Engineering · October 24, 2026
How to Search All Files on Mac (Including Hidden Files and System Libraries)
Learn how to bypass Finder and Spotlight's default restrictions to search every file on your drive, including hidden dotfiles, ~/Library, and developer caches.
SearchOnMac Team
macOS File Systems · 5 min read
By default, Apple configures macOS Finder and Spotlight to ignore system folders, user caches, hidden dotfiles, and `~/Library`. While this prevents casual users from accidentally deleting vital files, it creates huge friction for developers and power users.
1. The Hidden File Toggle: Shift + Command + Period (⇧ ⌘ .)
Before searching in Finder, press ⇧ ⌘ . to reveal hidden files (prefixed with a dot). They appear as translucent icons. Pressing the shortcut again hides them.
2. Unlocking System Files in Finder Search
When searching in Finder (⌘ F), click the '+' button to add a filter. In the left-hand dropdown, select 'Other…' and search for 'System files'. Check the box for 'In Menu'.
Change the criteria to 'System files are included'. Finder will now search inside application packages and system directories.
3. Command-Line Search with 'mdfind'
You can query the macOS metadata engine from Terminal using `mdfind`. For example, to search for a hidden configuration file:
mdfind -onlyin ~ 'kMDItemFSName == ".env*"'4. Instant Direct File Traversal with SearchOnMac
SearchOnMac provides direct file matching across your entire home directory without arbitrarily suppressing developer files or configuration scripts.
Whether using Finder's hidden attributes, Terminal's mdfind, or SearchOnMac, you can easily unlock complete search access across your entire Mac storage.