How to show hidden files in catalina

That's surprising. Did you try the terminal command? I just noticed the post I referenced, there's a type-o. The initial command is setting "FALSE" which means "don't show all files." Apparently "com.apple.Finder" shouldn't be capitalized either.

Try entering this in Terminal and see what it says. This will check whether "show all files" is on or off.

defaults read com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles

1=hidden files should be shown; 0=don't show hidden files.

I tested this command and it changes the hidden files setting for me. Open Terminal and enter (You can triple click on the text below to copy it and then paste into terminal):

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

Then open a new window in Finder. Note that not all folders have hidden files to see...

There's no change to cmd+shift+period to show hidden files in Finder windows. It works fine for me.

There's a thread over here that says cmd+shift+Fn+period is the "new" way, but others report cmd+shift+period still works, as it does for me. That thread also mentions the Terminal command to universally reveal hidden files.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250756110

If that doesn't help, I'd restart. If that's no good, Safe Mode boot and then Recovery Mode reinstall of macOS...

Hope this helps!

Having snooped around on other sites (macrumors, reddit, stackexchange), it looks like some people are not able to get CMD+SHIFT+Period to work showing hidden files. Seems to occur in Catalina, Mojave, and maybe El Capitan. No solutions, but some workarounds.

This post suggests an AppleScript that executes Command+Shift+Period. You might try that. Or perhaps an Automator action? The last thread suggests some methods to test hidden files via Terminal.

https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/114628/display-hidden-files-hot-key-on-mavericks-gone

https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/389066/why-does-show-hidden-files-shortcut-only-work-intermittently?rq=1

https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/396683/view-hidden-folders-on-macos-mojave-cmdshift-does-not-work?noredirect=1&lq=1

Also, if you really want to hunt this down, try creating a new user account and see if show hidden files works in that one.

I use British English keyboard layout.

I switched to the British English keyboard layout and cmd-shift-. toggles visibility of hidden files.

I'm glad it works with the on-screen keyboard. That keyboard will also respond to your keypresses as you type and hold down keys. When you hold down command-shift-period does the onscreen keyboard show all three being pressed? My guess (based on your testing my previous suggestion) is that your keyboard may not be sending all three keys properly at-once, but it would be great to confirm if that's the case.

Here's another thing you can test: command-shift-g in finder. That should bring up a "go to folder" popup window. Does that work for you?

If neither are working, and the OSD is not registering 3 keys simultaneously then yes, it's a physical keyboard issue. If that's the case what keyboard are you using, or is this with the built-in keyboard on your MacBook Air?

Another simple "rollover" key test would be, with the OSD up, starting with the number one, hold down two, then three, then four, etc. How many number keys strictly can you hold down before new number keys stop registering? I would expect you could hold down 1-5, but it would stop working with additional keys (note, command, shift, etc. don't count toward that limit).

I even had issues with startup to recovery mode. Command+R did not work for. It's not working even now. I tried internet recovery with Option+Command+R / Shift+Option+Command+R and did not work. I copied Catalina to usb drive and then did a clean install.

It may be that the OS doesn't recognize your keyboard layout or it isn't passing the correct information.

That may also be why it didn't recognize cmd-shift-.

Different keyboard layouts sometimes don't work because correct character isn't being sent/recognized by the shortcut system.

Are you using the built-in keyboard?

I don't know which layouts don't work, but if you are using an English language layout, cmd-shift-. should work.

This is definitely interesting! I'm assuming that this happens with either the left or right Command key that you can't even press Command-Period (even setting aside Shift at the moment).

Command-Shift by itself should produce a mid-dot ("·") on both a US and UK keyboard layout. Before 99% concluding it is hardware (this is so weird I can't bring myself to say 100% definitively) I would suggest starting your MacBook Air up into recovery mode (Command R on power on) and bring up the "Get Help" option in the Utilities menu. This just brings up a browser where you can type normally on the URL address line. This would allow you to confirm if you get a mid-dot · there or not. This eliminates macOS itself as a potential issue in order to focus on the hardware level of things.

If you still don't get that there, I would do an SMC reset for good measure and try again in recovery mode Get Help browser to see if you can type a mid-dot.

If it still can't do it, unless there's some weird undocumented limitation on your model, I would be all but certain conclude it's indeed a hardware issue with your keyboard. If it's still under warranty you can consider if it's worth pursuing getting this repaired through a replacement keyboard. Also, depending on your MacBook Air year model, even if it's out of warranty Apple has a special free repair (i.e. replacement) keyboard program for 4 years if this is specifically a 2018 or 2019 MacBook Air. (https://support.apple.com/keyboard-service-program-for-mac-notebooks)

If it works fine in recovery though, then it's not hardware and something in macOS is blocking this from working as expected.

Agreed with some. At first I’m thinking there’s an accessibility or keyboard function preventing this. But if the same happens during a startup command, (And even in a test user or safe boot for that matter), and in recovery mode, or even testing using another keyboard layout, (If able to test). It’s got to be the way your Mac OS reading the system keyboard,

I know it works fine with the on screen keyboard, but does the same happen using an external keyboard?

That fact tells me most likely it could be a hardware issue, especially if it happens during startup and/or recovery mode but works from an external keyboard (Or on screen keyboard), just fine.

Could be there is some dust or debris preventing one key or another. Otherwise, if they work fine on their own, could be an issue with the logic board and/or keyboard.

Id say if it works fine from recovery mode (Boot using Command R), (You May be able to test using Terminal (Utilities > Terminal), or even “Get Help Online”, in Safari, since not booted from the main startup disk, it could be an erase and reinstall, (Or even just a reinstall preferred) is needed. But if not, it’s most likely the hardware but hope that’s not the case!

“Tried Reset thrice but didn't help. I did a clean install of catalina. Now command(right)+shift(left)+period gets pressed. It's showing hidden files this way. Interesting. But Recovery mode is still not working with both command keys.”

———-

Perform this Thrice, Once More:

I. Reset the SMC and your NVRAM:

What it could be is the power management settings. Sometimes when changes are made to the system(i.e. updates), system configurations (i.e. for boot and for keys) become manipulated, technically. So, reset the SMC and NVRAM. Your power adapter may not be being seen promptly by the ports, or your battery may not be charging affectively. By reseting these, all of the ports and keys would be configured to how they should be.

II. Perform this Thrice:

Note that you may need to perform each thrice. This can be time consuming, to be certain you have the time to do so.

Where did you try the key combination. I found that not all folders would show the hidden files. I finally went to my Home folder and voila -

Glad that worked! I'm frustrated by many little (and not so little) bugs in Catalina. The only other thing I could suggest it contact Apple Support about the keyboard controls not working. In the thread I mentioned, people reported different experinces with this. Seems like it should work the same way for everyone.

PS: if a reply post was helpful, or solved your issue, pls mark it with the button below the post. Cheers!

True enough. There used to be a hidden file that in every directory you opened in Finder. It held the view options, as I recall. However there's no sign of that file in Mojave or Catalina.

Funny all those people saying you have to press Fn + cmd, shift, . in the other thread. They must be seeing something to know that is working for them....