Are you among the many Mac users who depend on Spotlight when searching for folders and files? Then you are not alone. It is understandable because the tool is convenient to use. In fact, it is a good and reliable assistant when sorting disorganized data. However, did you know that your Mac has hundreds or thousands of useless hidden files that Spotlight cannot see and are taking up too much of your disk space? Well, we have solutions that can help you show hidden files on mac but before we give out help, allow us to discuss a few important things.

The Hidden Files on Mac and the Reason Why They Are Hidden

Files that are preceded by a “.” are not always visible in a normal file list. Also, folders like /bin, /etc/, and /usr are hidden away. By default, macOS hides all critical system folders and files. Others are kept out of view because they may be too confusing to understand for typical Mac users.

Now, no matter how familiar you are with your Mac, there are instances when you cause data loss or damage if you mess up with these files. You can either accidentally change them or worse, delete them, resulting in a catastrophic system-wide issue. That is obviously the reason they are hidden away.

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Use Terminal to Show All Files on Mac

The first solution involves using the Terminal to show hidden files on your Mac.

1. Launch Terminal. Go to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
2. Once it is launched, type in the command defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles true.
3. On your keyboard, press
4. Relaunch Terminal by typing killall Finder. Now, you can view all hidden files.
5. If you wish to hide the files again, simply type in the Terminal Window this command: defaults write apple.FinderAppleShowAllFiles false.
6. Now, press
7. Finally, relaunch Finder by typing the command killall Finder.

Show Hidden Files Using Show Hidden Files App

Here is an easy way to view hidden files on Mac. Use the Show Hidden Files application. This app makes searching hidden files as easy as possible. You can even delete any useless hidden data with just one click!

1. Download Show Hidden Files app from the Mac App Store.
2. Install and launch the app.
3. In the search field, input the file or folder name. For example, you can type in “cache”.
4. A list of hidden files and folders will be shown to you. Select one item and then click the Show in Finder button or the arrow sign.
5. The file or folder will then be shown in the
6. From there, you can manage and view the hidden files.
7. Once you close or relaunch Finder, the hidden file or folder will become invisible again.

Use the Show Hidden Files App and a Special Script

There is another way to use the Show Hidden Files app to view the hidden files you have on Mac. Use a special script! Follow the steps below:

1. Download Show Hidden Files app from the Mac App Store. If you already have it, then proceed to step 3.
2. Install the app.
3. Download the following archives and unpack them:
   • HideHiddensAndRelaunchFinder
   • ShowHiddensAndRelaunchFinder
4. Go to Finder and go to this directory: ~/Library/Application Scripts/com.nektony.FindFiles. To do this, open the Finder window ->Go -> Go to Folder. Type ~/Library/Application Scripts/com.nektony.FindFiles.
5. Move the archives you downloaded and unpacked in step 3 to the com/nektony.FindFiles Be sure you don’t change the file names of the scripts.
6. Relaunch the Show Hidden Files There should be a new option in its window. Click on the Grant Access button to confirm and verify access to the Home folder.
7. Once you have successfully followed the steps, you can already enable or disable the feature to show or hide hidden files and folders.
8. To enable or disable the visibility of files, you just have to use the Switch

Summary

It is important to understand that there are many hidden files and folders in your Mac’s system. While some of them play an integral role, others only eat up your Mac’s memory space. Even so, you should not modify or delete them unless you are completely aware and certain of their roles. After all, you can’t afford to mess up with the system.

In addition, some of the methods may require a bit of manual labor and a little of your time. But if you are not that confident with your technical skills, we suggest you install Tweakbit MacRepair first. If things seem too confusing, seek assistance from Apple experts. Take your Mac to the nearest iStore and ask an Apple genius to show the hidden files for you.

Although it’s still in the beta phase, macOS Mojave is finally out and here. Apple made an early release of the OS so users can help them find bugs and issues. And with its release, you’ve probably already heard about the many interesting macOS Mojave features, such as Desktop Stacks, Dark Mode and Gallery View.

Well, allow us to share something about the mentioned macOS features. They are just the high-level features. Beneath their surface, there are many other macOS Mojave hidden features that will make a difference in your entire macOS Mojave experience.

