4 Reliable Ways to Hide Files on Your Mac [HIDE FILE/FOLDER]

There are four ways to hide files and folders on a Mac, and this chart will help you jump right to the method you need.

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How and When to Hide Files and Folders on a Mac

As a Mac user, there might be plenty of instances when you need to save files you don't want to share with others. This might seem tricky, especially if you're new to the platform. But hiding files on the macOS Base System is a straightforward process that can be accomplished through a few quick steps. Today, we'll walk you through how to achieve this with guidance and in detail.

There are several reasons why you might want to hide files and folders on your Mac. Here are a few reasons for hiding files on macOS Ventura:

• Protect system files from accidental deletion.
• Guard your files and folders against prying eyes.
• Prevent data leaks and safeguard security.

There can be many reasons, but with the right steps, you can easily hide folders on your Mac anytime. You can also use a shortcut to hide folders and unhide them later on your Mac. You can even create hidden files on your Mac and hide files in macOS Ventura.

If you're still confused about the process after reading this article, check out this video to see how to hide files and folders on a Mac.

• 00:37 Open the Terminal on a Mac.
• 01:41 Hide files on a Mac using keyboard shortcuts.
• 02:01 Adjust keyboard settings.

Solution 1: How to Hide Files and Folders on a Mac Using Shortcuts On a Mac, you can use a simple keyboard shortcut to hide and reveal files and folders. Here's how: 1. Open Finder. 2. Navigate to the file or folder you want to hide. 3. Select the item you wish to hide. 4. Press `Command` + `Shift` + `.` (period). This will immediately hide the selected file or folder. Please note that hidden files and folders are not deleted from your computer; they simply become invisible in the standard view. To view these hidden items again, press `Command` + `Shift` + `.` again. Alternatively, you can use the Finder menu as follows: 1. Open Finder. 2. Choose the file or folder you want to hide. 3. Click on "File" in the menu bar. 4. From the drop-down menu, select "Hide." This will hide the selected item. 5. To show hidden files and folders, click "Go" in the menu bar, hold down the `Option` key, and choose "Library." 6. In the opened window, locate and open the "Application Support" > "Dock" folder. 7. Double-click the "Dock.plist" file to open it with TextEdit. 8. Search for "hidden," and you'll find an array containing a list of hidden files. 9. Modify or add the paths of the files you want to hide. 10. Save the changes and close the file, then relaunch Finder (press `Command` + `Option` + `Esc`, select Finder, and click "Force Quit"). Please be cautious when editing system files, as it may involve potential risks. If unsure, back up relevant files first.

Now, without further ado, let's discuss the methods in detail. If you're a macOS user, the chances of your files getting hacked or corrupted on your device are relatively lower. It's the most secure operating system. However, this doesn't mean that your files and folders are safe from anyone using your device.

Given how sensitive personal data is in this age of constant innovation and technological development, it is best not to share it with anyone.

On a Mac, there are several ways to hide or show files and folders. First, we'll discuss the simplest and most direct method, which involves using a simple keyboard shortcut on your Mac to hide files. This method is efficient because you can use the same shortcut to both hide and reveal files.

This method requires macOS 10.12 or newer, so make sure you're running the latest version of macOS first. Then, do this:

Step 1. Find the file or folder that you want to hide. You can do this easily using Finder on your Mac.

Step 2: Hold down the Command, Shift, and Period keys to reveal hidden files. You can press these keys again to hide them when you're done.

While anyone can easily hide files and folders on a Mac using this standard method that's well-known to most Mac users, if the files are important and you don't want anyone to see them, we recommend taking a different approach.

Solution 2: How to Hide Files and Folders on Mac Using Terminal

As we mentioned earlier, keyboard shortcuts are easy to use but not always secure. Another method that you can use and is best suited for hiding sensitive information is by using terminal commands.

This method might sound a bit complicated, but don't worry – just follow the steps and commands as required. To hide files and folders on your Mac using the Mac Terminal, do the following:

Step 1: Click on "Finder," and then select "Applications" from the sidebar on the left.

Step 2: Scroll down and select "Utilities," then click to open the Utilities menu.

Step 3: Double-click on Terminal, and then enter the following command: chflags hidden

Step 4 Create a new folder, and move all the files you want to hide into this new folder.

5. Click and drag this folder into the Terminal window, then press “Enter.” This will hide the folder you selected.

Solution 3: How to Hide Files and Folders on Mac Using FileVault

If you're looking for another code-free, non-techie way to secure your data, you can use FileVault to hide files and folders. With FileVault, you can turn your hard drive into a vault that unlocks only with the correct user name and password provided to your administrator account. You can also use FileVault to encrypt your hard drive on your Mac.

This app protects your files and folders with encryption, making it the best way to hide files and folders on a Mac. Let's take a look at a step-by-step guide to this method.

