Question

View hidden files on Mac

Answer 1

Why are there hidden files and folders on Mac?
Show hidden files in Mac Finder with keyboard shortcuts
View hidden files on Mac using terminal commands
Hide files on Mac using command terminal
Show hidden files on Mac using file managers
Let the automatic Mac cleanup take care of hidden files
Step by step instructions
Show hidden Library folder in Finder
Step 1. Open Terminal
Step 2. Enter the command to view hidden files and folders on Mac
Step 3. View hidden files on Mac
Step 4. Re-hide hidden files

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View hidden files on Mac

On Mac, a large number of folders and files are hidden for safety, so that users do not inadvertently damage the operating system. But you may need to see these hidden files or folders on your Mac. We show you different options to show hidden files and folders on Mac. You must be very careful, because if you modify or damage system files you can significantly damage your operating system..

Index

1. Why are there hidden files and folders on Mac?
2. Show hidden files in Mac Finder with keyboard shortcuts
   1. Step by step instructions
   2. Show hidden Library folder in Finder
3. View hidden files on Mac using terminal commands
   1. Step 1. Open Terminal
   2. Step 2. Enter the command to view hidden files and folders on Mac
   3. Step 3. View hidden files on Mac
   4. Step 4. Re-hide hidden files
4. Hide files on Mac using command terminal
5. Show hidden files on Mac using file managers
6. Let the automatic Mac cleanup take care of hidden files

Why are there hidden files and folders on Mac?

The fact that some files and folders are hidden in operating systems is understandable. This is a measure by manufacturers and administrators to prevent users from unintentionally damaging or deleting files or folders relevant to the system . Folders and files that are essential for successful data exchange with clients or partners in the workplace are sometimes also hidden. In most cases, you won't even be aware of the presence of that data, even if it performs an important function.

If at any time you see hidden files and folders on your Mac and need to access them, you must act with the utmost caution so as not to put your operating system at risk..

Show hidden files in Mac Finder with keyboard shortcuts

Key combinations are the easiest method to show both hidden folders on Mac and files. If you press the Command, Shift and Period keys at the same time , hidden files and folders are shown.

Step by step instructions

Showing or hiding files in the Finder requires a very few steps:

1. Open Macintosh HD or the folder in which you want to display the files in the Finder.
2. Press the combination of keys Command, Shift and period: [cmd] + [shift] + [.]
3. Hidden files and folders on your Mac appear slightly transparent.
4. If you use the same key combination, the files are hidden again.

Your hidden files appear slightly transparent on Mac.

Show hidden Library folder in Finder

The above shortcut to show hidden files on Mac works with any folder in Finder. The only exception is the Library folder , hidden by default. This folder mainly contains system files and automatic copies of Microsoft Office documents . It can be especially useful to show this hidden folder on your Mac if you are looking for old Word documents that you can no longer access. If the operating system crashes and you couldn't save your work, take a look at this folder as well. To access it:

1. Press the [Option] key in the Finder.
2. Click? Go? from the menu bar.
3. Click on? Library ?.

Access the Library by pressing the Option key and selecting the folder in? Go ?.

As the Library automatically saves Microsoft Office documents hidden, you may find yourself with a large number of messy files..

advice

The Option key is one of the most useful and widely used keys on the Mac. Find out more about the Option key on Mac and learn about its functions and commands.

View hidden files on Mac using terminal commands

Instead of using key combinations and Finder, you can also view hidden files on Mac or hidden folders via Terminal with the help of commands. Terminal is a built-in command interface as standard in the Mac operating system . To execute an action, you can enter a series of commands in it that replace various steps in the Finder. If you want to see the hidden files and folders of your Mac through the Terminal, you must do the following:

Step 1. Open Terminal

Use the following keyboard shortcut to start Mac Terminal: [cmd] + [space bar] . Once you have pressed the command key and the space bar, type? Terminal? in the Spotlight search. Then double-click on the search result.

This is what the Mac Terminal looks like.

Alternatively, you can double click on the menu option ? Utilities? . You will find it in the menu? Go? from the menu bar or in? Applications? in the? Dock ?.

Step 2. Enter the command to view hidden files and folders on Mac

The Terminal command to show hidden files and folders on Mac consists of two commands and the operation of the [Return] key. Enter the following command in Terminal:

  defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles true [Enter] killall Finder  

Enter the command in Terminal as indicated to show hidden files and folders on Mac.

Step 3. View hidden files on Mac

Hidden files and folders are now displayed with in the Mac Finder. As we have already discussed, files appear slightly transparent . Folders are displayed less vividly than normal items.

Step 4. Re-hide hidden files

To hide the files again, just replace the word ? True? by the word? false? in command. The new command would look like this:

  defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles false [Enter] killall Finder  

advice

Terminal is a very useful interface for simple and advanced technical assistance, repair and maintenance tasks. Another standard tool that allows you to carry out these types of activities is the Mac Activity Monitor. This tool is especially useful if you are already familiar with the Windows Task Manager.

Hide files on Mac using command terminal

Terminal is not only used to show hidden files on Mac or hide them in a general way. You can also use Terminal to hide specific files , for example, to protect them from the gaze of other users who have access to your computer. To do this, proceed as follows:

1. Open Terminal.
2. Enter the following code in Terminal:

 

  chflags hidden [Leertaste]  

3. Drag the folders or files that you want to hide to the Terminal window with the mouse. The path of the file or folder will be displayed.
4. Press [Return] to hide the files.

Using this command you can hide folders and files on Mac.

If you want to show folders and files on Mac as usual again, you can follow the same procedure. You just have to change? Chflags hidden? by? chflags nohidden ?.

Show hidden files on Mac using file managers

A very simple way to work with hidden files and folders on Mac is external file managers, like Forklift. They represent an alternative to view hidden files Mac directly into the interface and without using keyboard shortcuts or enter commands, two options that usually bother especially novice users.

There is a wide range of file managers with different functions. Often times, these file managers allow you to show hidden files and folders on Mac without using the Finder. We are going to use the Forklift example to show you how a file manager can be of use to you. Open the Forklift app and follow the steps below:

1. Click on? View ?.
2. Select? Show hidden objects ?.

Show hidden files and folders on Mac using the Forklift menu.

Also, in the toolbar there is a button to show or hide files.

advice

Apart from Forklift, there are other useful file managers that can help you perform electronic data processing tasks. Discover numerous functions and the advantages and disadvantages of the most used programs. Find the file manager for Windows, Mac and Linux that best suits your work situation.

Let the automatic Mac cleanup take care of hidden files

There are users who want to see the hidden files on their Mac to fix a software problem , restore deleted files, or better understand their operating system. But the vast majority want to show hidden files on Mac to remove them and have more storage capacity available on the hard drive . In these cases, applications like CleanMyMac X can save us a lot of work. Once you open the application, follow the steps below to delete unnecessary files:

1. Select? Smart Scan? at the top left of the sidebar.
2. Click on? Scan ?.
3. Select the residual files in the option? Cleanup? and check the scan details.
4. Click on? Run? to delete unnecessary files.

Delete unnecessary files with the CleanMyMac X app for more storage capacity.

One of the advantages of applications like CleanMyMac X is that they systematically delete unnecessary files . So in a short time it enables much more storage space than you can get with hand tools.

It doesn't matter which method you choose to view and delete hidden files and folders on your Mac. Any of them will make you better understand the processes your Mac performs in the background .

advice

Follow our step-by-step guide to find out how to show hidden files and folders in Windows.

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