Mac os show all hidden files

Question: Q: How do I show hidden files on my mac

How can I show hidden files on my Mac?

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)

Posted on Jun 3, 2016 6:12 AM

Helpful answers

NOTE: shift+command+period toggles hidden files in Finder too!! (on macOS Sierra Ver 10.12.4)

No need to open terminal or manually relaunch Finder!

Apr 26, 2017 2:09 PM

Better solution: Use shift+command+period to toggle hidden files in Finder (on macOS Sierra Ver 10.12.4).

This may also work in prompts to open or save documents (see below post from VikingOSX Nov 7, 2016 5:16 AM )

Apr 26, 2017 2:23 PM

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Jun 3, 2016 6:15 AM

1. Hi. You can try these steps:
2. 1. Open Terminal found in Finder, go to Applications, choose Utilities
3. 2. In Terminal, paste the following:
4. 3. Press return after that.
5. 4. Hold the ‘Option/alt’ key, then right click on the Finder icon in the dock and click Relaunch.

Jun 3, 2016 6:18 AM

If you want to hide or show hidden files on Mac, follow this guide. All you need to do is to perform a few simple commands via Terminal.

If you can’t remember those commands for the next time. Don’t worry, there were solutions to help you create aliases for those long commands. In the next time, you only need to enter the short ones.

Nov 7, 2016 1:26 AM

Applications that use the Cocoa (AppKit) NSOpenPanel and NSSavePanel classes that prompt to open or save documents — also permit the use of shift+command+period keyboard shortcut that toggles hidden files on and off in that panel.

Try it with TextEdit, Preview, etc.

Nov 7, 2016 5:16 AM

Applications that use the Cocoa (AppKit) NSOpenPanel and NSSavePanel classes that prompt to open or save documents — also permit the use of shift+command+period keyboard shortcut that toggles hidden files on and off in that panel.

Cool shortcut — I never knew this was possible.

Nov 7, 2016 7:15 AM

NOTE: shift+command+period toggles hidden files in Finder too!! (on macOS Sierra Ver 10.12.4)

No need to open terminal or manually relaunch Finder!

Apr 26, 2017 2:09 PM

Better solution: Use shift+command+period to toggle hidden files in Finder (on macOS Sierra Ver 10.12.4).

This may also work in prompts to open or save documents (see below post from VikingOSX Nov 7, 2016 5:16 AM )

Apr 26, 2017 2:23 PM

Question: Q: How do I show hidden files on my mac More Less

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Show Hidden Files in Mac OS X

Need to show hidden files on a Mac? This is pretty common if you find yourself needing to access hidden files on your Mac, like an .htaccess file you downloaded, a .bash_profile, a .svn directory, – literally anything preceded with a ‘.’ indicating it is invisible by default – you can run the below command from the terminal to set hidden files to become visible throughout Mac OS X.

For some quick background to fill in those who don’t know, files that are hidden in Mac OS are determined so by preceding the filename with a single period symbol (.), you can actually make any file hidden by placing a period in front of the name, thus making it invisible to the Finder. Let’s walk through making all hidden files become visible in Mac OS X, regardless of what system software version is on the Mac.

How to Show Hidden Files & Folders on Mac

This changes the default setting of Mac OS X so that Finder always shows all files, including showing hidden files.

1. Launch the Terminal app, found in /Applications/Utilities
2. Enter the proper command exactly as shown below, choosing for your version of MacOS or Mac OS X:

For showing hidden files and folders in macOS High Sierra 10.13, MacOS Sierra 10.12, OS X El Capitan 10.11, Yosemite 10.10, and OS X Mavericks 10.9, use the following command string to show hidden files:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE;killall Finder

For showing hidden files in Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, OS X 10.7 Lion, Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, and before, use this defaults command string instead:

defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE;killall Finder

Hit the Return key after the command is entered into the Terminal command prompt, that will execute the command and allow the hidden files to become visible in the file system of Mac OS

Here is what the defaults command string which shows hidden files looks like in the Mac Terminal:

The Finder will refresh after you hit the Return key, which causes Finder to quit and relaunch itself for the changes to take effect, thus revealing hidden files on the Mac.