Check out these 10 hidden features in macOS Mojave beta:

1. Dynamic Desktop

You know that enabling Dark Mode will darken the menu bar, dock, and the application windows. What you don’t know is that there is another way to level up your Mac’s background: Dynamic Desktop. With this cool feature, the lighting in your background image will change, depending on the time of the day. So, when it’s night time, it’ll darken the background. When it’s day time, it’ll brighten the background. However, do take note that there are only two Dynamic Desktop images available for use. In the future, Apple is looking to release more options.

2. Software Updates in Settings

In the recent years, macOS updates were only made available via the App Store. Now that macOS Mojave has arrived, the process of updating it has changed. Don’t worry because it has nothing to do with how the system works. It’s just that Mojave is moving all system software updates to System Preferences, which is more accessible and makes more sense than going to the App Store. With this change, Apple is hoping that users can now easily find critical updates.

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3. Favicons in Safari

No, favicons are nothing new. But this feature has just been added in Mojave’s Safari tabs. Although it’s quite late for Apple to roll out favicons, Mojave users can now enable them to make it easier to identify the contents within a certain tab.

If you wish to see these favicons, know that you have to enable them manually. Open your Safari browser, click Tabs, and switch on Show website icons in tabs. After that, you can already figure out which tab is which.

4. Emoji Selector in Apple Mail

Long ago, using an emoji in an email was considered a childish or inappropriate act, but things have changed.

If you’re using macOS Mojave, the emoji selector feature is already built into Apple Mail. That means you can easily access all sorts of emojis available for macOS users. You can even search for them by keyword. Once you do, the menu will automatically display a list of significant emojis and symbols.

5. Automatically Fill Security Codes

These days, services and companies are pushing users to activate two-factor authentication. This security feature makes an account more secure. As long as it is turned on for a certain service, such as Facebook, you will receive a security code via SMS. You need to copy the security code over to be able to securely log into your account.

Then again, in macOS Mojave, the security code will be automatically filled into its respective spot, eliminating the need to copy and paste. While it’s a simple feature, it actually comes in handy.

6. Gain More Control over Permissions

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In the recent versions of macOS and iOS, Apple improved security, both backend and the obvious aspects. With the introduction of Mojave, permissions will now be asked for individual camera or microphone access. The same applies for installing applications. With all the security threats and hacking issues all over the news, it’s great to know that Apple is giving importance to these minute controls.

7. Improved FaceTime UI

Unfortunately, it still isn’t possible to make a group FaceTime call to video chat with several dozens of people, but at least, Apple has redesigned the app’s user interface, making it more user-friendly.

If you happened to see the latest FaceTime UI, you will notice a new toolbar in the bottom left corner of your window. This toolbar gives you access to controls for muting the microphone, entering full screen, hanging up, shutting the camera off, and opening a sidebar. The latter is expected to become a handy feature for group calls when the function arrives because you will know who are included in the chat.

8. Seek Help with Passwords from Siri

Do you use iCloud Keychain? If yes, then we have great news. There is a better way to access your passwords and other secure information.

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Simply call Siri and ask it to show your password. It will then open Safari, where you have to enter your password manager login details. Once you successfully log in, a new window will open, where all your login credentials are saved. From there, you can search by service or app to see your login credentials. Copy and paste them as you want.

9. More Accent Color Options

Do the words accent color ring a bell? If you are using macOS, then you’ve probably heard of it before. This is the color that is used in macOS computers for things like tick boxes, buttons, and drop-down menus.

Traditionally, you only have two options: blue and graphite. Now that Mojave has come, you already have eight accent colors to choose from. Joining blue and graphite are green, orange, pink, purple, red, and yellow.

10. Recent Apps in the Dock

It’s been years since the Dock got some tweaks. In Mojave, it has been revamped for the better. Now, you have the option to show the apps you recently used in the Dock. You can also view the apps that are currently running but are not permanently displayed in the Dock.

Wrapping Up

MacOS Mojave is indeed a major update. It does not just help you stay organized, it also helps you get a lot of work done. Not to mention, it offers a plethora of aesthetic options to make your Mac display a bit more pleasing. But before you proceed with updating your macOS to Mojave, we highly suggest you consider downloading and installing Tweakbit Mac Repair. With this tool, you can pinpoint problems and issues with your Mac so you can work to resolve them to improve your computer’s performance.