Find hidden Mac files

Question

Level 1

6 points

Find hidden Mac files

Hello!

Do you confirm that it is not possible to search for a hidden file/folder under mac, even when displaying hidden files?

I have a folder in:

/usr/local/FolderName/

When I search with the finder, I can't find it!

(even after having activated hidden files with "command + shift + .").

On the other hand, I find it with iTerm via the command:

find / -name "folder_name"

(thanks GPT4)

So I conclude that it's not possible to search for hidden files? 😳

Thanks 🙏

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 13.5

Posted on Sep 4, 2023 5:30 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Barney-15E

Level 10

113,464 points

Sep 4, 2023 6:29 AM in response to 0x1337ff

I don’t know if Spotlight indexes /usr or any of its sub-directories. All searches except “find” use Spotlight.

Here are some tips for searching system folders.

Search Everywhere - Apple Community

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Answer 2

Sep 4, 2023 9:57 AM in response to 0x1337ff

You folder example is not "hidden" in the Finder or UNIX sense, it is simply not shown by Finder unless you perform the following:

On your Desktop (e.g. Finder), press shift+command+G to open the Go to Folder panel
Enter /usr/local/FolderName
Press return

Finder will then open a new window with the contents of FolderName shown.

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Answer 3

Old Toad

Level 10

208,307 points

Sep 4, 2023 10:15 AM in response to 0x1337ff

Find Any File can search areas that Spotlight can't like invisible folders, system folders and packages.

As Ian suggested it is, for just file names, the most powerful search app for Macs.

Spotlight is very limited as to where it can search.

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Answer 4

Ian Leckie

Level 4

2,250 points

Sep 4, 2023 9:28 AM in response to 0x1337ff

If you want to search for hidden files buried deep in the System and Users Library (which spotlight does not search) then you could try using "Find my File" by Thomas Tempelmann, which will find everything! Make sure you only download it from his site here:

https://findanyfile.app/

I´ve been using it for years...it´s very small, very fast and easy to use. Highly recommended! Hope this helps you!

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