Show hidden files on Windows, Mac and Linux

By default, hidden files and folders do not appear when you browse your file system.

Hiding a file is in no way a form of protection, but rather serves to make things easier to read, and to prevent inexperienced users from making mistakes!

In reality, displaying these files is completely safe!

Mac

Open Finder, and in any folder, use the following key combination:

Command + Shift + "." (the period character)

Hidden files and folders will appear (in transparency), and if you want to hide them again, simply press the same keys again!

Windows

On Windows, there's no keyboard shortcut, but the process isn't any more complicated.

Simply open a file explorer, and in the menu bar at the very top, select the "View" tab.

Once this tab is open, you'll find a checkbox for "Hidden items": one click and you're done!

Linux

If you're using Linux with a graphical interface, then you'll simply need the key combination:

Ctrl + H

And if you're using the command line terminal, then simply type the command:

ls -a