{"id":8447,"date":"2024-10-29T20:00:39","date_gmt":"2024-10-29T20:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/?p=8447"},"modified":"2024-10-29T20:01:02","modified_gmt":"2024-10-29T20:01:02","slug":"how-to-see-all-files-on-mac-hard-drive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-to-see-all-files-on-mac-hard-drive\/","title":{"rendered":"How to See All Files on a Mac Hard Drive"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_69_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-to-see-all-files-on-mac-hard-drive\/#step_1_find_files_on_a_mac_hard_drive\" title=\"Step 1 Find Files on a Mac Hard Drive\">Step 1 Find Files on a Mac Hard Drive<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-to-see-all-files-on-mac-hard-drive\/#step_2_check_for_hidden_files\" title=\"Step 2 Check for Hidden Files\">Step 2 Check for Hidden Files<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-to-see-all-files-on-mac-hard-drive\/#method_1_show_all_hidden_files_and_folders_on_mac_temporarily\" title=\"Method 1 Show All Hidden Files and Folders on Mac Temporarily\">Method 1 Show All Hidden Files and Folders on Mac Temporarily<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-to-see-all-files-on-mac-hard-drive\/#method_2_use_terminal_to_see_all_hidden_files_on_mac\" title=\"Method 2 Use Terminal to See All Hidden Files on Mac\">Method 2 Use Terminal to See All Hidden Files on Mac<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-to-see-all-files-on-mac-hard-drive\/#step_3_search_for_all_lost_files_on_mac_with_data_recovery_software\" title=\"Step 3 Search For All Lost files on Mac with Data Recovery Software\">Step 3 Search For All Lost files on Mac with Data Recovery Software<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-to-see-all-files-on-mac-hard-drive\/#final_words\" title=\"Final Words\">Final Words<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-to-see-all-files-on-mac-hard-drive\/#faq\" title=\"FAQ\">FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-to-see-all-files-on-mac-hard-drive\/#why_cant_i_see_all_the_files_on_my_mac\" title=\"Why can\u2019t I see all the files on my Mac?\">Why can\u2019t I see all the files on my Mac?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-to-see-all-files-on-mac-hard-drive\/#how_can_i_quickly_access_the_library_folder\" title=\"How can I quickly access the Library folder?\">How can I quickly access the Library folder?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-to-see-all-files-on-mac-hard-drive\/#how_do_i_quickly_search_for_a_file_on_a_mac\" title=\"How do I quickly search for a file on a Mac?\">How do I quickly search for a file on a Mac?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>Can\u2019t find a file on your Mac hard drive? Or maybe you can&#8217;t see the files you need on an external hard drive on your Mac? We\u2019ve got you covered. Our team has handled every kind of situation where files seem to vanish even though you\u2019re sure they were there. We\u2019ll break this process into three simple steps to help you access all the files you need on your Mac, no matter where they\u2019re hiding.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"step_1_find_files_on_a_mac_hard_drive\"><\/span>Step 1: Find Files on a Mac Hard Drive<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Let\u2019s start with the basics: Finder, macOS\u2019s built-in file manager, is your go-to for locating files. This tool lets you navigate user files, folders, and connected drives, plus it offers advanced search options for narrowing down your results. <strong>Here are some useful tips and tricks to view all files on Mac Finder:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Launch Finder from the dock or press <strong>Command + Space<\/strong> to search \u201cFinder.\u201d To view everything on your Mac hard drive, go to <strong>Go &gt; Computer<\/strong>. This will show all main folders on Mac, connected drives, and shared folders.<img fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-8450 size-full\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/finder-go-computer.jpg\" alt=\"Select &quot;Computer&quot;\" width=\"1496\" height=\"1048\" \/><\/li>\n<li>To quickly view folders that may contain specific types of files, head to <strong>Go &gt; Applications<\/strong> for apps, <strong>Go &gt; Documents<\/strong> for personal files, or <strong>Go &gt; Downloads<\/strong> for files from web downloads. This shortcut helps if you know the general location.<\/li>\n<li>Finder\u2019s advanced search is a powerful way to track down specific files based on detailed criteria. Click <strong>File &gt; Find<\/strong> in Finder (or use the <strong>Command + F<\/strong> shortcut), then type a keyword like \u201creport\u201d if you look for a document. Click the <strong>+<\/strong> button below the search bar to add filters. Select <strong>Kind<\/strong> and choose <strong>Document<\/strong> if you need text files or <strong>Image<\/strong> for pictures. This narrows your search to files that match your criteria.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-8451 size-full\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/finder-kind.jpg\" alt=\"Choose Document if you need text files\" width=\"2088\" height=\"1368\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Finder also allows you to search by dates. If you remember modifying a file last week, set the filter to <strong>Last Modified Date<\/strong> and choose <strong>Within Last 7 Days<\/strong>. This helps find recent documents without the need to scroll through months\u2019 worth of data.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-8452 size-full\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/finder-last-modified.jpg\" alt=\"Set the filter to Last Modified Date\" width=\"2088\" height=\"1368\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Finder lets you search by file type directly within the search bar. Type \u201c.pdf\u201d in the search bar to display only PDF documents or \u201c.jpg\u201d to see all images in that format. If you work with specialized files, this shortcut can save you a lot of time.