How to View Hidden Files on Your Mac
Unlike Windows, Apple doesn’t explain how to view hidden files on your Mac. Luckily, there are several workarounds to show hidden files.
View hidden files and folders in Finder
The first way to view hidden files is to use Finder. To do this, open your Mac’s Macintosh HD folder, which you can access by clicking your Mac’s name under Locations in the side tab on the left side of any Finder window. Once there, press the following keys: Command + Shift + . (period) . Using this keyboard shortcut should cause hidden files to appear in the current folder you are viewing. Hidden files and folders will be grayed out. Press Command + Shift + . (dot) again when you want to make the folders invisible again.
View hidden files using Terminal
If you want your hidden files to always be visible, you will need to use a few Terminal commands. First, open Terminal, which can be found under Applications under Utilities. Then enter the following code commands and then press the Enter key:
by default write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles true (then press Enter)
Killall Finder (then press Enter)
You will then be able to see all hidden files in Finder. To undo the changes and hide the files again, open Terminal and type the following commands, then press Enter:
by default write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles false (then press Enter)
Killall Finder (then press Enter)
Your files are now hidden again.
View hidden files in the content of a specific Mac application
Another place where hidden files hide is in the contents of a Mac application. To access them here, go to Finder and select Apps from the menu on the left. Then find the application for which you want to view hidden files. Right-click it and select Show Package Contents .