Hide and unhide files or directories visibility with chflags on macOS
The chflags
command in macOS is a command for quickly hiding or unhiding files and directories. It is particularly useful for managing the visibility of files by altering their flags.
Unhiding files or Directories
🔗You might need to access files located in the Library
directory. On a new Mac setup, this directory is hidden by default, making it less accessible for everyday users.
To make a hidden file or directory visible, use the nohidden
flag with the chflags
command. For example, to unhide the Library
directory:
chflags nohidden ~/Library
This command removes the hidden
attribute and makes the Library
directory visible in the Finder.
Hiding files or directories
🔗If you want to hide a file or directory, use the hidden
flag. This is useful for decluttering your view or protecting sensitive files from accidental access. For example, to hide the Library
directory again:
chflags hidden ~/Library
By using the hidden
flag, the Library
directory will no longer be visible in the Finder.
Conclusion
🔗The chflags
command is powerful for managing file visibility on macOS.
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