How to show hidden files in Finder in MacOS ?

ยท 352 words ยท 2 minute read

Unveiling the Hidden: How to Show Hidden Files in macOS Finder

Ever misplaced a file or folder in your Mac and suspect it might be hidden? Fear not! macOS hides certain system files by default, but you can easily reveal them with a few simple tricks.

Here are three methods to show hidden files in your Finder:

Method 1: Using the Keyboard Shortcut (Simple & Quick) ๐Ÿ”—

  1. Open any Finder window.
  2. Press Command + Shift + . (period) on your keyboard. Hidden files will instantly appear translucent within your folders.

Pro Tip: Repeat this key combination to hide the files again when you’re done.

Method 2: Utilizing the Finder Menu (For More Control) ๐Ÿ”—

  1. Open a Finder window.
  2. Click on the Go menu in the menu bar at the top of your screen.
  3. Hold down the Option (โŒฅ) key while selecting Library. This action will temporarily reveal the hidden Library folder, which contains essential system files.

Note: Modifying files within the Library folder can affect your system’s functionality, so proceed with caution and only make changes if you’re confident.

Method 3: The Terminal Approach (For Power Users) ๐Ÿ”—

  1. Open the Terminal application (located in Applications > Utilities).

  2. Type the following command:

    defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles YES
    
  3. Press Enter.

This command instructs Finder to permanently display all hidden files.

Remember ๐Ÿ”—

  • To revert the changes made with the Terminal command and hide hidden files again, type the following command in Terminal and press Enter:
defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles NO
  • Always restart Finder (right-click the Dock icon and select Relaunch) after using the Terminal commands for the changes to take effect.

Finding Your Hidden Gems & final words ๐Ÿ”—

By following these methods, you’ll be able to access and manage hidden files on your Mac. Remember, hidden files often contain system-critical data, so exercise caution when modifying them.

I hope this post helps you. If you know a person who can benefit from this information, send them a link of this post. If you want to get notified about new posts, follow me on YouTube , Twitter (x) , LinkedIn , and GitHub .

Share:
waffarx cash back