How to Show Hidden Files on Mac? – Complete Guide

Overview: Hidden files serve an essential role in the functioning of macOS. Moreover, these files generally contain configuration data, system settings, application preferences, and other essential meta components. Typically, these hidden files are preceded with a dot (.) in a Unix-based system like macOS. Here, Mac has a default mechanism to automatically hide these files from standard file browsing systems like Finder or the Terminal. This mechanism is brought into practice to prevent accidental modification or deletion of sensitive system files that could disrupt application functionality.

Generally, these types of files are hidden. For example:

• Dotfiles (e.g., .bash_profile, .zshrc, .gitconfig) store user-specific configurations for shells, version control systems, and other tools.
• System directories like /etc, /var, and /usr house critical system-wide configurations and logs.
• Application support files in ~/Library manage app-specific settings, caches, and plugins.

Why Files are Hidden on Mac?

By default, such files remain hidden from the user so that the user will not change or delete such files by mistake. But there are quite a few scenarios when some information has to be accessed. For one:

• Troubleshooting: When a problem with the application or system processes needs to be solved, the log files or configuration files that are kept deep in the hidden directory sometimes need viewing.
• Development: Developers interact on a very regular basis with hidden files so they can make environment configurations and manage dependencies or version-controlling a project with Git.
• Customizing: Advanced users can edit hidden configuration files to adjust the performance settings of macOS, including setting shell behavior or tailored app settings.
• Data recovery: Sometimes hidden files come in rather handy for retrieving what has been lost or transferring device settings between computers.

macOS allows for multiple methods of revealing these hidden files in consideration of different levels of technical expertise. Characterized as a novice or proficient, you’re getting the skills of toggling hidden file visibility so that you can address a certain folder or dimensions of well-managed system configurations.

Ways to Show Hidden Files on Mac – Manual Methods

Here, you will see various manual solutions to open hidden files on Mac. Let’s get into the methods one by one in the coming section.

#1. Keyboard Shortcut to See Hidden Files on Mac

This method is the quickest way to toggle visibility on the hidden files in Finder.

Steps to perform the process:

• Open Finder.
• Navigate to the folder in which you wish to see hidden files.
• Press the key combination: Command (⌘) + Shift + . (period).
• Hidden files appear dimmed in the Finder window.
• Press the same shortcut again to hide them (Command (⌘) + Shift + .).

Explanation:
This method temporarily toggles file visibility in Finder. It is not a system-wide change of hidden vs. nonhidden settings and is useful for years when you just want a quick peek.

#2. Show Hidden Files on Mac Using Finder

Using this method, you can quickly toggle hidden files on or off for easy access. Let’s quickly get into the steps:

1. Firstly, you need to open Finder on your Mac system.

2. Then, go to the Folder where you want to view your hidden files.

3. Press Command (⌘) + Shift + Period (.) at the same time to show hidden files on your system.

4. Now, press the same shortcut to hide them whenever you want.

#3. Show Hidden Files on Mac Using Terminal

You can use Terminal commands to make hidden files visible system-wide. Here, are the steps:

Open Terminal (you can find it via Spotlight Search by pressing Command (⌘) + Space and typing “Terminal“).
Enter the following command to show hidden files:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles true

Restart Finder by running:

killall Finder

• Hidden files will now be visible in Finder.

To Hide Files Again:
Open Terminal.
Enter the following command:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles false

Restart Finder:

killall Finder

Explanation:
This method modifies the Finder’s behavior by changing a system preference (AppleShowAllFiles). Restarting Finder applies the changes globally, making hidden files visible across all Finder windows.

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Final Words

We have discussed how to show hidden files on Mac using various manual methods such as Finder shortcuts or Terminal. Now, to delete those hidden files or folders from your system, then you can approach our automated tool mentioned above. Always be careful when editing or deleting them to avoid system issues and back up important data before proceedings.