How to view hidden folders on Mac OS X and other recent models

If you are a Mac user, you may have noticed that some hidden folders are hidden and not visible in the normal Finder view. These folders may contain important files or system settings that should not be changed without good reason.

However, there are times when you need to access these hidden folders to troubleshoot issues or customize your operating system. In this article, we will show you how to view hidden folders on Mac OS X and other recent models.

What are hidden folders?

Hidden folders on Macs are simply folders that are not visible in the Finder or the operating system's user interface. These folders may contain system files, settings, or sensitive data that the average user should not modify or delete.

While most hidden folders on your Mac are password-protected and require administrative permissions to access, there are some exceptions. For example, the Library folder in your home directory is a hidden folder that contains many application preferences and settings.

How to view hidden folders on Mac OS X and other recent models

To view hidden folders on Mac OS X and other recent models, you need to follow these simple steps:

• Open Finder
• Click on the menu bar at the top left of the screen
• Select "Utilities"
• Select "Terminal"
• Type the following command: defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE
• Press enter
• Type the following command: killall Finder
• Press enter again

You should now be able to view all hidden folders on your Mac. To hide hidden folders again, follow the same steps but type this command instead of the previous one: defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE.

Remember that when you view hidden folders, you may see files and folders that you do not recognize or have never seen before. Do not delete or modify these files unless you know exactly what you are doing, as you could cause issues with your operating system.

Method 1: Viewing hidden folders using Terminal

The first method for viewing hidden folders on Mac OS X and other recent models is to use Terminal. Terminal is an application that allows access to the computer's operating system through a command-line interface.

Step 1: Open Terminal

To open Terminal, simply click on the application icon in Launchpad or in the Applications folder. Alternatively, you can use the Spotlight function to search for "Terminal".

Step 2: Type the correct command

After opening Terminal, type the following command:

This command allows you to view all hidden folders on your computer.

Step 3: Verify the display of hidden folders

After typing the command, you need to restart Finder to apply the changes. To do this, type the following command:

You should now see all hidden folders on your computer.

• Note: If you want to hide the hidden folders again, simply type the following command:
• defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE; killall Finder

In conclusion, using Terminal is possible to show and hide hidden folders on Mac OS X and other recent models. However, it's important to be careful when modifying system settings through Terminal as it could cause problems if you're not familiar with the commands to type.

Method 2: Displaying hidden folders using a third-party app

If you're looking for an easier solution to show hidden folders on Mac OS X, you can use a third-party app like "Show Hidden Files". This app is available for free on its developer's website.

Step 1: Download and install Show Hidden Files app

• Visit the developer's website of Show Hidden Files app.
• Click on the "Download" button to download the .dmg file.
• After downloading the file, open the downloads folder and double-click on the .dmg file.
• Follow the installation instructions to complete the app installation.

Step 2: Use Show Hidden Files app to display hidden folders

• After installing Show Hidden Files app, open it from Launchpad or Applications folder.
• Click on the "Show Hidden Files" button in the app's main window.
• This will display all hidden folders present in your operating system.
• To hide the folders again, go back to the app and click on "Hide Hidden Files" button.

Using a third-party app like Show Hidden Files is an easy and quick way to show hidden folders on Mac OS X. However, keep in mind that using third-party apps could pose security risks to your operating system. Always make sure to download apps only from trusted sources.

How to hide hidden folders again

After displaying the hidden folders, you might want to hide them again for security reasons or simply to keep your desktop organized. Here's how:

• Open the Terminal from Launchpad or Applications > Utilities folder.
• Type the following command: defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles NO
• Press Enter.
• Restart Finder by typing the following command: killall Finder
• Press Enter.

Your hidden folders will now be invisible again. If you want to show hidden folders in the future, follow the steps described in the previous section.