Mac OS X (MAC) show hidden files

Maybe someone of you noticed that you cannot see hidden files in you MAC OS X Finder.

There are only few reasons to change this:
1. You need to access the /etc, /sbin, /bin, /tmp, /usr or /var directorys
2. You opened some crap from your Mail client and it was saved under: /Users/username/Library/Mail Downloads
and you have no access to it.

Open a terminal window and enter the following command:

1

defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles YES

Press RETURN to chnage the setting (you dont deen root privileges!)

To change the view settings back enter:

1

defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles NO

Now to take the settings in effect relaunch Finder by holding ‘alt’ on the keyboard and right click on the Finder icon on your Dock:

I think a long usage description or a boring README is not required.

Click to “Show Special Files” to show them or click to “Hide Special Files” to hide them.

Download ShowHiddenFiles.app