[macOS Sequoia] How to Show Hidden Files and Folders on Mac

Apple hides files that are critical to your system to prevent them from being accidentally modified or deleted. But sometimes you need to access them to see how your disk space is being used or to delete application files to fix some problems with your apps.

Don’t know how to unhide secret files on your Mac? Read on for detailed steps.

How to Quickly Show User Library Folder on Mac

There is more than one Library folder on your Mac. But the most commonly used is the User Library folder, also known as ~/Library, which contains all the important files for the current user, such as app cache, crash reports, preferences, logs, etc.

The User Library folder is in your Home folder but is hidden from your view by default. If you wish to show it in the Finder, follow these steps:

1. Click the Go menu in Finder.
2. Press Option and you will see the Library option.
3. While holding down Option, click on Library and you will find all the files it contains in Finder.

How to Temporarily Show Hidden Files and Folders on Mac via Finder

The above method only shows the user library folder. So how to reveal all hidden files and folders on your Mac?

A quick and easy way to do that is to use the shortcut: Shift + Command +.(period). Just press them in the Finder and all the hidden files should be shown up in the Finder. To hide these files, press these 3 keys again.

How to Permanently Show Hidden Files and Folders on Mac via Terminal

The above methods can help you temporarily find hidden files on your Mac. To permanently show hidden files in Finder, you can use Terminal.

1. Launch Terminal via Launchpad or Spotlight.
2. Type the command defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE in Terminal and press Enter.
3. Continue to run the command killall Finder and the Finder will restart.

Bonus Tip: How to Better Manage Files on Mac

You probably have a large number of files on your Mac. As you know, managing them is not an easy task. But if you have a tool like BuhoCleaner at hand, this won't be a problem for you.

BuhoCleaner is one of the best Mac file managers. It helps you manage files on your Mac visually, including hidden files. You can easily know what files are on your Mac, how much space each file is taking up, and which ones can be deleted.

Here’s how to manage files on your Mac with BuhoCleaner:

1. Download, install, and launch BuhoCleaner.
2. Click on ToolKit and select Disk Space Analyzer.
3. Click the Scan button and you will see all the files and folders on your disk, along with their size.
4. Preview them and remove the ones you don’t need to free up space.

It’s worth noting that BuhoCleaner is more than just a file manager. It’s also a handy cleaner with many practical features, including junk file cleanup, app uninstallation, large and duplicate file removal, startup program management, and more. Click here to explore more features.

The Bottom Line

Now that you know how to find hidden files on your Mac, which way do you like best and want to give it a try first?

Note that showing hidden files is for better control over your files and to fix app issues. Under no circumstances do we recommend deleting files that you are not sure are critical to your macOS.