“Hidden” files are now visible in Finder windows, but they will display as a dimmed version of their respective file icons, being slightly transparent. Examples of how hidden files show up in the Finder are shown below.

This is how hidden files look when they’re visible in a modern version of Mac, like an macOS High Sierra, Sierra, OS X El Capitan or Yosemite Finder window, note the hidden folders and files are visible but have dimmed gray names:

And this is how the once invisible files show in prior releases of Mac OS X, highlighted here:

This setting stays in place until it has been reversed or disabled, which would cause all files to become hidden again just as the default. With all the files visible a Finder window can look much busier than you may be accustomed to, and it’s not always desired to leave on constantly. Thankfully it’s just as easy to switch back.

Remember the Finder must relaunch to show hidden files and folders, they will appear as slightly translucent icons alongside the normal icons. The files and folders that are hidden typically will have a ‘.’ in front of their name, but other items can be hidden as well through chflags commands.

If you’re having difficulty with the above commands for some reason, you can split them up into two parts like so:

First the command to show invisible files on Mac:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE

Then the command to kill and relaunch Finder on Mac, which is where the invisible files will now be shown:

Note that refreshing Finder is always necessary. This is the same in OS X El Capitan, Yosemite and old versions of Mac OS X too, the Finder must always be refreshed this way to reveal the hidden folders and files.

* Quick note about different versions of Mac OS X: If you look carefully, you’ll notice there is a very slight difference in casing for making hidden files and folders visible in modern versions of macOS and Mac OS X versus older versions of Mac OS X system software (com.apple.finder vs com.apple.Finder). That casing is important, however, which is why you must enter exact syntax.

Reverse to Default & Make Files Hidden Again in Mac OS X

To hide files that are intended to be hidden again, thus going back to the default Mac settings of keeping them invisible, you can just type the following defaults command. As you can see, everything is the same except that TRUE has been switched to “FALSE”:

defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE;killall Finder

Remember the slight difference in OS X Mavericks, El Capitan, and Yosemite has to do with capitalization:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE;killall Finder

Hit return, and again the command will set the file visibility change and relaunch Finder so that it can relaunch for changes to take effect.

That’s all there is to it! The change will revert and you’ll be back to the default with hidden folders and files no longer visible in the Mac OS X Finder.

Show Hidden Files in a Mac Open or Save Dialogue Temporarily

Another approach to without using the above defaults command is to quickly show all hidden files in any Mac OS X Open or Save dialogue box by hitting Command+Shift+Period on the keyboard together. You will instantly see the change as once-hidden files are revealed.

That command sequence can be used to toggle back or forth, thereby revealing and hiding the files again as needed. For many users, this keystroke is the most appropriate use for when an invisible file must be modified but there is no need to make them all visible all the time.

Show Hidden Files & Folders on a Mac Temporarily with Terminal

Another way to quickly see hidden files in OS X is by using the ls command within the Terminal, at the command line type the following:

The -a flag tells the ls (list) command to show all contents, including hidden files. You then just have to specify a directory if you want to see the hidden files in it:

This method does not effect the Finder or the visibility of hidden files outside of using the -a flag, making it a temporary measure to quickly see all contents of any directory or folder, even if the above defaults command isn’t used.

One way to carry over the terminal to the GUI though would be to use the ‘open’ command, directed at a hidden file. Here’s an example:

This will launch the file called “.not_visible_by_default” into the default GUI app associated with it’s file type, in this case it would be a text file and so TextEdit would open. This trick can also be used to open hidden directories into the Finder, for example with the following syntax:

That would launch the hidden “.git” directory in a users home directory into a Finder window, without revealing all other files.