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-8453 size-full\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/finder-search-pdf.jpg\" alt=\"Type \u201c.pdf\u201d in the search bar\" width=\"2088\" height=\"1368\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Large search results can clutter Finder, but simple sort options make it manageable. Navigate to <strong>View &gt; Sort By<\/strong> and select <strong>Date Modified<\/strong> to move the most recent files to the top. As another option, <strong>Sort By Size<\/strong> helps you spot large files that occupy extra space.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"frame_bg frame_bg--success\"><div class=\"frame_bg--title\"><\/div>\ud83d\udca1 <strong>Tip.<\/strong> When you combine file extensions with keywords, you&#8217;ll get faster results. For example, when you type &#8220;invoice .pdf&#8221;, all PDF invoices appear instantly, so you get what you need without digging through files.<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"step_2_check_for_hidden_files\"><\/span>Step 2: Check for Hidden Files<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Sometimes, if you can\u2019t see the files on your internal or an external hard drive on your Mac, they might be hidden. Whether it&#8217;s due to system settings or intentional actions, these files often stay out of sight. If Finder doesn\u2019t show what you\u2019re after, here are a few ways to reveal these files, temporarily or permanently.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_1_show_all_hidden_files_and_folders_on_mac_temporarily\"><\/span>Method 1: Show All Hidden Files and Folders on Mac Temporarily<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A lot of people start looking for a \u201cShow Hidden Files\u201d option in macOS settings, but Finder doesn\u2019t have one. Instead, there\u2019s a quick keyboard shortcut that lets you temporarily view hidden files without any settings.<\/p>\n<p>Once you\u2019re in Finder, press <strong>Command + Shift + . (dot)<\/strong> on your keyboard. This shortcut instantly reveals hidden files and folders in your current Finder window, so you can see files that usually stay out of sight.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-8454 size-full\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/finder-users-hidden.jpg\" alt=\"Press Command + Shift + . (dot) on your keyboard\" width=\"2050\" height=\"1346\" \/><\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll see grayed-out files that macOS typically hides. When you\u2019re done, press <strong>Command + Shift + . (dot)<\/strong> again to toggle the hidden files off and return Finder to its usual view.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_2_use_terminal_to_see_all_hidden_files_on_mac\"><\/span>Method 2: Use Terminal to See All Hidden Files on Mac<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you need hidden files to stay visible each time you open Finder, you\u2019ll need to make a quick change in Terminal. This method keeps hidden files visible until you decide to hide them again.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>You can press <strong>Command + Space<\/strong> and type \u201cTerminal\u201d to launch it directly.<\/li>\n<li>In the Terminal window, type this command and press <strong>Enter<\/strong>:<br \/>\n<strong>defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles true<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-8455 size-full\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/terminal-unhide-1.jpg\" alt=\"Type this command to unhide files\" width=\"1712\" height=\"1154\" \/><\/strong><\/li>\n<li>To apply the change, type <strong>killall Finder<\/strong> and press <strong>Enter<\/strong>. Finder will restart automatically, and hidden files will now remain visible in all Finder windows.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-8457 size-full\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/terminal-hide-1.jpg\" alt=\"Type killall Finder\" width=\"1702\" height=\"1078\" \/><\/li>\n<li>If you want to return to the default setting, repeat the steps above, but replace <strong>true<\/strong> with <strong>false<\/strong> in the first command: <strong>defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles false<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Then, type <strong>killall Finder<\/strong> again to reset Finder.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"frame_bg frame_bg--primary\"><div class=\"frame_bg--title\"><\/div>\ud83d\udcdd <strong>Note.<\/strong> Sometimes, file permissions can restrict access to certain folders or files on your Mac. First, double-check that you\u2019re logged in with the correct credentials, especially if you have multiple user accounts on your Mac. Then, if you still can\u2019t see the files, right-click the folder, select <strong>Get Info<\/strong>, and review the <strong>Sharing &amp; Permissions<\/strong> section. Make sure your account has the right access level, or adjust permissions by selecting <strong>Read &amp; Write<\/strong> if needed. You may need admin access to make these changes.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-8458 size-full\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/finder-SharingPermissions.jpg\" alt=\"Adjust permissions\" width=\"2088\" height=\"1550\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>If that didn\u2019t help and you still don\u2019t see the files you want to find, they might have been deleted, or the file system on your drive could be corrupt (a corrupt file system can lead to lost files because it disrupts how macOS reads and organizes data on your drive). For that, we\u2019ll need to use data recovery software to try to bring those files back.