This article will show you how to display hidden files and folders in Mac OS X using the terminal. If there are no hidden folders on your computer, you can create them.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: How to show hidden files
Step 1. Open Finder
The icon for this program is a blue face-shaped shape in the dock.
Step 2. Click on Go
It's on the menu bar (top). A dropdown menu will open.
Step 3. Click on Computer
This option is located roughly in the middle of the Go drop-down menu.
Step 4. Double click on the computer hard drive icon
The icon resembles a gray square.
Most computers running Mac OS X call the hard drive "Macintosh HD"
Step 5. Press ⇧ Shift + ⌘ Command +
This key combination will display all hidden folders on your computer's hard drive. Note that the icons for hidden folders and files are grayed out.
You can press this key combination in any Finder window. Generally, hidden system files and folders are stored in the root directory of the hard drive, so it is best to display them here (they will be greyed out)
Step 6. Press ⇧ Shift + ⌘ Command +.. again
This will hide your files and folders again.
Part 2 of 2: How to make hidden files visible
Step 1. Open a terminal
Click on the Spotlight icon
, type terminal and then click on the terminal icon
Step 2. In the terminal, enter
chflags nohidden
.
After the word
nohidden
be sure to put a space.
Step 3. Drag the required file or folder to the terminal
So the path to the file or folder will be automatically added after the "chflags nohidden" command.
Step 4. Press ⏎ Return
This will run a command that will make the hidden file or folder visible.
Step 5. Double click on the file or folder
They should now open as regular files and folders.