Step 1: Click on the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen, and select “System Preferences.”

Step 2: Next, select "Security & Privacy." Navigate to the "FileVault" tab next to "General."

Step 3: Click the lock icon to make changes.

<Step 4> Click the “Turn On FileVault” button.

Step 5. Choose your recovery method from the web dialog. You can choose to recover with iCloud or generate a local recovery key.

Note: It's recommended that you choose the local recovery key, as it's the most secure. If you choose to use a recovery key, a new dialog box will appear with a generated code. Save this to a new document, as it's your recovery code in case you forget your password.

Step 6: Click “Continue” to finish. FileVault will now begin encrypting your files, a process that can take anywhere from a few hours to several days, depending on how much data you have. The process runs in the background, so it won't interfere with anything else you're doing.

Solution 4: How to Hide Files and Folders from Another User on a Mac

It's not the most secure method, but if the above methods don't work for you, give this a shot. You can hide files and folders by transferring them to another "User Account." It's a simple process that shouldn't confuse you too much.

Step 1: Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu.

Step 2. Select the "Users and Groups" option and fill in all the details required to complete the process. Then, click on the "+" symbol.

Step 3: A new user window will appear, where you must add all the necessary information. Finally, click “Create User.”

This way, you can transfer all the hidden files and folders from the old user to the new one, where they will be accessible only to you. This is another great way to hide files and folders on a Mac.

Recover deleted hidden files and folders from Mac using software

After hiding necessary files and folders on your Mac, you can recover and display the hidden items later using various methods. One way is by employing a data recovery tool. For this, you can choose the reliable Data Recovery Wizard for Mac, one of the safest data recovery solutions for Mac users.

Mac Data Recovery Wizard is a tool that helps users resolve issues with unintended data loss or emptying the Mac Trash, without any limitations. The software is powerful and reliable, capable of restoring files of any size. You can easily recover deleted files from multiple devices on your Mac with minimal effort. It's user-friendly, especially for beginners, and automatically backs up all recovered data to cloud storage. You can acquire the software hassle-free by choosing a package from its official website. Before making a final decision, you can also take advantage of a free trial. This is an excellent way to test the software, as it comes with a 30-day unconditional money-back guarantee.

Follow these steps to recover deleted hidden files and folders on a Mac:

Note: You can create a backup of your Mac by clicking "Disk Backup" on the left first. The software will recover the deleted files from the backup image. This prevents further damage to the disk and data, making it safer and more reliable.

Step 1: Choose your location and scan.

Launch the Mac Data Recovery Wizard, select the disk from where you lost data and click on “Search for Lost Files” to start scanning.

Step 2: Filter and Preview Lost Files

After the scan is complete, you can use the file format filters in the top left or top right corner to locate the deleted files you need.

Step 3: Recover Lost Data or Files

You can double-click a file to preview its content, or select multiple files to recover at once. Click “Recover” to restore the lost data to your local or cloud drive.

Abstract

There are times when it's necessary to hide files and folders on a Mac, and it's not an uncommon practice. There's always one reason or another for wanting to protect our data from prying eyes.

Protecting such sensitive data and files is crucial, and any of the methods mentioned and discussed here can help.

If you want to recover some files, we also recommend using the Data Recovery Wizard for Mac tool for the best results. We hope this article was helpful, and now you can easily hide files and folders on your Mac the next time around.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hiding Files and Folders on a Mac with UTF-8 Encoding

Now, let's look at some common questions about hiding files on a Mac and their answers.

How to view and restore hidden files on a Mac?

There are several ways to recover and show hidden files on Mac. The easiest way is to use a keyboard shortcut. With Command + Shift + Period (.), you can hide and unhide the files and folders you need. You can also use data recovery software like Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to restore any lost data, regardless of file size.

2. How to Permanently Hide a Folder on a Mac?

There are several ways to permanently hide files or folders on your Mac, and you can choose the method that works best for you and is easiest to manage. The simple keyboard shortcut method and the method using another user account are only partially secure, however. In these cases, using Terminal commands or FileVault is a better way to handle the situation.

3. How do I hide and show files on Mac using the terminal?

One of the best and most valuable ways to hide and show files on a Mac is by using terminal commands. This method might sound more complicated than others, as it requires users to use code to hide files.

You can follow this method by opening “Terminal” from the “Utilities” menu, and then entering chflags hidden to create a new folder and move all the files you want to hide into it. You can also un-hide files in a similar manner without having to proceed with the rest of the steps.

4. Why Are My Hidden Files on Mac Missing?

This could be due to accidentally lost or deleted files in the process, or because the password is unable to retrieve them. Don't panic, as you can quickly restore your files and folders with data recovery software. You'll have all your lost files back in no time.