{"id":1307,"date":"2018-02-01T09:28:29","date_gmt":"2018-02-01T09:28:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iseepassword.com\/blog\/?p=1307"},"modified":"2023-10-10T10:50:12","modified_gmt":"2023-10-10T10:50:12","slug":"show-hide-hidden-file-folders-mac","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.iseepassword.com\/blog\/show-hide-hidden-file-folders-mac\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Show\/Hide Hidden Files and Folders in Mac OS X?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hello guys, today we would discuss one of the most frequently asked topic for those who are new to the usage of Mac OS that is, how to show and hide the hidden files in Mac OS X?<\/i><\/em>\u00a0Before we commence with the stupefying elaboration of WHAT TO DO? Let\u2019s have a brief discussion on the aspect of this hidden folders and files in Mac OS X.<\/span><\/p>\n

Actually by default, Mac OS prefers to hide confidential files and folders away from users. In case they delete or change any of those essential files mistakenly, then it would bring about serious changes to the system\u2019s operating system which may turn out to be disastrous on many cases.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Hence , here in this article we would discuss 2 mighty methods which are basically based on running certain commands, one via long way, and another using short cut aliases which are outlines below.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don’t miss:\u00a03 ways to reset Mac login password without install disk<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Part #1: To Show Hidden Files on Mac using Terminal Command <\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Similar to the command prompt, Terminal is also a command line interpreter, which provides an interface to control the UNIX-based operating system which is in this case, is Mac OS X. Usually we deploy a bit lengthy commands in this interface to carry out the necessary modifications to show\/ hide files. Go through the steps outlined below for the following method:<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 1. Click on \u201cFinder\u201d from the upper left corner of the home screen, and select \u201cApplications\u201d folder.<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 2. Click on \u201cUtilities\u201d folder and open \u201cTerminal\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Terminal\"<\/p>\n

Step 3. Once the Terminal dialog box turns up, input the following command and then press \u201cReturn\u201d key:<\/span><\/p>\n

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES<\/i><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Terminal<\/strong><\/p>\n

Step 4. Now; hold the \u201cOption or Alt\u201d key, and simultaneously right-click on the \u201cFinder\u201d icon in the upper left corner of the screen. Click on \u201cRelaunch\u201d from the drop down menu.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"hide<\/p>\n

Step 5. Once you are done with this much, you can go to user deger and\u00a0 you will be shown all the hidden folders of the Mac OS X. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"show<\/p>\n

Also read:\u00a02 Ways to Boot Your Mac in Safe Mode<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

Part #2:\u00a0 Hide Hidden Files on Mac using Terminal Command <\/b><\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you wish to hide the files once again to their restricted locations, simply follow the steps from 1-5 and replace the previously entered command with the following new command in the Terminal dialog box:<\/span><\/p>\n

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles NO<\/i><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

You should see the hidden files\/folders are not shown.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"show<\/p>\n

If you’re using Windows 10, it also easy to show and hide file\/folders on Windows 10<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Part #3: Show\/ Hide Hidden Files on Mac\/ Using Terminal Aliases<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

\u00a0<\/b><\/strong><\/span>As per the instructions of the aforementioned method, you need to enter the commands every time you wish to show or hide the hidden security files which at times prove to be a bit hectic. Since you cannot memorize the entire code, you have to retrieve it every now and then to do your job.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now Alias is a shortcut command for a single or multiple commands designed to render the same changes as the long commands, with an exception of cutting short your valuable time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 1. From the \u201cFinder\u201d context menu, select “Applications” folder, and then \u201cUtilities\u201d folder.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0Inside the \u201cUtilities\u201d folder, you get to see \u201cTerminal\u201d option.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Click on it to launch the \u201cTerminal\u201d feature.<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 2. From the Terminal interface, type in the following command:<\/span><\/p>\n

sudo nano ~\/.bash_profile<\/i><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Step 3. Enter you Mac\u2019s admin password if required and press \u201cEnter\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 4. Now; at the bottom of the opened .bash_profile<\/i><\/b><\/em><\/strong>\u00a0file, paste the following command:<\/span><\/p>\n

alias showFiles=’defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES; killall Finder \/System\/Library\/CoreServices\/Finder.app’<\/i><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/em><\/strong><\/span>Step 7. Just below the recent command, enter this additional command also:<\/span><\/p>\n

alias hideFiles=’defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles NO; killall Finder \/System\/Library\/CoreServices\/Finder.app’<\/i><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Step 8. Press \u201cCtrl+O\u201d key combination and hit \u201cEnter\u201d to save the file which is currently modified.<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 9. Now; press \u201cCtrl+X\u201d key combination to close the particular file and return to the Terminal command line dialog box again.<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 10. In Terminal dialog box, type in the following command for it would make your alias available by refreshing your profile:<\/span><\/p>\n

source ~\/.bash_profile<\/i><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Step 11. Now; if you want to make the hidden files available enter in Terminal showFiles<\/i><\/b><\/em><\/strong>\u00a0and then hideFiles<\/i><\/b><\/em><\/strong>\u00a0when you want to make them unavailable again.<\/span><\/p>\n

Conclusion:<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

As you can see, the methods mentioned above mainly involve running commands, and thus following the 1st<\/sup>\u00a0method often proves to be a bit time consuming, but creating the Terminal Alias would save you the trouble of cramming all the lengthy commands.\u00a0<\/span>To be enable to hide\/ show hidden files\/folder on Mac is of utmost importance if you are going to use your Mac OS X on a daily basis.<\/span><\/p>\n

Related Articles:<\/p>\n