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"step_3_search_for_all_lost_files_on_mac_with_data_recovery_software\"><\/span>Step 3: Search For All Lost files on Mac with Data Recovery Software<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There are plenty of data recovery tools for Mac to choose from. Our team has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/best-mac-data-recovery-software\/\">tested and reviewed many options<\/a>, and we recommend using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Disk Drill<\/a> for this situation. <strong>Here\u2019s how to find files on your Mac hard drive with Disk Drill:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Go to the Disk Drill website and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/download.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">download<\/a> the application. Install it on your Mac, but make sure to install it on a different drive than the one you want to recover files from, to avoid overwriting any recoverable data.<\/li>\n<li>Disk Drill supports all kinds of devices, so no matter where you\u2019re looking for files, it can work with it\u2014whether it\u2019s an internal drive, external drive, SD card, or even an Android or iOS device. Open Disk Drill, and you\u2019ll see a list of drives connected to your Mac. Select the drive where you last saw your files, then click <strong>Search for lost data<\/strong> to start the scan.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-8317 size-full\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/disk-drill-select-c.jpg\" alt=\"Select the drive you want to scan\" width=\"2430\" height=\"1688\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Disk Drill will scan your drive and show a list of recoverable files. You can use filters to narrow down results by file type (e.g., <strong>Documents<\/strong>, <strong>Images, Audio<\/strong>) or use the search bar to find files by name or extension.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-8318 size-full\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/disk-drill-scanning.jpg\" alt=\"Disk Drill scanning the drive\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1698\" \/><\/li>\n<li>You can also adjust what shows up in the scan results. Just click <strong>Show<\/strong> and pick what you want to see: <strong>All files<\/strong>, <strong>Deleted or lost<\/strong>, or <strong>Existing<\/strong> files. You can also check <strong>Show system &amp; hidden files<\/strong> to show files that might be hidden or system-related. This makes it easier to find exactly what you\u2019re after in the recoverable files.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-8319 size-full\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/disk-drill-show-hidden.jpg\" alt=\"Select Show system &amp; hidden files\" width=\"2496\" height=\"1678\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Click on the files you want to recover to see a preview.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-8459 size-full\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/disk-drill-screenshots.jpg\" alt=\"Select the files you want to restore, then click Recover\" width=\"2404\" height=\"1658\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Select the files you want to restore, then click <strong>Recover<\/strong>. Choose a safe recovery location (on a different drive), and it will complete the process. Disk Drill\u2019s free version for Mac allows you to scan and preview recoverable files, but to actually recover them, you\u2019ll need the PRO version. At least with the free version, you can make sure the files are still there.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"frame_bg frame_bg--default\"><div class=\"frame_bg--title\"><\/div>\ud83d\udca1 <strong>Tip.<\/strong> Disk Drill\u2019s free version offers a lot of extra useful features, like a duplicate finder, cleanup tools, and byte-to-byte backup. We often use the byte-to-byte backup feature when we think a drive might be too fragile for a full scan. It lets you create a complete image of your drive and scan that instead, so the original drive stays under less strain.<\/div>\n<p>Our team has used Disk Drill often and has yet to find a situation where it can\u2019t deliver. <strong>Here\u2019s why it\u2019s such a solid tool for data recovery:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Disk Drill can recover files from just about any device. It also works with file systems macOS doesn\u2019t natively support, like NTFS and EXT3\/EXT4, in addition to APFS, HFS+, FAT32, and exFAT.<\/li>\n<li>Disk Drill handles data recovery from compromised drives with corrupt\/missing file systems. Its advanced \u201csignature mode\u201d scan uses patterns to detect over 400 different file types, it can locate files even on severely damaged drives.<\/li>\n<li>You can pause and resume scans whenever you need to, which gives you flexibility with longer scans.<\/li>\n<li>Disk Drill is very easy to use, even for casual users, with a clean interface that\u2019s free of annoying pop-ups. It also has a dark mode.<\/li>\n<li>Plus, Disk Drill receives frequent updates, which is very important for a tool of this kind; it keeps it reliable and effective as new file types and macOS updates roll out.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"final_words\"><\/span>Final Words<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In our experience, these three simple steps are usually enough to access all files on your Mac, whether they were misplaced, hidden, deleted, or lost. However, we also want to mention that sometimes files become inaccessible due to issues with the drive itself. This is especially common with external drives, which tend to get moved around frequently\u2014something HDDs don\u2019t really like.