Mac: See system files in Finder

You can see system files in the Finder of your Mac if you have activated the function in the "Terminal". System and other hidden files then appear in the hard disk folder. We show you how it works.

See system files in the Finder

In order to be able to see hidden files in the Finder, you have to work with the "Terminal" program. Here you simply enter one of the following commands to display the files or to switch the display off:

1. In the Spotlight search, enter the keyword "Terminal" in the top right and select the first hit.
2. To see all system files in the Finder, enter the following command and confirm it with the Return key: defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE; killall Finder
3. To hide the display of the system files, simply enter this command in the terminal: defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE; killall Finder and confirm with Enter.

Tip: This practical tip tells you what an intelligent folder is and how it works.