There are some hidden files that are already marked as hidden files on your Mac. The reason for this is that these are actually files that you should not delete, change, or should not be moved around. Usually, these are the ones that contain important things related to your operating system.
However, unlike Windows OS, Mac actually had made it a bit complicated how to hide files on Mac. That is why in this article, we are going to show you how you can hide those important files that you have on your Mac. This way, no one will be able to see them if in case someone gets in your Mac. This is one way how you can secure your important files so that only will be able to access them.
There are actually several ways how you can hide your files on your Mac. And here are some of the ways how you can do so.
Option 1. How to Hide Files on Mac with One ClickOption 2. How to Hide Files by Enabling Your FileVaultOption 3. How to Hide Your Files in The LibraryOption 4. How to Hide Files on Another AccountOption 5. How to Hide Files Using TerminalBONUS: More Things about Hidden Files
Option 1. How to Hide Files on Mac with One Click
The TechyCub Mac Cleaner is considered to be one of the best Mac Cleaner applications that you can use for you to clean up all the unnecessary junks that you have on your Mac. This way, you will be able to free up more of your storage space and make your Mac run faster.
But there is something special about TechyCub Mac Cleaner tool. This tool is not just merely for cleaning your Mac and freeing up your storage space. It can perform more than you think, for instance, encrypting your files.
Here is a quick guide that you can follow：
Step 1: Download and Install
First of is that you have to download TechyCub Mac Cleaner from our website. And once that the download is complete, go ahead and install it on
your Mac.
Mac Cleaner
Scan your Mac quickly and clean junk files easily.
Check the primary status of your Mac including the disk usage, CPU status, memory usage, etc.
Speed up your Mac with simple clicks.
Free Download
Step 2: Launch the Program
Once the installation process is complete, go ahead and have the program launched on your Mac. Now, on the main interface of the program, you will be able to see the status of your Mac. Also, you will be able to see three options at the top of your screen. The Status, Cleaner, and the Toolkit. From here, go ahead and choose “Toolkit”.
Step 3: Choose the Option
After that, TechyCub Mac Cleaner will show you all the options under Toolkit. From that list, go ahead and choose “Hide”. And the very first time that you go to this page, the program will ask you to set up and confirm your own password.
Step 4: Begin to Hide Your Files
Now, here on this page, you can just easily drag and drop on Mac Cleaner window and then go ahead and click on the “Hide” button.
NOTE: You will be able to see a switch button under the file that you have hidden. Once you turn on this button, then the file will appear visible on your Mac again.
And that is it! Simple, right? This way, you will be able to hide your files or folders on your Mac without having the hassle of remembering which path you need to enter just for you to access or view your hidden files.
Option 2. How to Hide Files by Enabling Your FileVault
This method is considered to be one of the simplest ways for you to hide some files on your Mac. And for you to do this, just go ahead and follow the steps below.
Step 1: On your Mac, go ahead and launch “System Preferences”.
Step 2: After that, go ahead and go to “Security and Privacy”.
Step 3: From there, simply go ahead and turn on your FileVault.
Doing this method will allow you to have to a certain password for your entire hard drive so that no one will be able to access it because they will be needing a password before they can do so.
Option 3. How to Hide Your Files in The Library
Let us say that your /Library folder is actually hidden on your Mac. So for you to hide more files in it all you have to do is the steps below.
Step 1: Go ahead and press and hold the Option key when you are opening your Finder’s Go Menu.
Step 2: And then, go ahead and launch your Library folder.
Step 3: From there, go ahead and make a new folder or you can go ahead and simply drag the files that you want to hide into your Library folder.
Option 4. How to Hide Files on Another Account
This method is one of the easiest ways for you to hide your files. All you have to do is to make another account on your Mac and use it to store all your important files. For you to do this, here is what you need to do.
Step 1: On your System Preferences, go ahead and choose “Users and Groups”.
Step 2: From there, go ahead and create another account for your Mac.
