How macOS actually works

Every way to reveal hidden files

Updated 2026-07-31 · 2 min read

Three ways, depending on whether you want it once, permanently, or for one folder.

Once

⇧⌘. in any Finder window. Toggles hidden files on and off immediately. Nothing is changed on disk.

Permanently

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool true
killall Finder

Reverse with false.

One specific folder

chflags nohidden ~/Library

~/Library is hidden by a flag rather than a leading dot, which is why the dotfile mechanisms do not apply to it.

In file dialogs

The same ⇧⌘. works in Open and Save dialogs, which is the fastest way to reach a hidden folder while saving something.

In the Terminal

Hidden files are always visible with ls -a, and ls -la adds permissions and sizes. Nothing in the shell hides dotfiles; that is purely a Finder convention.

What you will see

.DS_Store in every folder Finder has opened, .localized, .git in code projects, and various dotfiles in your home directory. None should be deleted casually except .DS_Store, which Finder recreates.

Common questions

Does showing hidden files change anything?

No. It is purely a display setting in Finder.

Why does ~/Library not appear even with hidden files shown?

It is hidden by a filesystem flag, not a dot. Use chflags nohidden ~/Library.