If you need to access hidden files on Mac for troubleshooting or other reasons, you will find below 2 different methods to Show Hidden Files on Mac.
Access Hidden Files on Mac
Similar to Windows operating system, macOS keeps important system files and folders hidden on your Mac to prevent them from being accidentally deleted.
Most of the Hidden Files on Mac can be found in ~/Library Folder, which makes it a popular Goto Folder for troubleshooting purposes.
While macOS protects important system files by hiding them, it also has a tendency to accumulate outdated or unwanted files and keep them hidden.
Once hidden files are made visible, they can be selected, opened, edited, renamed and deleted, just like regular files on your Mac.
However, you need to be aware that making a mistake while dealing with System Files can cause damage to the operating system and make your Mac inoperable.
1. See Hidden Files on Mac Using Shortcut
Perhaps the easiest way to see hidden Files on Mac is to use CMD + Shift + Dot Keyboard Shortcut.
1. Click on the Finder icon and select Macintosh HD Folder in side menu.
2. Press Command + Shift + Dot keys to View Hidden files in this folder.
3. Once you are done, press Command + Shift + Dot keys to hide the Files.
This method can be used to see Hidden Files in any Folder on your Mac, including Documents, Applications and also to see Hidden Files in External Storage or USB Drives attached to Mac.
2. Show Hidden Files on Mac Using Terminal
This method works at a global level and revels all the Hidden Files on your Mac.
1. Open the Terminal on your Mac using Launchpad.
2. On the terminal, type defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool true and press the enter key.
3. Next, type killall Finder and press the enter key.
The last command will relaunch the Finder on your Mac and you will be able to see all the Hidden Files and Folders on your Mac.
Hide Hidden Files on Mac Using Terminal
Once, you are done with the purpose of Showing Hidden Files on Mac, you need to make sure that you hide them once again.
1. Open the Terminal using Launchpad.
2. On the Terminal screen, type defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool false and press the Enter key.
3. Next, type killall Finder and press the Enter key.
This will relaunch the Finder on your Mac and you won’t be able to see Hidden System Files on your Mac.