Written by
Vain Rowe
Summary: This post from iBoysoft explains how to access hidden files on a Mac using simple steps. If you're interested in this topic, click inhere for more info right at this moment now!
Mac isolates users from modifying or editing some root files by marking them hidden in case the lack or improper change of hidden files results in device failure. Yet it's certain that sometimes you may want to access these hidden files for further operating system knowledge on mastering a machine better.
Take it easy, this post is gonna show you how to make hidden files visible on Mac with 4 simple workarounds, you can try the one that you prefer. Note that Do not change the configuration files and settings at will as which might trigger issues of device misoperations.
A basic to hidden files on Mac
In the computing field, the hidden file, folder, or directory is an item that the file system utilities do not display by default when users show the directory listing. The invisible file or folder always stores user preferences or the state of a device with sorts of programs or progress running in the background.
The hidden file or folder is not restricted to access by default. Mac makes them invisible just for two reasons, one is to differentiate the files created by users and the files created by the operating system. Just think how messy it will be when the user-created files and OS-generated files show up simultaneously the moment you access the home folder directory.
The other one is to avoid users' unintentional deletion or editing of the configuration files since their lack might cause the device to work improperly.
If this section lets you know what the hidden file is on a computer, please share it with more people on your social platform!
How to access hidden files on a Mac in 4 ways?
This post shows you how to make the hidden files visible with 4 simple solutions, which involve Mac keyboard shortcuts, Mac Finder, Mac Terminal, and third-party software. You can choose the one that fits you the most to access the hidden files on MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, Mac Pro, and other Mac lineups.
Method 1: Access hidden files on Mac with shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts are helpful when you perform some tiny missions on your machine. Instead of moving the cursors with several clicks, using the keyboard combination is more effective and faster. You can use the keyboard shortcuts to set the hidden files visible here:
- Open Mac Finder on your Mac, which always lies on the Mac Dock.
- Go to the certain folder that you want to see the hidden files.
- Press the Command + Shift + . (The period key) keys together and then the hidden files will show up automatically.
- If you want to hide the files on Mac again, click the Command + Shift + . key combinations one more time. Then the hidden files will disappear from view.
Method 2: Access hidden files on Mac with Mac Finder
You can also navigate to the folder that contains most of the hidden files on Mac manually, here is how to do that:
- Open Mac Finder with the Spotlight Search shortcuts or click it where you place it.
- Click the Go menu on the top left menu bar to choose Go to Folder.
- Enter this directory by typing the following path and click Enter.~/Library
- Then you'll be in the Library folder which stores sorts of hidden files that you may have never seen before.
Method 3: Access hidden files on Mac with Mac Terminal
If you're interested in executing some command lines in Mac Terminal, you can try the steps below to make the hidden files show up.
Step 1: Launch Mac Terminal with Spotlight Search shortcuts or via Finder > Go > Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
Step 2: Run the following command lines in the Terminal window. For the correctness of the command line, you're recommended to copy and paste the following command line since the wrong commands may put your Mac at risk.
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE ; killall Finder
Step 3: Hit Enter to run the command line. Once the command line is executed, the hidden files will appear.
Step 4: If you want to hide the files, run this command line:
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE ; killall Finder
Method 4: Access hidden files on Mac with FindAnyFile
Find Any File, as suggested by its name, is a program designed for macOS devices to search for any file on the hard drive, which can find the files that Spotlight Search can't, for instance, on on network (NAS) and other external volumes, hidden ones inside bundles and packages, and those in folders that are usually excluded from Spotlight search, such as the System and Library folders.
It can even search in other users' folders if you use FAF's unique root search mode. It responds to you with a precise outcome for its special file filter pattern such as name, extension, date range, size, kind, etc. You can apply this software to show the hidden files on your Mac for easy access.
Final words
This post walks you through how to make the hidden files appear on Mac with 4 workarounds, and you can try the one that attracts you the most.
