
Why are some files and folders hidden?
Some files and folders on your Mac are hidden to prevent accidental damage to the operating system, for example, if you delete or modify a crucial file unintentionally. If this happens, your operating system might fail, which is why Apple hides some important files and folders from users. However, just because these files are hidden, doesn’t mean you can’t access them if you really need to, and we’ll take you through how to see hidden files on Mac below.
How to view hidden files in FTP client

(or use the
⌥ ⇧ ⌘ H
hotkey).
You’ll now be able to view all hidden files on your Mac, but be careful you don’t accidentally delete or modify these files.
Mac Finder: showing hidden files
simply press ⌘ (Cmd) + Shift + (Period) once more.
Showing hidden files on Mac using Terminal commands
To change directories, use
cd folder_name
.
cd ..
You can also check available folders by using
Is
.
Is -a
and you’ll be able to see all your Mac’s hidden files.
It’s worth noting that those new to Mac or anybody who’s a complete beginner when it comes to technology probably shouldn’t use Terminal commands for macOS show hidden folders and files. We’d recommend using FTP client like Commander One, which makes it easy to view hidden files without too much effort.
Show hidden files using keyboard shortcuts
(they’ll appear with semi-transparent file names, to help them stand out from your regular files).
You can use the same keyboard shortcut to hide the files, once you’re done.