Showing Hidden OS X Files, is something I need to do, from time to time. Don’t get me wrong, I like Apple’s way, of creating order, especially in the finder, but sometimes I need to see everything.
For me, Showing Hidden OS X Files, is a need, generally occurring when I need to modify a .htaccess file. Making use of a couple quick terminal commands, makes this pretty easy.
Showing Hidden OS X Files – How?
To start, you need to open launch the Apple Terminal Application.
I do this by going to:
Launchpad > Other > Terminal
You can also do this by going to:
Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > Terminal
Apple’s Terminal Application is a terminal emulator, included in their OS X Operating Systems. It is a command line interface and while the command line often gets a bad rap, for being overly complicated, I find it to be both simplistic and powerful.
Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks):
Simply type the following, into the Terminal, and hit the return/enter key:
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE
When you do, your Macintosh HD should start displaying files, very similar to those shown, in the image, below:
OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion), 10.7 (Lion) & 10.6 (Snow Leopard):
Simply type the following, into the Terminal, and hit the return/enter key:
defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE
NOTE: Please note the difference in letter case, of the “F” in Finder.
Stop Showing Hidden OS X Files
Once I’ve found the “hidden” file, I was looking for, and performed the necessary tasks, I want to clean up, my finder again. To Stop Showing Hidden OS X Files, doesn’t take much more effort.
Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks):
Simply type the following, into the Terminal, and hit the return/enter key:
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE
OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion), 10.7 (Lion) & 10.6 (Snow Leopard):
Simply type the following, into the Terminal, and hit the return/enter key:
defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE
Kill the Finder
If you run any of the commands, above, and the hidden files aren’t shown (or hidden), then you may have to run one more simple command, in the Terminal.
Simply type the following, into the Terminal, and hit the return/enter key:
killall Finder
That’s it!
