Show Hidden Files in Mac OS X

Intro: Show Hidden Files in Mac OS X

Sometimes, you just want to know what hides in your disk!

This instructable will tell you how to view hidden files/folders in Mac OS X. Let's get started!

STEP 1: Open a Terminal Window

To open the terminal, navigate to your Applications folder in finder. Then open the utilities folder and then double-click Terminal.

STEP 2: Run the Defaults Command

Now, run the following command:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES && pkill Finder

This command will tell Finder to show hidden files and then restarts Finder.

STEP 3: The Reverse: Hide Hidden Files/folders

Type the following command to hide hidden files:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES && pkill Finder

Comments

[koune]

Shouldn't the last command use "NO" as a value :) ?

[thepcgeek]

First of all, the && pkill Finder is required to restart finder, the YES part at AppleShowAllFiles indicates that it shows all files, change it to "NO" to reverse the operation

[donaloflynn]

koune understood that ralphsoft, he was just trying to draw
your attention to the fact that you forgot to change YES to NO in the
last step.