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View Hidden Files and Folders on Mac Using Terminal Terminal is the same command line tool for Mac users as Command Prompt is for Windows users. The Terminal tool that comes by default with MacOS is one of the most powerful using which you can do almost any task to control your Mac. If there are hidden files on your Mac computer that you need to access, you can make them visible at any time using a single command in Terminal. This quick, straightforward bit of code instructs Finder to display all files and folders, including those that were meant to be hidden from view. In OS X Yosemite, the command takes effect immediately.

May 12,2020 • Filed to: Mac Recovery • Proven solutions

Our computers are like our own digital spaces where we store and process information. Privacy values a great deal in computing, and most of the time, the only way to keep your files safe from others using the same computer is to hide them.

How to hide files and folders on Mac? We are going to help you with that very question today with answers that you can use to safely hide your files on Mac.

Part 1: Hiding files on Mac – Why Privacy is Important

Files that you have on your Mac might be free to use for everyone or they might be something for your eyes only. And there are many reasons why we would want to keep the files hidden from others.

To keep the file safe: If your Mac is used by other members of the family or office, then there is a chance they might use your file or gain access to them. Hiding files on Mac gives you a peace of mind that your files are not used by anyone else.

Sensitive information: You Mac can contain very sensitive information, either related to your private or professional life. So it is of paramount importance that this information does not fall into the hands of people who may exploit it. Hiding your files or folders on Mac makes it impossible for them to get to them.

To save multiple copies: Hiding the copies of a file is helpful when you want to safeguard it against file loss. Hiding the extra copies will remove it from sight.

Part 2: 4 Proven Ways to Hide Files and Folders on Mac

The process of hiding files and folders on Mac should be done with caution because if it doesn't work out, then your files will be visible to anyone who ventures to that folder or window. Here are 4 different ways that you can use to Hide files and folders in Mac.

Method 1: Using keyboard shortcuts to Hide Hidden file/folders on mac

The first method that we are going to discuss is about hiding hidden folders with just a simple keyboard combo. If you press CMD + Shift + . on the keyboard, then Mac will hide or unhide the files that are already been hidden. This is an easy method that you can use to easily flip between hidden and visible status for files.

Method 2: Using Terminal to Hide Files on Mac

The terminal can help you hide files on Mac with just a few steps. The process is quite easy and will come in handy if you want to hide file or folders.

Step 1 Open a Terminal window by pressing Command + Space and then typing Terminal. Press enter to open the Terminal.

Step 2 Type in chflags hidden.

Step 3 Now drag and drop the file or folder you want to hide into the window.

Step 4 Note down the path of the folder or file so that you can access it when you need it the next time.

Method 3: Enabling FileVault

FileVault is Apple's inbuilt file encryption feature. when you turn on FileVault, the files in your Mac will be encrypted with 128-bit AES Encryption. Now the files on your Mac can only be accessed using a password. No one else but you will have access to the files on your Mac. The following steps will help you turn on FileVault on Mac.

Step 1 Navigate to Apple Menu> System Preferences.

Step 2 Out of the options, click on Security and Privacy.

Step 3 In the following Window, Click on the FireVault Tab.

Step 4 Click on Turn On FileVault.

Now Mac will provide you with a key that you can use to unlock your hard drive if you forget your password. Make sure you write and store the key somewhere safe. From now onwards, files on your mac can only be accessed with your password.

Method 4: Hide files on Mac by moving them to another user account

The files of the user account on a Mac will be not visible for a second user account on the same Mac. This essentially means that files on a user account are hidden from the other user account.

You can use this to your advantage by creating a second user account on Mac. Now to hide files from your account, all you need to do is move them to the second user account.

Step 1 Navigate to Apple menu > System Preferences.

Step 2 Out of the options provided, click on Users & Groups.

Step 3 Click on the Lock button that is provided at the lower left corner and click on the + button.

Step 4 Enter the new account details to set up a profile.

Now your Mac will have a second account which you can use to hide files from the main account. If the files are accessible between two accounts, you need to turn off the file sharing option found in Apple Menu> System Preferences>Sharing.

Part 3: How to Hide Icons from Mac Desktop

We have discussed four different ways in which you can hide files on Mac, but what if you want to hide desktop icons? Such a need arises when you don't want other users accessing your applications or software. If you want to protect your games or software from being opened by others, then you should definitely try this option.

