picmal Services enabled in the Files and Folders section](/images/blog/how-to-enable-picmal-right-click-menu/keyboard-preferences.webp)

## Using it

### Converting images

1. Select your image files in Finder
2. Right-click (or Control-click)
3. Pick **Convert with Picmal**
4. Picmal opens with your files loaded. Choose a format and convert.

### Compressing images

1. Select your image files in Finder
2. Right-click
3. Pick **Compress with Picmal**
4. Picmal opens in compression mode. Adjust settings and go.

![Finder right-click context menu showing Convert with Picmal and Compress with Picmal options](/images/blog/how-to-enable-picmal-right-click-menu/context-menu.webp)