How To Show Hidden Files in Finder

How To Show Hidden Files in Finder

1. Open /Applications/Utilities/Terminal
2. Copy/paste the following and hit enter

Code (Text):

defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles YES

3. To view changes, restart Finder. To do this enter:

Code (Text):

killall Finder

4. To re-hide all hidden files:

Code (Text):

defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles NO

5. Restart Finder again. To do this enter:

Code (Text):

killall Finder

For simplicity, download ShowAllFiles, an app version of the basic terminal commands to show and hide hidden files in the Finder.

More Showing / Hiding Info:

• To open a single hidden file, launch the app you want to use (like TextEdit, TextWrangler...) then choose Open. In the Open window press Cmd+Shift+. to show hidden files (press it again to hide them), then choose the file you want.
• To browse to any directory (even hidden ones), in Finder press Cmd+Shift+G, then type the path (hint: you can press Tab to finish the current path name, like "/usr/b"+Tab -> "/usr/bin").