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If you want to show hidden files on a Mac, you may be wondering why there are hidden files on Mac in the first place.
Well essentially, having these files hidden means that you are unable to accidentally damage your Mac.
However, if you need to access the hidden files to either make storage space or to try and fix a problem, you may not know where to begin.
It’s worth noting you should never get rid of any hidden files on your Mac unless you have spoken to a professional, but if you need to access them or want to know how to access them, this article can help.
This article will explain the easiest ways to show the hidden files on your Mac and how you can reach them.
Find out more about accessing the hidden files on your Mac below!
Where Are Hidden Files Located?
The hidden files on your Mac are mostly stored in the Library Folder. You may be thinking that you’ve never heard of the Library Folder, and this is because it is also hidden from view.
To find the Library folder, you will need to find the Home Folder. The Home Folder isn’t often called this, but it is blue and has a house icon on the folder, making it easy for you to spot it.
Step
Accessing The Hidden Files
You can find the Home Folder by pressing Command + Shift + H in Finder, and you can then press Command + Shift + Full Stop to access the hidden files on your Mac.
You can also find the Library Folder by clicking on Finder, selecting Go in the Menu Bar, typing ~/Library into the textbox, and then clicking Go.
You can then close the hidden files by exiting Finder when you are finished.
Step
Finding The Library Folder On Macintosh HD
There is a second Library Folder that is referred to as the Macintosh HD Folder, but it might not be called that on your Mac.
To access it, click on Finder and then select Preferences. On the Sidebar, find Locations, and then tick the box next to your Mac.
Once you have done this, the hidden files will be located as a disk under Locations in the Finder. To show the hidden files, you will need to select Command + Shift + Full Stop.
Step
Access System Library
There is a third Library Folder that can be found in System. This folder contains macOS files and the third Library Folder can be found in the Macintosh HD Folder that is mentioned above.
It is important to make sure that you do not delete any of these files unless you have consulted a professional.
How Do I Keep The Library Folder Visible Or Hidden?
If you want to keep the hidden files visible, you will need to press Command + Shift + Full Stop.
Step
Command + Shift + Full Stop
This will make the files visible to you, and then when you want to get rid of them again, just simply press Command + Shift + Full Stop again to hide the files.
Step
Hidden Library Folder
If you want to be able to easily access the hidden files, you can drag the Hidden Library folder from the Finder Window to the Finder Sidebar.
This will keep the hidden files visible after you have closed Finder. If you do not drag the file, the files will be closed down when you close Finder.
Final Thoughts
To conclude, it is important to make sure that you do not delete any of the hidden files unless you have consulted a professional, but it is important to know how to access them on your Mac.
There are several different ways of accessing the hidden files, and you can access them however you find the easiest.
You can keep the files visible by pressing Command + Shift + Full Stop, and hide them again by pressing Command + Shift + Full Stop again.