<\/p>\n<p>We recommend you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/best-apps-to-test-mac-hard-drive\/\">check the health of your drive<\/a> and run a basic repair if needed. Luckily, you already have the tools for this installed. Disk Drill offers a smart monitoring feature that keeps an eye on drive health and alerts you to potential issues before they cause data loss. <strong>Here\u2019s how to activate it and what to watch for:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Open Disk Drill, go to <strong>S.M.A.R.T. Monitoring,<\/strong> and click\u00a0 <strong>Turn on<\/strong>.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-8303 size-full\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/disk-drill-smart.jpg\" alt=\"S.M.A.R.T. Monitoring\" width=\"2362\" height=\"1606\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Once activated, Disk Drill monitors drive health, showing indicators for each attribute. If everything is well, you\u2019ll see a <strong>Good<\/strong> health level and <strong>OK<\/strong> status for each metric, as shown in the image.<\/li>\n<li>If there\u2019s an issue, Disk Drill will alert you and flag specific metrics in yellow or red, which signals that it\u2019s time to back up data or consider repairs.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/help\/monitor-smart-status-disk-health\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Disk Drill\u2019s S.M.A.R.T. Monitoring<\/a> alerts you to issues or if you notice problems with your drive (file access issues, slow performance, or unexpected crashes), the next step is to run First Aid in macOS. First Aid is a built-in tool in Disk Utility that scans and repairs file system issues, which can help fix errors that make files inaccessible or slow down your drive. <strong>Here\u2019s how to run <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/102611\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">First Aid<\/a> on your drive:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Go to <strong>Applications &gt; Utilities &gt; Disk Utility<\/strong>. You can also hit <strong>Command + Space<\/strong> and type \u201cDisk Utility\u201d to open it quickly.<\/li>\n<li>In Disk Utility, find the drive you want to check, whether it\u2019s your Mac\u2019s internal drive, SSD, or an external drive with issues.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-7579 size-full\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/disk-utility-first-aid.jpg\" alt=\"Click the First Aid button at the top\" width=\"2272\" height=\"1478\" \/><\/li>\n<li>With your drive selected, click <strong>First Aid<\/strong> in the top toolbar and hit <strong>Run<\/strong>. Disk Utility will scan the drive for file system errors and attempt repairs if it finds any problems.<\/li>\n<li>When First Aid finishes, it\u2019ll show a summary of what it found and fixed. If it successfully repaired errors, your drive should run more smoothly.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<section itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\"><div class=\"panel-group sc_accordion_faq\" id=\"accordion\" role=\"tablist\" aria-multiselectable=\"true\"><h2 class=\"sc_accordion_faq--title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"faq\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"panel panel-default\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\r\n    <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"heading1\" aria-selected=\"true\">\r\n        <h3 class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"why_cant_i_see_all_the_files_on_my_mac\"><\/span>\r\n            <a role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"collapse1\">\r\n                Why can\u2019t I see all the files on my Mac?\r\n                <i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i>\r\n            <\/a>\r\n        <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div id=\"collapse1\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"heading1\">\r\n        <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n            <div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                There are a few reasons why you might not be able to see all files on your Mac:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Hidden files. <\/strong>macOS hides certain files by default, like system files, configuration files, and app data, to keep things organized and prevent accidental deletion. You can use the <strong>Command + Shift + . (dot)<\/strong> shortcut in Finder to temporarily reveal hidden files.<\/li>\n<li><strong>File permissions. <\/strong>If you don\u2019t have the right permissions for certain folders or files, they won\u2019t be visible or accessible. Make sure you\u2019re logged in as an admin or adjust permissions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>External drive issues. <\/strong>Sometimes, files on external drives don\u2019t show up due to compatibility issues or file system errors.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Corrupt file system. <\/strong>A corrupt file system can make files disappear from view or even make the drive unmountable. If you suspect corruption run First Aid in Disk Utility and use a data recovery tool like Disk Drill to get access to your data.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Deleted or lost Files. <\/strong>If files were accidentally deleted or lost, they won\u2019t appear in Finder. Data recovery software like Disk Drill can scan your drive for deleted files and help you recover them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"panel panel-default\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\r\n    <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"heading2\" aria-selected=\"true\">\r\n        <h3 class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_can_i_quickly_access_the_library_folder\"><\/span>\r\n            <a role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"collapse2\">\r\n                How can I quickly access the Library folder?