Press Cmd + Shift + . (period) inside any Finder window or file picker. Works instantly, no restart needed.
Open Terminal and paste:
Files/folders starting with a dot ( . ) are hidden to prevent accidental edits. Great for your .ssh or .zshrc , but don't move/rename system ones. show hidden finder
defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles true && killall Finder Change true to false to hide them again. Press Cmd + Shift +
Pro tip: Use Cmd + Shift + . as a toggle—fastest for occasional access. Want a version tailored to a specific platform (like Windows/Linux) or a more casual/sarcastic tone? Open Terminal and paste: Files/folders starting with a
If you've ever needed to access hidden files on your Mac—like .bashrc , .gitignore , or system configs—you know Finder hides them by default. Here's the quick way to show them.