Step 1 Open Terminal on your Mac.

Step 2 Type in the following command line

defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop false

killall Finder

defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop true

killall Finder

This feature also comes in handy when you want to reduce any distractions while working on your Mac.

Part 4: How to Unhide Files on Mac

We have discussed many methods on hiding files and folders on Mac, now let us focus on unhiding the files on Mac. Making files visible is necessary when you want to use those files. Sometimes, we might forget the files we made hidden, and uncovering them can be tricky if you don't know how to do it.

The following three methods will help you unhide files on Mac and we have even added a method that could help you recover lost files on Mac.

Method 1: Unhide files on Mac using Keyboard Shortcuts

The keyboard shortcut that we used to hide hidden files in Mac is the same combo that is used to show the hidden files.

So if you want to unhide hidden folders or files, just press down on CMD + Shift + . and you will be able to see all the files in that specific path.

Method 2. Use Mac terminal command to show hidden files

You can also use the terminal command to unhide files. the process involves entering a line of code into the terminal, which makes all the hidden visible. This method is especially helpful if you have numerous hidden files or folders which needs to be made visible quickly.

Step 1 Open Terminal.

Step 2 Enter the following code - defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES

Step 3 Press Enter.

Step 4 Relaunch the Finder by right-clicking on the finder icon and pressing Relaunch.

Method 3. Use a Mac Data Recovery Tool

One of the common mistakes done while hiding files on a mac is that the user will forget where they have hidden the files. And if your Mac has a lot of files and folders, then the task of finding these hidden files becomes a near impossible task. They are also deleted when you delete the folder without knowing you have files hidden within it.

This is where we realize the importance of a Data Recovery tool. We always recommend Recoverit (IS) tool for Mac.

Get back files on your Mac with iSkysoft!

Recoverit (IS) for Mac

Some of the impressive features of Recoverit (IS) Tool are:

• Helps to recover deleted, formatted, and hidden files
• Supports a whole range of media files including mp3, wmv, flv, mpeg4, etc
• Advanced scanning tool is capable of extracting even formatted files
• Users can preview the files before recovering them
• Works completely offline without requiring any internet connection.

The installation process of Recoverit (IS) Tool is also very simple. You can use the software by yourself without requiring any form of external assistance. We have provided a comprehensive guide that you can follow to recover hidden files from your Mac.

Download the latest version of iskysoft Data recovery tool from the official website. Do not trust software from unofficial websites or sources.

Delete Hidden Files Mac

Now choose a Recovery mode per your requirement.

If you know the specific drive where your files had been stored, choose that drive so that the software can better target the recovery process.

Hidden Files For Mac

The window will show you that list of recovered files. you can choose to recover them or discard them. Use the preview feature so that you know exactly what you are recovering.

The dr.fone is a very powerful tool that can help you out when you are in tricky situations with your Mac. Make sure that you keep the files on your device.

Conclusion

The files on your Mac is yours to use and hiding them is the best way to keep others from finding it or using it. You can use the various methods that we have discussed here to hide or unhide Mac files and get the most out of your system.

Hidden Files On Mac

When you look at your desktop, or inside any folder for that matter, on your Mac you'll see a number (one that will vary depending on how well-organized you are) of file and folder icons. What all of us have in common, however, is a huge range of system files that are hidden just out of view.

Easy way to show hidden files

Try Setapp to make all your files visible on a Mac. With the tools we offer, nothing gets lost in the shuffle.

Those of us who have lived online for long enough will remember the Delete System32 hoax, with which trolls encouraged naive PC users to delete their Windows 2000 system directory. It's not a shock that, since those days, developers have taken more care to hide away files that are essential to their operating systems.

There are, however, times when you need to access those files. Most of them are hidden away in the ~/Library folder, but the truth is that the average Mac holds a treasure trove of files and folders that you either no longer need or may want to access for troubleshooting purposes.

Is it normal that 'System' takes up 90GB+ of storage? What does it contain? How to get your System folder under control?

Three Ways to See Hidden Files on Mac

There's good news for anyone out there who's looking to access hidden files on their Mac: you can do exactly that, in a number of different ways, by arming yourself with a little bit of knowledge. There are a couple of Finder augmentation and replacement apps, for example, that make the process as easy as clicking a single button.

