Tip Details Add a Related Tip
Rate as: Positive Negative

Show hidden files in the Mac finder

By default, the Finder in Mac OS X does not show hidden files and other files that are related to the system. Depending on the type of user you are, this may be fine. But if you are a power-user, you probably want the Finder to show hidden files. To show them, open a Terminal window and type the following command: 

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE

You'll then need to restart the Finder for the change to take effect. If you change your mind, you can rerun the command above and put in FALSE instead of TRUE.
Rating: 100% positive, 5 total Votes
Categories: Mac OS X Finder
Added: on Jul 30, 2007 at 10:56 am
Added By: an anonymous user

Comments on this Tip

Add a Comment
Thank you, you just made my migraines and some nocturnal nightmares go away :)
– Added by an anonymous user on Apr 27, 2008 at 6:35 am
Your Comment:
(how to format)
Rate This Tip:

Verify Humanity:
Sorry, we know it's annoying, but please enter the characters shown in the image to the left so that we know you're an actual person and not an evil spammer. Thanks.
       

Related Tips

Altering Finder column widths

Categories: Mac OS X Finder
75% positive, 2 comments - last added on Oct 07, 2007 at 8:49 pm
– Tip added by an anonymous user on Jul 16, 2007 at 4:41 pm

Quitting the Finder in OS X

Categories: Mac OS X Finder
100% positive, 4 comments - last added on Jul 10, 2007 at 9:35 pm
– Tip added by Marcos84 on Jul 09, 2007 at 3:02 pm

Seeing truncated files names in the Finder

Categories: Mac OS X Finder
100% positive, 0 comments
– Tip added by Marcos84 on Apr 29, 2007 at 1:09 pm

Keep .DS_Store files from being created

Categories: Mac files OS X Finder
100% positive, 0 comments
– Tip added by an anonymous user on Aug 12, 2008 at 12:58 pm

Adding searches to the Finder sidebar

100% positive, 0 comments
– Tip added by an anonymous user on Jun 27, 2008 at 9:07 am

Changing the default application

Categories: Mac Finder OS X
100% positive, 0 comments
– Tip added by an anonymous user on May 22, 2008 at 10:32 am

Customize the Finder Sidebar in Leopard

20% positive, 5 comments - last added on Jul 23, 2008 at 6:26 pm
– Tip added by an anonymous user on Nov 02, 2007 at 8:29 am

Changing the default new folder name on the Mac

Categories: Mac Finder hack OS X
100% positive, 2 comments - last added on Aug 27, 2007 at 5:04 pm
– Tip added by Marcos84 on Aug 26, 2007 at 10:08 am

Opening new Finder Windows

Categories: Mac OS X Finder
no ratings, 0 comments
– Tip added by an anonymous user on Jul 04, 2007 at 6:24 am

New screen capture options in Leopard

100% positive, 3 comments - last added on Jun 06, 2008 at 6:55 am
– Tip added by mollyp on Jan 22, 2008 at 12:36 pm

Quick Mac Calculator

75% positive, 2 comments - last added on Jun 09, 2008 at 9:12 am
– Tip added by an anonymous user on Jun 09, 2008 at 7:45 am

Read-only indication in Finder

Categories: Mac Finder
100% positive, 0 comments
– Tip added by an anonymous user on Jul 29, 2008 at 11:57 am

Selecting text in the terminal window

Categories: Mac Leopard terminal OS X
100% positive, 0 comments
– Tip added by an anonymous user on Jul 15, 2008 at 3:51 pm

Open finder windows from open/save dialogs

Categories: Leopard Finder shortcut Mac
100% positive, 0 comments
– Tip added by an anonymous user on Jun 04, 2008 at 3:18 pm

Change in Spaces behavior

Categories: Mac OS X Spaces Leopard
100% positive, 0 comments
– Tip added by an anonymous user on Jun 02, 2008 at 10:35 am

Determine PDF sizes based on the icon

Categories: Mac pdf icons OS X
100% positive, 0 comments
– Tip added by an anonymous user on May 20, 2008 at 2:50 pm

Mac boot sound

100% positive, 0 comments
– Tip added by an anonymous user on May 09, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Link: www5e.biglobe.ne.jp

Using Quick Look in the Finder

100% positive, 0 comments
– Tip added by an anonymous user on Apr 18, 2008 at 8:31 am

Menu and Dock access to Mac drives

no ratings, 0 comments
– Tip added by an anonymous user on Aug 13, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Link: homepage.mac.com

Customize the columns in the Activity Monitor

no ratings, 0 comments
– Tip added by an anonymous user on Aug 08, 2008 at 12:54 pm

Related Categories