Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

How to make hidden files unhidden (normal) again?

Hi, I copied a hidden folder from my PC to my MBP. I know how to view it using Terminal however I dont want it to be a hidden folder anymore. Just a normal visible folder. Appreciate any help, cheers.

13" Macbook Pro 2.4 Intel Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.6.4), 4GB Ram 1067 MHz DDR3

Posted on Aug 20, 2010 12:45 PM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Aug 20, 2010 5:55 PM

Remove the period from the beginning of the folder name. Mac OS does not respect Win "hidden" flags after you move them over.

To toggle invisible files type this into the terminal.app:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool TRUE
Press return, then type:
killall Finder

Change TRUE to FALSE when you want to hide them again.
14 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Aug 20, 2010 5:55 PM in response to atk1

Remove the period from the beginning of the folder name. Mac OS does not respect Win "hidden" flags after you move them over.

To toggle invisible files type this into the terminal.app:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool TRUE
Press return, then type:
killall Finder

Change TRUE to FALSE when you want to hide them again.

Aug 20, 2010 7:31 PM in response to atk1

If it is indeed an directory it should not be hidden unless there is a period in front of the name. Maybe you have an exception. Where is it located? When you do a ls -al on the current directory is there a d at the starting permission string like this:

-rw------- 1 who staff 642 Feb 2 2010 .viminfo (Hidden text file)
drwx------ 3 who staff 102 May 21 13:40 Applications (Normal root directory)

Better yet run "ls -al" on the directory and post it.

Aug 21, 2010 12:23 PM in response to BoyHowdyDoo

I just dragged it into the documents folder. It is a folder that I made hidden on my PC which I then copied to an external HD. I enabled my MBP to view hidden files and then I dragged it into the documents folder from the external HD. I will try the "ls -al" thing when I find out how. Ive only recently converted to Mac so Im still getting my head around it, cheers

Sep 3, 2010 3:14 AM in response to BoyHowdyDoo

Cheers

drwxr-xr-x@ 6 atk1 staff 204 19 Aug 21:36 .
drwxr-xr-x+ 19 atk1 staff 646 3 Sep 22:12 ..
-rw-r--r--@ 1 atk1 staff 6148 20 Aug 22:03 .DS_Store
drwxr-xr-x@ 28 atk1 staff 952 19 Aug 21:36 New Folder
-rwxr-xr-x@ 1 atk1 staff 14848 30 Sep 2009 Thumbs.db
drwxr-xr-x@ 5 atk1 staff 170 19 Aug 22:13 X

Sep 5, 2010 5:20 PM in response to BoyHowdyDoo

"Ls output" or "Is output"? Im not sure what either would mean sorry. The original folder & its contents Im referring to can only be seen using the "FALSE" method. I can see the new folder you said to create in both methods but the files I dragged over are still hidden and cant be seen with the "TRUE" method.

How to make hidden files unhidden (normal) again?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.