\r\n                <i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i>\r\n            <\/a>\r\n        <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div id=\"collapse2\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"heading2\">\r\n        <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n            <div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                The Library folder on macOS is hidden by default, but you can easily access it with a few steps. Open Finder, then click <strong>Go<\/strong> in the top menu bar. Press and hold the <strong>Option<\/strong> key, and you\u2019ll see <strong>Library<\/strong> appear in the drop-down menu. Click <strong>Library<\/strong> to open it.\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"panel panel-default\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\r\n    <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"heading3\" aria-selected=\"true\">\r\n        <h3 class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_do_i_quickly_search_for_a_file_on_a_mac\"><\/span>\r\n            <a role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"collapse3\">\r\n                How do I quickly search for a file on a Mac?\r\n                <i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i>\r\n            <\/a>\r\n        <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div id=\"collapse3\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"heading3\">\r\n        <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n            <div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                Here\u2019s how you can quickly find a file on a Mac:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Press <strong>Command + Space<\/strong> to open Spotlight, then type the name of the file, app, or folder you\u2019re looking for. Spotlight provides instant results and suggestions.<\/li>\n<li>Or open Finder and go to <strong>File &gt; Find<\/strong> or use the <strong>Command + F<\/strong> shortcut. Type in the file name, keywords, or even a file extension (e.g., \u201c.pdf\u201d) to filter your results. You can also add criteria with the <strong>+<\/strong> button to narrow down your search by date, file type, or location.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Can\u2019t find a file on your Mac hard drive? Or maybe you can&#8217;t see the files you need on an external hard drive on your Mac? We\u2019ve got you covered. Our team has handled every kind of situation where files seem to vanish even though you\u2019re sure they were there. We\u2019ll break this process into [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":966,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[],"slider-tags":[],"class_list":["post-8447","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to See All Files on a Mac Hard Drive (3-Step Guide)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Can\u2019t find files on your Mac? Discover how to view all files on Mac, including hidden and deleted ones, using Finder, Terminal, and data recovery tools.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-to-see-all-files-on-mac-hard-drive\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to See All Files on a Mac Hard Drive (3-Step Guide)\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Can\u2019t find files on your Mac? Discover how to view all files on Mac, including hidden and deleted ones, using Finder, Terminal, and data recovery tools.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/how-to-see-all-files-on-mac-hard-drive\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"InsanelyMac Blog - Mac and iOS Reviews\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Best-Mac-Hard-Drive-Test-Apps.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"300\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jeff Cochin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jeff Cochin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"13 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to See All Files on a Mac Hard Drive (3-Step Guide)","description":"Can\u2019t find files on your Mac? 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His expertise covers data clouds, failovers, SaaS, and the development of digital marketing strategies for high-growth startups. He possesses extensive knowledge of Mac computers, Apple's ecosystem, and iPhone technology, establishing him as a trusted authority in these fields. For nearly five years, Jeff has worked as a dedicated technical writer, conducting in-depth research and reviewing new applications and services, particularly those related to Apple and Mac technology. When away from writing, troubleshooting, or scripting for Mac and iPhone environments, he enjoys outdoor adventures. A passionate biker, kayaker, and hiker, he frequently explores new trails with friends who share his love for the outdoors.","sameAs":["https:\/\/jeffcochin.contently.com\/"],"url":"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/author\/jeff-cochin\/"}]}},"modified_by":"Andrew Ysk","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8447","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8447"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8447\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8464,"href":"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8447\/revisions\/8464"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/966"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8447"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8447"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8447"},{"taxonomy":"slider-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/slider-tags?post=8447"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}