Open hidden folders in the Mac OS X Finder

This is one of those simple tips that makes you think “Everybody knows about this but me.”

To open hidden folders such as /etc/apache2 in the Mac OS X Finder, do one of the following:

Press Shift + Cmd + G and type /etc/apache2
Open a Terminal window and type open /etc/apache2

Next, hit enter and say “Hello, Finder window.”

If you use your Mac as a development machine or just like tinkering around under the hood, you have no doubt been exposed to the folders that are normally hidden from view in the Finder. There are hacks that make the Finder show hidden files and folders, but if you want to keep your Finder windows clutter-free this is a nice way of accessing hidden folders when you need them.

I’ve been using Mac OS X since version 10.0, but have somehow managed to not come across this before. Hopefully I’m not completely alone.

Posted on March 18, 2010 in Mac