Suck it up. Everyone has secrets, and so does your Mac. Thousands of them are stored in folders in your user folders in the form of hidden files and folders. These files contain information such as app preferences.~/Library
But how do we view hidden files on macOS X?
Hopefully, in this article, we will discuss ways to see all the hidden files on Mac and make the Library folder visible.
What are hidden files on Mac?
Hidden files on Mac are a throwback to macOS’s Unix roots. Usually, it starts with “.” The opening file is hidden. As a result, Mac does not allow the placement of “.”. At the beginning of the file name.
These hidden files contain data such as preferences, application support files, permission folders, and more.
Why are files hidden on Mac?
Files and folders on your Mac are hidden due to a number of reasons. They are listed below:
- They contain key data that is important for macOS to work.
- If they’re visible, your Mac might look cluttered.
- There is no reason for users to view them
How do I view hidden files on my Mac?
How does macOS show all hidden files? Before learning how to view hidden files on Mac, remember that there is a reason why files are hidden on Mac.
The information they contain is essential, and making any changes or removing them will make your Mac behave abnormally.
For example, if you want to view folders and remove application support files for uninstalled apps, consider using Disk Clean Pro. This nifty Mac optimizer and cleaner will remove all the unwanted app support files. One-click care.~/Library
To download Disk Clean Pro, click here.
This Mac cleanup tool is available on the Mac App Store and is fully tested and trusted. Using it, you can clean junk files, system log files, cache files, partial downloads, organize files on your Mac, and much more.
To know more about this tool, read the full review.
In addition to that, you can recover gigabytes of disk space and you can get rid of not having enough storage space.
However, if you are not satisfied with this and want to check out the hidden files Mac app. Here’s how you can see all the files that are hidden on your Mac.
Way 1: Mac Finder shows hidden files
macOS Tutorial on the Way to Show All Hidden Files: Follow these steps to view hidden files in Finder on Mac:
- Open a Finder window
- Now, on the left sidebar, click on the name of your Mac under “Devices”.
- Select and click Boot Drive. By default, it reads as Macintosh HD.
- Next, press the Command +Shift +. (period) key. You can now see several with a “.” of the Files.
- To hide them again, hold down Command + Shift +. (Period).
Note: To unhide and view hidden files in the Documents or Applications folder, you can use the same key combination, Command+Shift+.
However, if you know the type of file you’re looking for in a folder, follow these steps:~/Library
1. Open Finder, press the Alt key, and then click Go.
2. Click on the library to open the folder that is usually hidden
You’ll now see the messiest Mac desktop. Most unhidden files are system files and auto-saved Microsoft Word documents. This finder that shows hidden files can sometimes help users find files that they thought were lost forever.
Way 2: Use Terminal Command to Unhide Files on Mac
How does macOS show all hidden files? Just like the Command Prompt in Windows, we have a terminal command-line interface in Mac. Using it and a set of commands, you can easily show hidden files and hidden files on Mojave. Unlike Finder, which requires a complex series of instructions to follow, using terminal commands is easy.
If you know the terminal and can use it, here is a list of commands to show hidden files Mac apps:
- Launch the terminal
- Here, copy-paste the following command
defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles true killall Finder
Note: The parameter True shows hidden files, and when you change it to false, it will hide the files again.
It doesn’t matter what method you choose, as both are helpful in seeing all the hidden files. If you choose a finder to show hidden files, you will have to follow complicated steps. While it’s simple to use terminal commands, it can quickly help OS X reveal hidden files.
Also, with Terminal, you can show all the hidden files or folders that you have on your Mac. It’s a great way to view password-protected .rar on your desktop!
Way 3: Use the chflags hidden command on Mojave to view hidden files
macOS Tutorial on How to Show All Hidden Files: However, if you want to see all the hidden files on your Mac, follow these steps:
1. Launch the terminal
2. Copy and paste the following command:chflags hidden
Note: Make sure there is a space between the command and the argument
3. Drag the file or folder into the terminal you want to hide from the Finder. You will now see the file and folder paths in the terminal.
4. To hide, press Return.
By using these simple instruction sets, you can hide files. To view hidden files, change the parameter from nohidden. You will now see all the hidden files on your Mac.
When using this method, always keep in mind that anyone who knows this trick can also use the same command to unhide a file.
It’s all about using these simple methods; You can show hidden files on your Mac. Also, if your motive for viewing hidden files is to remove junk files, we have an easy way to do it.
Automatically clean up hidden junk files
Usually, Mac users look for ways to view hidden files because they want to recover some extra gigabytes. But what if they could effortlessly clean up those useless hidden files?
You read it right with an excellent tool like Disk Clean Pro; You can quickly recover hard drive space and clean up your Mac.
To use this amazing tool, follow these steps:
1. Download and install Disk Clean Pro
2. Launch the app and click Start System Scan
3. Let the scan complete. You will now see all the junk files.
4. Tap Clean Now to remove these unwanted data.
Tada! That’s it. Using these simple steps and terminal commands, you can view hidden files on your Mac. In addition, you can show the hidden files on your Mac to your friends and be welcomed.
FAQ: How does macOS show all hidden files
Q1, How do I manage files on my Mac?
Files on your Mac can be managed both manually and automatically. To manually manage files, press and hold the Command key to select items. Next, press the Control key > select the new folder with the selection. That’s it. You can now place the file in the selected folder.
Or, you can use Disk Clean Pro to organize and manage your files. In addition to that, arrange the files on the desktop. Click on the desktop, select View > Sort by, and then select from a list of options. You can now arrange the files.
Q2, How to keep hidden files from being hidden on Mac?
The easiest way to unhide files on Mac is by using the Terminal command. To do this, launch the terminal and run the following command:defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE killall Finder.
This way, you can view the hidden files in the Finder.
You can also enter a space between command and nohidden. You can now unhide a file or folder.chflags nohidden
Q3, Where are the hidden files on Mac?
In the Finder, open your Macintosh HD folder. Press. You will now be able to see the hidden files.Command+Shift+Dot
