All System and Library Folders/Files Visible - How did that happen?!

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Level 1

17 points

All System and Library Folders/Files Visible - How did that happen?!

In the last week or so of using my 2019 iMac running OS Sonoma 14.7.3, I noticed that all the System and Library folders and files are showing up like data folders and files in Finder.

I have not intentionally set this up but clearly something must be malfunctioning in the valuable OS structure.

Is there a way of returning to the default position of all operating system files being hidden from a User?

Only me in this instance. But if not, it doesn't matter as I shall be erasing this computer's drive soon and reinstalling Sonoma.

Searching the internet only suggested checking View Options in Finder but there is nothing there at all so far as 'content' is concerned, I can only see some Settings options for the Finder interface like font size, whether to use columns or lists etc.

Actually it has been useful to be able to see under the iMac's digital hood. I have learned about the different Volumes that the System is using and discovered a folder of great interest in me in the Preboot Volume. It's of interest as the UUID is the very same one that is showing up in Disk Utility First Aid reports as being 'corrupted' and DU can't verify or repair it - causing me untold trouble for weeks now. But that is a topic for another post.

Thanks for any input that sheds light!

iMac 27″, macOS 14.7

Posted on Feb 16, 2025 07:47 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Tesserax

Level 10

157,344 points

Feb 16, 2025 10:27 AM in response to lifewebb

Yes, what you are seeing is "normal" when unhiding system files. Normally, you want to keep them hidden so that you don't accidently delete any of these ... so, as PRP_53 has mentioned, just repeat the same keys to re-hide them.

In this Finder view, the Macintosh HD is your Fusion drive. They should not show up as separate drives ... unless they were "broken."

Ref: About Fusion Drive, a storage option for some Mac computers - Apple Support

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Answer 2

etresoft

Level 9

55,316 points

Feb 16, 2025 08:26 AM in response to lifewebb

That's all normal. No need to do anything.

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Answer 3

etresoft

Level 9

55,316 points

Feb 16, 2025 10:55 AM in response to lifewebb

lifewebb wrote:

Here is what has happened when I did that on the Macintosh HD icon. New things came into view but greyed out and I can still navigate from System if I want. Perhaps I should do the Command+Shift+Period on the System and Library folders as well. This is supposed to be a Fusion Drive btw. Most if not all of the System files are stored on the SSD drive I believe.

To reiterate what I already said again, there is nothing you need to do. Typing Command-Shift-. will make hidden folders and files visible. As you can see in your screenshot, they appear greyed out. Just do Command-Shift-. again to hide them.

Otherwise, everything you are seeing is 100% normal. Please don't go looking for problems. People who do that inevitably create new problems that are much, much worse than anything they had, or thought they had, before. You are right on the brink of making that your reality.

The only thing you need to do at this point is click on the red button at the top left corner of the Finder window and Poof! All those folders go away. Your computer is behaving 100% normally. It is acting the same as 100 million other Macintosh computers.

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Answer 4

Owl-53

Level 10

100,321 points

Feb 16, 2025 07:59 AM in response to lifewebb

If you have shown the hidden files in Finder with a keyboard shortcut, and vice versa, you can also hide them using the same keyboard shortcut. To do this, press Command + Shift + Period once more.

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Answer 5

lifewebb Author

Level 1

17 points

Feb 16, 2025 09:47 AM in response to Owl-53

Thank you PRP_53.

Here is what has happened when I did that on the Macintosh HD icon. New things came into view but greyed out and I can still navigate from System if I want. Perhaps I should do the Command+Shift+Period on the System and Library folders as well. This is supposed to be a Fusion Drive btw. Most if not all of the System files are stored on the SSD drive I believe.

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Answer 6

lifewebb Author

Level 1

17 points

Feb 16, 2025 11:27 AM in response to etresoft

Thanks Etresoft.

So the screenshots showing navigable Library and System folders without anything greyed inside them is normal?

First image is without doing any action on the Library folder, second one is what shows up when I do the 'reveal command' having selected Library.

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Answer 7

lifewebb Author

Level 1

17 points

Feb 16, 2025 12:08 PM in response to Niel

Ok, thanks Niel for a final confirmation that being able to check those folders is all fine and those that the OS doesn't want being touched at all can be seen only as greyed out items. No command to show these will work, as I tried, and the view instantly changed back to the four main folders - poof!

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