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Question: Q: How to find hidden folders using Finder

Really frustrated! I want Finder to show hidden files and folders. I’ve tried everything I could find in this forum and others to do so. This is what I have tried (repeatedly):

Finder>Go hold the option key

If you need to show it permanently

Open your Finder>Go> Home folder then command J to see view options

Then, relaunch Finder

Show Hidden Files Mac OS X El Capitan:

1. Click “Finder” icon on your Mac dock.
2. Open Terminal. Terminal is a utility that provides access to the OS X El Capitan operating system. It can be opened in one of two following ways:
3. Select “Applications” on the left side, then on “Utilities“, and double-click on “Terminal“
4. Open the OS X El Capitan Launchpad. Click the “Utilities” folder. Then, double click on “Terminal.”
5. Enter the following text into the Terminal window, then press “Enter“: “defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles YES”
6. Exit the Terminal program. This can be done by selecting “Quit Terminal” from the Terminal menu.
7. Restart Finder. Your new setting will take effect after you relaunch finder. To do so, hold down the “Alt” key and right-click or two-fingered click on the Finder icon. Select “Relaunch.”

Neither of these work for me. 🙁 Am using Macbook Air and El Capitan Version 10.11.4

MacBook Air, OS X El Capitan (10.11)

Posted on Jun 5, 2016 4:48 AM

Actually you post the screenshot the same way you posted the first screenshot. You don’t need the advanced editor. But, you found the folder you wanted. As far as why the Finder doesn’t, it doesn’t look in Hidden Folders. If you want to find everything on your Mac, I would recommend installing EasyFind from the App Store. It can locate any type of file/folder.

Posted on Jun 9, 2016 3:23 AM

Helpful answers

Spotlight (and thus Finder) will not search system folders by default and your user Library falls into that category. You can make it search system folders if you need to.

As already mentioned, if you know the path, just use Go to Folder.

In this case use this as the path

/ is an alias to your home folder.

Aalso note that the Profiles filed is likely not hidden, only the user Library folder is hidden.

You can acces the Library directly in Finder by holding down the Option key and selecting Library from the Go menu.

You can show the Library always by typing p,

cmd-h, cmd-j in the Finder, then check the box to show the Library folder.

You seem to know about both, so where does each of those options fail?

I Don’t use Thunderbird, so it may be that they hid their sub folders which would double down on Apple’s stupidity in hiding the Library folder.

Jun 9, 2016 3:15 AM

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Do not include the quotes.

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES

Jun 5, 2016 5:05 AM

Which «hidden» folders are you trying to show?

The «Show Library Folder» option in View Options merely shows the user Library. It doesn’t show all hidden items in the file system.

If trying to show the user Library, what part doesn’t work?

Can you find the setting?

Can you check it?

There is no need to relaunch the Finder.

Jun 5, 2016 5:06 AM

You could make an AppleScript application that you place in your Dock, or even the Finder toolbar, and each time that you click it, hidden files/folders appear or disappear. If you decide to remove from the Finder window toolbar, then press the command key and click/drag the icon off. The following was tested on OS X 10.11.5.

Launch your Script Editor (Launchpad : Other : Script Editor). Copy and paste the following (see below) AppleScript into the Script Editor. Click the compile button (hammer icon). Now run it (black triangle button) with an open Finder window on your home directory. You want to save the content twice:

1. Save the source code that you have just pasted as Text
   1. File Format: Text (this adds an applescript extension to your filename
   2. Save in Documents or your location choice for safe keeping.
   3. No check boxes selected
2. Save as an Application (option + File menu : Save As…)
   1. File Format: Application
   2. Location: /Applications

      Drag and drop from Applications to your Dock, or to the Finder window toolbar (short filename e.g. Nohide)

   3. Checkbox: Hide Extension
   4. Quit Script Editor

AppleScript:

— Attribution to, and submitted by Baltwo on Apple Support Community

try

do shell script «defaults read com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles»

on error

do shell script «defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles False»

end try

if ( do shell script «defaults read com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles») is equal to «False» then

do shell script «defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles True»

else

do shell script «defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles False»

end if

do shell script «killall Finder»

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