Before kicking off, however, it's important to highlight that you should play it safe when digging through hidden files on your laptop or desktop. Unless you know exactly what you're looking for you can do some serious damage to your operating system, so you'll want to proceed with caution. After all, these files are hidden for a reason!

See hidden files on Mac via Finder

As mentioned above, it doesn't take much to make the hidden files on your Mac visible. In fact, you can check out all of the hidden files on your Mac by following just three easy steps:

1. In Finder, open up your Macintosh HD folder
2. Press Command+Shift+Dot
3. Your hidden files will become visible. Repeat step 2 to hide them again!

This process will also work elsewhere, including your Documents or Applications folders. However, if you know what you're looking for is in your ~/Library folder and would rather jump straight into that then you can take the following steps instead:

1. In Finder, hold down Alt and click Go at the top of your screen
2. Click on Library to open up the, normally hidden, folder

Be prepared for one very cluttered looking Desktop if you decide to uncover all the hidden files there. If you're anything like the average Mac user, most of what you'll find will be made up of system files and autosaved Microsoft Word documents!

Some users have reported success finding documents that they thought were lost forever after their Mac crashed without saving, which is always a useful tip to have in the back pocket.

Unhide files on Mac with Terminal commands

Terminal, a Mac command-line interface, is included in macOS by default and allows you to use command prompts to control your Mac instead of following a potentially complex series of instructions to do the same thing in Finder.

If you're already familiar with using Terminal, then you might prefer to run the following script to reveal your hidden files:

1. Open Terminal
2. Enter the following: defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles true [Press Return] killall Finder
3. To hide files again, change the 'true' in the step above to 'false'

The first method that we are going to discuss is about hiding hidden folders with just a simple keyboard combo. If you press CMD + Shift + . on the keyboard, then Mac will hide or unhide the files that are already been hidden. This is an easy method that you can use to easily flip between hidden and visible status for files.

Method 2: Using Terminal to Hide Files on Mac

The terminal can help you hide files on Mac with just a few steps. The process is quite easy and will come in handy if you want to hide file or folders.

Step 1 Open a Terminal window by pressing Command + Space and then typing Terminal. Press enter to open the Terminal.

Step 2 Type in chflags hidden.

Step 3 Now drag and drop the file or folder you want to hide into the window.

Step 4 Note down the path of the folder or file so that you can access it when you need it the next time.

Method 3: Enabling FileVault

FileVault is Apple's inbuilt file encryption feature. when you turn on FileVault, the files in your Mac will be encrypted with 128-bit AES Encryption. Now the files on your Mac can only be accessed using a password. No one else but you will have access to the files on your Mac. The following steps will help you turn on FileVault on Mac.

Step 1 Navigate to Apple Menu> System Preferences.

Step 2 Out of the options, click on Security and Privacy.

Step 3 In the following Window, Click on the FireVault Tab.

Step 4 Click on Turn On FileVault.

Now Mac will provide you with a key that you can use to unlock your hard drive if you forget your password. Make sure you write and store the key somewhere safe. From now onwards, files on your mac can only be accessed with your password.

Method 4: Hide files on Mac by moving them to another user account

The files of the user account on a Mac will be not visible for a second user account on the same Mac. This essentially means that files on a user account are hidden from the other user account.

You can use this to your advantage by creating a second user account on Mac. Now to hide files from your account, all you need to do is move them to the second user account.

Step 1 Navigate to Apple menu > System Preferences.

Step 2 Out of the options provided, click on Users & Groups.

Step 3 Click on the Lock button that is provided at the lower left corner and click on the + button.

Step 4 Enter the new account details to set up a profile.

Now your Mac will have a second account which you can use to hide files from the main account. If the files are accessible between two accounts, you need to turn off the file sharing option found in Apple Menu> System Preferences>Sharing.

Part 3: How to Hide Icons from Mac Desktop

We have discussed four different ways in which you can hide files on Mac, but what if you want to hide desktop icons? Such a need arises when you don't want other users accessing your applications or software. If you want to protect your games or software from being opened by others, then you should definitely try this option.

Step 1 Open Terminal on your Mac.

Step 2 Type in the following command line

defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop false

killall Finder

defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop true

killall Finder

This feature also comes in handy when you want to reduce any distractions while working on your Mac.

