OJBs Web Site: Tip

Note: You are currently viewing my old web site. There is a new version with most of this content at OJB.NZ.
The new site is being updated, uses modern techniques, has higher quality media, and has a mobile-friendly version.
This old site will stay on-line for a while, but maybe not indefinitely. Please update your bookmarks. Thanks.

(Up to OJB's Mac Tips List Page)

Hide and Unhide Files

To hide a file or folder, use this command in Terminal:

chflags hidden FILE

To turn hidden off, displaying the file again:

chflags nohidden FILE

To apply these commands recursively (to a folder, and all enclosed folders and files, to any number of layers deep) use this command from Terminal:

chflags -R hidden FOLDER

Alternatively, you can set the Finder to display all hidden files. Either press command shift . in the Finder on modern versions of the OS, or run this command from the Terminal for any OS version:

defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles true

And relaunch Finder.