How to See Hidden Files on Mac – 3 Easy Methods

If you are trying to find system files, configuration folders, or application data on macOS, you may notice that some files are not visible in Finder by default. Apple hides certain files and folders to prevent users from accidentally modifying important system data.

Fortunately, learning how to see hidden files on Mac is easy. You can reveal them using a keyboard shortcut, Finder, or Terminal.

How to See Hidden Files on Mac Using a Keyboard Shortcut

The fastest way to show hidden files on a Mac is with a simple Finder shortcut.

Open Finder and navigate to the folder where you want to check for hidden files.

Press:

Command + Shift + . (Period)

Hidden files and folders will immediately appear. They usually look slightly faded compared with normal files.

To hide them again, press the same shortcut:

Command + Shift + .

This is the easiest method if you only need temporary access to hidden files.

View Hidden Files in the Library Folder

One commonly hidden folder on macOS is the user’s Library folder. It contains application settings, caches, preferences, and other important files.

To access it:

1. Open Finder.
2. Click Go in the menu bar.
3. Hold the Option key.
4. Select Library.

You can now browse the hidden Library directory without changing any system settings.

How to Show Hidden Files on Mac Using Terminal

If you want hidden files to remain visible in Finder, you can use Terminal.

Open Terminal and run:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool true
killall Finder

Finder will restart and display hidden files.

To hide them again, use:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool false
killall Finder

Why Does macOS Hide Some Files?

macOS hides files that users normally do not need to modify. Many hidden files contain system settings, application data, or configuration information. Hidden filenames often begin with a period, such as .ssh, .config, or .git.

If you searched for how to see hidden files on Mac, the Command + Shift + Period shortcut is usually the quickest solution. For permanent visibility, Terminal provides more control.

Be careful when editing or deleting hidden files because changing important system or application files can cause unexpected problems.