Hide and View Hidden Files on Mac OS X - A Guide

Hiding Files and Folders on macOS

Similar to other operating systems, macOS provides functionality for concealing files and folders from typical user views.

However, the mechanisms for achieving this are less immediately apparent on Mac OS X compared to systems like Windows or Linux.

Setting the Hidden Attribute

The core method for hiding files or folders on a Mac involves modifying their "hidden" attribute.

When this attribute is set, the Finder and most other applications will cease to display the item by default.

Essentially, the file or folder remains on the system, but it's rendered invisible during normal browsing.

This provides a degree of organization and can be useful for concealing system files or sensitive data.

It's important to note that this isn't a security measure; a user can easily reveal hidden files with the appropriate commands.

Concealing Files or Folders on a macOS System

Related: Methods for Hiding Files and Folders Across Different Operating Systems

Instead of concealing a single file – though that is certainly possible – you might prefer to establish a hidden folder. This demonstration will focus on creating a hidden folder, but the same technique applies to individual files as well.

Begin by launching a terminal window. This can be achieved by pressing Command+Space, typing "Terminal," and then pressing Enter.

Using the 'chflags' Command

Within the terminal, input the following command, ensuring a space is included at the end:

chflags hidden

Subsequently, locate the folder or file you wish to hide within the Finder.

Drag and drop this item directly into the open terminal window.

The complete file path will then be displayed in the terminal. Press Enter to execute the command.

Upon execution, the file or folder will become invisible. It remains on your system, but is hidden from standard Finder view.

To reiterate, the file or folder hasn’t been deleted; it’s simply concealed and won’t be displayed by the Finder in its default settings.

Gaining Access to Concealed Files or Directories

Do you need swift access to a hidden directory within Finder? A straightforward method involves clicking the "Go" menu in Finder and then choosing "Go to Folder."

Within the resulting dialog box, input the directory's path and then click "Go" or press the Enter key. The tilde symbol (~) represents your user directory.

Using the "Go to Folder" Feature

For example, if you have a folder named "SecretStuff" located on your desktop, you would enter "~/Desktop/SecretStuff." If the folder resides within your Documents directory, the path would be "~/Documents/SecretStuff."

Even though the folder is hidden and doesn't show up in standard Finder views or save dialogs, this method provides quick access. Files stored within this directory are effectively concealed.

Accidental discovery of the folder is prevented, but it will become visible in Finder if accessed directly through this method. This offers a simple layer of protection for sensitive data.

Important Note: This method hides files from casual browsing, but doesn't provide robust security. Anyone with access to your account can still find these folders.

Accessing Concealed Files and Folders via Open/Dialog

Although the Finder application lacks a direct visual setting for locating hidden files and folders, the Open and Save dialog within macOS provides this functionality.

To reveal hidden items in the Open/Save dialog, simply utilize the keyboard shortcut Command+Shift+Period (the . key).

Following the shortcut, a click on a different folder within the dialog is necessary for the change to take effect. For instance, if the concealed folder resides on the desktop, it won't be immediately visible after pressing Command+Shift+Period. Navigate to another folder first, then re-select the Desktop folder to display the hidden files and folders for convenient access.