Show Hidden Files on Mac in 2023: Keyboard Shortcuts, Terminal Commands, and More

How to Show Hidden Files on Mac in 2023 and Beyond

If you are a Mac user, you may have wondered how to access the hidden files and folders that are not visible by default in Finder. These files and folders are usually hidden for a reason, such as to prevent accidental deletion or modification, or to store system or application settings. However, sometimes you may need to access them for troubleshooting, customization, or other purposes.

In this blog post, we will show you how to show hidden files on Mac in 2023 and beyond, using different methods and tools. We will also explain why some files are hidden, and how to hide them again if you want to. We will also provide some tips and best practices for managing hidden files on Mac.

Why Are Some Files Hidden on Mac?

There are two types of hidden files on Mac: dotfiles and system files.

Dotfiles are files that start with a dot (.) in their name, such as .bash_profile or .gitignore. These files are usually used to store configuration settings or preferences for various applications or programs. They are hidden by default because they are not meant to be accessed or modified by regular users, and changing them may cause errors or unexpected behavior.

System files are files that belong to the operating system or the core applications, such as /Library or /System. These files are hidden by default because they are essential for the proper functioning of your Mac, and deleting or altering them may damage your system or make it unstable.

Both types of hidden files are hidden by default because they are not relevant for most users, and they help to keep the Finder clean and organized. However, there may be situations where you need to access them, such as:

To troubleshoot an issue with an application or the system
To customize your Mac with advanced settings or features
To recover deleted or lost files
To perform a backup or restore operation
To access data that is not available through the regular interface

How to Show Hidden Files on Mac Using Keyboard Shortcuts

One of the easiest and fastest ways to show hidden files on Mac is using keyboard shortcuts. There are two keyboard shortcuts that you can use:

Command + Shift + Period (.): This keyboard shortcut will toggle the visibility of hidden files and folders in Finder. You can use it to quickly show or hide hidden files in any Finder window.

Command + Shift + Dot (.): This keyboard shortcut will toggle the visibility of hidden files and folders in Open and Save dialogs. You can use it to quickly show or hide hidden files when you want to open or save a file.

To use these keyboard shortcuts, simply press and hold the Command, Shift, and Period (or Dot) keys together. You will see the hidden files and folders appear or disappear in the Finder or Open/Save dialogs. You can repeat the same keyboard shortcut to reverse the effect.

These keyboard shortcuts are very convenient and easy to use, but they have some limitations:

They only work in Finder or Open/Save dialogs. They do not work in other applications or programs that use their file browsers.

They do not persist across sessions. If you restart your Mac or log out and log back in, the hidden files will be hidden again by default.

They do not affect the visibility of hidden files on external drives or network locations. You will need to use other methods to show hidden files in those locations.

How to Show Hidden Files on Mac Using Terminal Commands

Another way to show hidden files on Mac is by using Terminal commands. Terminal is a powerful tool that allows you to interact with your Mac using text commands. You can use Terminal to perform various tasks that are not possible or easy through the graphical interface.

To use Terminal commands to show hidden files on Mac, you will need to:

Launch Terminal from Applications > Utilities, or use Spotlight (Command + Space) to search for it.
Type the following command and press Enter:
defaults write com. apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE
This command will change a preference setting that controls the visibility of hidden files in Finder.
To apply the change, you will need to restart Finder by typing the following command and pressing Enter:
killall Finder
This command will quit and relaunch Finder.

To verify that the command worked, open any Finder window and you should see the hidden files and folders.

To hide the hidden files again, you will need to repeat the same steps, but change the command to:

defaults write com. apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE

This command will restore the default preference setting that hides the hidden files in Finder.

Using Terminal commands to show hidden files on Mac has some advantages and disadvantages:

It works for all Finder windows, including external drives and network locations.
It persists across sessions. The hidden files will remain visible until you change the preference setting again.

It requires some technical knowledge and caution. You should be careful when using Terminal commands, as they can have unintended consequences if you make a mistake or use the wrong command.

How to Show Hidden Files on Mac Using Third-Party Apps

The third way to show hidden files on Mac is using third-party apps. Many apps can help you show hidden files on Mac, such as:

Funter: Funter is a free app that allows you to show and hide hidden files on a Mac with a simple click. You can also use it to search for hidden files or hide specific files or folders. You can download Funter from here.

Show Hidden Files: Show Hidden Files is a paid app that adds a menu bar icon that lets you toggle the visibility of hidden files on Mac. You can also use it to reveal hidden files in Open/Save dialogs, or hide specific files or folders. You can download Show Hidden Files from here.

HiddenMe: HiddenMe is a free app that adds a menu bar icon that lets you hide and unhide all the desktop icons on Mac. You can also use it to hide specific files or folders or set a keyboard shortcut to toggle the desktop icons. You can download HiddenMe from here.

Using third-party apps to show hidden files on Mac has some benefits and drawbacks:

They are easy and convenient to use. You do not need to remember any keyboard shortcuts or commands, or restart Finder.

They offer more features and options than the built-in methods. You can customize how you want to show or hide hidden files or apply different settings for different locations or situations.

They may not be compatible with the latest versions of macOS or Finder. You may need to update them regularly or check their compatibility before using them.

Tips and Best Practices for Managing Hidden Files on Mac

Now that you know how to show hidden files on Mac, here are some tips and best practices for managing them:

Be careful when accessing or modifying hidden files. Some of them may contain important data or settings that affect your system or applications. If you are not sure what a file does, do not delete or change it without backup or research.

Use aliases or shortcuts to access frequently used hidden files. If you need to access a hidden file often, you can create an alias or shortcut for it and place it in a convenient location, such as your desktop or dock. To create an alias, right-click on the file and choose Make Alias. To create a shortcut, drag the file to the desired location while holding the Option and Command keys.

Use Spotlight to search for hidden files. If you want to find a specific hidden file, you can use Spotlight (Command + Space) to search for it by name or keyword. You will need to enable the visibility of hidden files in Spotlight preferences first. To do that, go to System Preferences > Spotlight > Privacy, and drag the folder that contains the hidden file (such as your home folder) to the list. Then remove it from the list by clicking the minus (-) button. This will make Spotlight index the hidden files in that folder.

Use tags or labels to organize hidden files. If you want to group or categorize your hidden files, you can use tags or labels to mark them with different colors or names. To add a tag or label, right-click on the file and choose Tags… from the menu. Then select an existing tag or enter a new one.

Conclusion

In this blog post, we have shown you how to show hidden files on Mac in 2023 and beyond, using different methods and tools. We have also explained why some files are hidden, and how to hide them again if you want to. We have also provided some tips and best practices for managing hidden files on Mac.

We hope this post has been helpful and informative for you. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave a comment below.

Thank you for reading!

Sources

Why Are Some Files Hidden on Mac?

Apple Support: How to show hidden files on your Mac: https://www.avast.com/c-mac-show-hidden-files

MacRumors: Why are some files and folders hidden on macOS?: https://www.howtogeek.com/211496/how-to-hide-files-and-view-hidden-files-on-mac-os-x/

How to Show Hidden Files on Mac Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Apple Support: How to show hidden files on your Mac: https://www.avast.com/c-mac-show-hidden-files

Macworld: How to show hidden files on your Mac: https://www.avast.com/c-mac-show-hidden-files

How to Show Hidden Files on Mac Using Terminal Commands

Apple Support: How to show hidden files on your Mac: https://www.avast.com/c-mac-show-hidden-files

Macworld: How to show hidden files on your Mac: https://www.avast.com/c-mac-show-hidden-files

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