Macs have files and folders that users cannot edit or delete without permission, and they are set to invisible by default to prevent users from accessing and changing them inadvertently.
This article explains what hidden files/folders are on Mac, how to show or hide hidden folders/files, and how to create them.
[Mac]What are hidden files/folders?
Hidden files/folders on a Mac are files and directories that have been set to be invisible to prevent accidental changes to their contents.
There are some files and directories on your Mac that you don’t want anyone to be able to access and change. For example “.base_profile”, “.ssh”, Libraries, Trash, etc. are set to hidden files/folders by default.
“.base_profile” is the configuration file that is read when you login. “.ssh” is a protocol for logging in remotely to another computer or entering a specific server.
Files/folders like “.base_profile”, “.ssh”, library, and trash are set as hidden files/folders by default because if the user accesses and changes them without permission, it affects on subsequent operations. I’m here.
If you share your Mac with family or other people, it can be frustrating when others can see your personal and work files and folders. Mac can make the manually created files and folders as hidden files/folders.
This article will show you how to show or hide hidden files/folders on Mac and how to create hidden files/folders manually.
・Folders and files whose names start with “.(period)”
I mentioned earlier that hidden files/folders on Mac are directories and files that are set to be invisible, but what name are the hidden files/folders on Mac that are set by default specifically saved ? Do you know?
Files/folders set as hidden by default start with “.(period)”. Both “.base_profile” and “.ssh” introduced earlier start with “.(phase)”.
Advantages/disadvantages of hidden files/folders
I think now you know exactly what folders and files are hidden files/folders on Mac, but if you don’t know what advantages and disadvantages hidden files and folders have, there’s no point in creating them.
The biggest advantage of hidden files/folders on Mac is that you can hide files and folders that you don’t want others to see.
As I mentioned earlier, in situations where you share the same Mac with family or other people, being able to hide your private and work files and folders from being seen by others is a big advantage.
It is also a great advantage that you can avoid the risk of forgetting to move private files and folders when you participate in a remote meeting on your Mac and give a presentation to other participants or attendees.
Conversely, the downside of hidden files/folders on Mac is that if you forget how to display hidden files/folders, you won’t be able to access them.
If important files are stored in folders, it is a big disadvantage that they cannot be edited without being opened.
Another downside is that when you show recent items and view file history, you’ll see a list of files you’ve opened in the past, including hidden files.
If you forget the disadvantage of being displayed in history, other people may see you unexpectedly. Let’s create hidden files/folders on Mac by understanding not only the advantages but also the disadvantages.
Click on the “Apple logo” in the menu bar and select and click “Recent Items” in the drop-down menu that appears to display hidden files.
