Show Hidden Files in Mac Finder by Default

Published: Oct 11, 2019
Updated: May 3, 2021

Show Finder the light.

A one-time thing #

  1. Press Command - Shift - . to toggle hidden files when in Finder

Make it permanent #

  1. Set the default

     defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES

  2. Confirm that the default is set

     defaults read com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles

  3. Hold Option key, right-click Finder, then click Relaunch to pick up the new default

Revert it #

  1. In the write command above, replace YES with NO

     defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles NO