Step 3: After that, you can go ahead and put all the files and folders that you want to hide in the new account that you made.
Here, you have to make sure that you have encrypted a password on the new account so that no one will be able to access it but you.
Option 5. How to Hide Files Using Terminal
Here, instead of hiding your files individually, it will be easier for you to just make a hidden folder so that you will be hiding them easily. The steps that we are going to show you below can actually be used if you would only want to hide individual files on your Mac, or if you want to hide an entire folder.
Step 1: On your Mac, go ahead and launch the Terminal window. For you to do this, all you just need to do is to press the Command + Space key and then press the Enter key.
Step 2: Once you are in Terminal, go ahead and type in the following command. Make sure that you include a space at the end of it.
chflags
hidden
Step 3: After that, go ahead and drag and drop a certain file or folder that you want to hide into your Terminal window.
Step 4: Then, the path of the file will then appear on your Terminal window. All you have to do is to press Enter for you to be able to run the command. Then you will notice that the file or folder that you have put in will then disappear. That means that you have actually hidden the file and Finder will not show it to you by default.
BONUS: More Things about Hidden Files
I. How to Access Hidden Files or Folders on Mac
Of course, once that you have hidden a certain folder on your Mac, you might need to access them in the future. So here, we are going to show you how you can access the hidden files that you have on your Mac. We are going to show you here how you can access your hidden files quickly. All you have to do is to follow the steps below.
Step 1: Go ahead and launch Finder on your Mac.
Step 2: From there, go ahead and choose the “Go” menu and choose “Go to Folder”.
Step 3: After that, go ahead and enter the path of the folder in the dialogue box and then press the Enter key.
Normally, hidden files on your Mac actually do not appear on your Finder. However, doing the steps above will let you do it easily.
II. How to View Hidden Files in Finder
Using your Finder actually does not give you an option for you to view any hidden files on your Mac. However, there is a possible way for you to do this. And this is by enabling it using a terminal command and restarting your Finder. This way, you will be able to make it effective. For you to view hidden files in Finder, here is what you need to do.
1. Go ahead and launch the Terminal window and enter the following command. Make sure that you press the Enter button after each one:
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE
killall Finder
This command will then show you all the hidden files in your Finder and then have it restarted. They will be shown as partially transparent so you to be able to know which files and folders are the hidden ones.
2. And if you would want to stop your Finder from showing all the hidden files that you have, all you have to do is to enter this command in the terminal window.
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE
killall Finder
You can also set up an Automator script if you would want to view your hidden files with just a press of a button or by just pressing a menu option.
III. How to Unhide Your File or Folder
Since you already know how you can hide a certain file or folder on your Mac, then it is time that you know how to unhide them. For you to do so, all you have to do is to follow the steps below.
Step 1: Go ahead and launch Terminal on your Mac.
Step 2: On your Terminal window, go ahead and enter the following command. Make sure that you press the space key after the command. chflags nohidden
Step 3: And then, enter the path of the file or folder that you want to unhide from your Mac and enter it in the Terminal window.
Step 4: Once you have entered the path, go ahead and press the “Enter” key. Then the file or the folder that you are working on will become unhide and you will be able to access it in a normal way.
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As you can see, there are a lot of ways you would want to hide your files or folders on your Mac. Though this method is a bit complicated because of course, you have to remember a certain path just for you to access or view your hidden files.
But worry no more because we have the perfect tool that you can use. And this tool is called the TechyCub Mac Cleaner tool. This will surely help you in hiding all the files and folders that you want in just a few minutes and in a very easy way. TechyCub Mac Cleaner has also a lot of features that you can use on your Mac for you to be able to ensure the safety and security of the files that you have and other data.
Mac Cleaner
Scan your Mac quickly and clean junk files easily.
Check the primary status of your Mac including the disk usage, CPU status, memory usage, etc.
Speed up your Mac with simple clicks.
Free Download