Part 4: How to Unhide Files on Mac

We have discussed many methods on hiding files and folders on Mac, now let us focus on unhiding the files on Mac. Making files visible is necessary when you want to use those files. Sometimes, we might forget the files we made hidden, and uncovering them can be tricky if you don't know how to do it.

The following three methods will help you unhide files on Mac and we have even added a method that could help you recover lost files on Mac.

Method 1: Unhide files on Mac using Keyboard Shortcuts

The keyboard shortcut that we used to hide hidden files in Mac is the same combo that is used to show the hidden files.

So if you want to unhide hidden folders or files, just press down on CMD + Shift + . and you will be able to see all the files in that specific path.

Method 2. Use Mac terminal command to show hidden files

You can also use the terminal command to unhide files. the process involves entering a line of code into the terminal, which makes all the hidden visible. This method is especially helpful if you have numerous hidden files or folders which needs to be made visible quickly.

Step 1 Open Terminal.

Step 2 Enter the following code - defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES

Step 3 Press Enter.

Step 4 Relaunch the Finder by right-clicking on the finder icon and pressing Relaunch.

Method 3. Use a Mac Data Recovery Tool

One of the common mistakes done while hiding files on a mac is that the user will forget where they have hidden the files. And if your Mac has a lot of files and folders, then the task of finding these hidden files becomes a near impossible task. They are also deleted when you delete the folder without knowing you have files hidden within it.

This is where we realize the importance of a Data Recovery tool. We always recommend Recoverit (IS) tool for Mac.

Get back files on your Mac with iSkysoft!

Recoverit (IS) for Mac

Some of the impressive features of Recoverit (IS) Tool are:

• Helps to recover deleted, formatted, and hidden files
• Supports a whole range of media files including mp3, wmv, flv, mpeg4, etc
• Advanced scanning tool is capable of extracting even formatted files
• Users can preview the files before recovering them
• Works completely offline without requiring any internet connection.

The installation process of Recoverit (IS) Tool is also very simple. You can use the software by yourself without requiring any form of external assistance. We have provided a comprehensive guide that you can follow to recover hidden files from your Mac.

Download the latest version of iskysoft Data recovery tool from the official website. Do not trust software from unofficial websites or sources.

Delete Hidden Files Mac

Now choose a Recovery mode per your requirement.

If you know the specific drive where your files had been stored, choose that drive so that the software can better target the recovery process.

Hidden Files For Mac

The window will show you that list of recovered files. you can choose to recover them or discard them. Use the preview feature so that you know exactly what you are recovering.

The dr.fone is a very powerful tool that can help you out when you are in tricky situations with your Mac. Make sure that you keep the files on your device.

Conclusion

The files on your Mac is yours to use and hiding them is the best way to keep others from finding it or using it. You can use the various methods that we have discussed here to hide or unhide Mac files and get the most out of your system.

Hidden Files On Mac

When you look at your desktop, or inside any folder for that matter, on your Mac you'll see a number (one that will vary depending on how well-organized you are) of file and folder icons. What all of us have in common, however, is a huge range of system files that are hidden just out of view.

Easy way to show hidden files

Try Setapp to make all your files visible on a Mac. With the tools we offer, nothing gets lost in the shuffle.

Those of us who have lived online for long enough will remember the Delete System32 hoax, with which trolls encouraged naive PC users to delete their Windows 2000 system directory. It's not a shock that, since those days, developers have taken more care to hide away files that are essential to their operating systems.

There are, however, times when you need to access those files. Most of them are hidden away in the ~/Library folder, but the truth is that the average Mac holds a treasure trove of files and folders that you either no longer need or may want to access for troubleshooting purposes.

Is it normal that 'System' takes up 90GB+ of storage? What does it contain? How to get your System folder under control?

Three Ways to See Hidden Files on Mac

There's good news for anyone out there who's looking to access hidden files on their Mac: you can do exactly that, in a number of different ways, by arming yourself with a little bit of knowledge. There are a couple of Finder augmentation and replacement apps, for example, that make the process as easy as clicking a single button.

Before kicking off, however, it's important to highlight that you should play it safe when digging through hidden files on your laptop or desktop. Unless you know exactly what you're looking for you can do some serious damage to your operating system, so you'll want to proceed with caution. After all, these files are hidden for a reason!

