How to Show Hidden Files on Mac

macOS hides files whose names start with a dot (like .gitignore or .zshrc) and system folders like /usr and ~/Library. You can reveal them in a second.

Press Command + Shift + Period in Finder

Open any Finder window and press Cmd + Shift + . (the period key). Hidden files appear immediately, slightly faded so you can tell them apart.

Press the same shortcut again to hide them. This works in every Finder window and in the Open and Save dialogs of most apps.

Turn hidden files on permanently from Terminal

If you want hidden files visible all the time, open Terminal and run:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool true
killall Finder

Finder restarts and shows hidden files from now on. To turn it back off:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool false
killall Finder

Open the hidden Library folder

Your user Library folder (~/Library) is hidden separately and is the one people usually want. In Finder, hold Option and click the Go menu. Library appears in the list. Click it.

To keep it visible: open your home folder in Finder, press Cmd + J, and check Show Library Folder.

Which method to use. The shortcut is enough for most people. Only set the Terminal option if you work with dotfiles daily and want them always visible.