See hidden files on Mac via Finder

As mentioned above, it doesn't take much to make the hidden files on your Mac visible. In fact, you can check out all of the hidden files on your Mac by following just three easy steps:

1. In Finder, open up your Macintosh HD folder
2. Press Command+Shift+Dot
3. Your hidden files will become visible. Repeat step 2 to hide them again!

This process will also work elsewhere, including your Documents or Applications folders. However, if you know what you're looking for is in your ~/Library folder and would rather jump straight into that then you can take the following steps instead:

1. In Finder, hold down Alt and click Go at the top of your screen
2. Click on Library to open up the, normally hidden, folder

Be prepared for one very cluttered looking Desktop if you decide to uncover all the hidden files there. If you're anything like the average Mac user, most of what you'll find will be made up of system files and autosaved Microsoft Word documents!

Some users have reported success finding documents that they thought were lost forever after their Mac crashed without saving, which is always a useful tip to have in the back pocket.

Unhide files on Mac with Terminal commands

Terminal, a Mac command-line interface, is included in macOS by default and allows you to use command prompts to control your Mac instead of following a potentially complex series of instructions to do the same thing in Finder.

If you're already familiar with using Terminal, then you might prefer to run the following script to reveal your hidden files:

1. Open Terminal
2. Enter the following: defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles true [Press Return] killall Finder
3. To hide files again, change the 'true' in the step above to 'false'

It doesn't matter too much whether you use Terminal or Finder to make the hidden files on your Mac visible, though you might prefer the latter if you've never run scripts on Terminal before, as both routes accomplish the same thing.

One reason you might opt to use Terminal is that it allows you to hide any file or folder on your Mac, which is a great way to avoid that sense of residual curiosity felt by others should they come across a password protected .rar on your desktop! To hide files, just:

1. Open Terminal
2. Enter the following: chflags hidden [Press Space]
3. Drag files or folders to be hidden from Finder into the Terminal window, which will display their paths in Terminal
4. Press Return to hide

To make your files visible again, just repeat the above steps using 'chflags nohidden' in place of 'chflags hidden.' Of course, the fact that anyone else who knows this trick can also use it to unhide your files means that this isn't an adequate substitute for other security measures.

Use file managers to access hidden files

How to find the path of a file in Mac? Apps like DCommander and Forklift, both of which perform like native macOS apps and function as extensions of Finder, represent great choices if you're at all uncomfortable using Terminal or digging around in your ~/Library folder.

Because these apps allow you to make hidden files and folders visible (or invisible) using shortcuts or clicking buttons within the apps, they make the whole process incredibly simple. In Forklift, for example, you can show hidden files by:

1. Clicking View
2. Selecting View Options towards the bottom of the dropdown menu
3. Checking the box next to Show Hidden Files

There's also a button in the toolbar to show and hide hidden files. DCommander has a similar function available, with a Show System Files command, but you need to add it manually to the app's toolbar:

As you might guess from those subtle differences in terminology, we would suggest that Forklift is more suitable for someone looking for something that really looks and acts like Finder. DCommander, with a larger range of features and toolbar buttons enabled by default, is still intuitive but feels a little more dense.

Whichever you settle on remember that just because these apps make accessing hidden files easy it doesn't mean that you can't do some real damage if you start messing around with the wrong thing!

Try all these apps for free

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Leave hidden files to automatic cleanup

For some Mac users, the question of how to see hidden files is nothing more than succumbing to curiosity. For others, it's a necessity for troubleshooting a piece of software or device that's not performing as it should.

Somewhere in between are those in the pursuit of a few spare gigabytes as their hard drive rapidly fills up. If you're one of those people looking to clean up useless hidden data then an app like CleanMyMac X might be exactly what you need:

1. Open up the app and select Smart Scan
2. Hit Scan
3. Select Review Details underneath Cleanup to see how much System Junk you can safely delete
4. Hit Run to remove those unneeded files

An app like CleanMyMac X will free up space just as effectively, probably more so, than you'll be able to by randomly deleting hidden files and hoping for the best. If you do end up going this route then don't consider learning more about hidden content a waste of time — at least you know what to watch out for if someone tries to troll you into deleting vital system files!

Best of all, DCommander, Forklift, and CleanMyMac X apps mentioned above are all available for a free trial through Setapp, a collection of more than 150 macOS apps from top developers all over the world.

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Mac Command For Hidden Files