Is there any way to view folders that require root access to open, in Finder? I can open them with sudo in the terminal but it would be good if some setting or script allowed me to look at hidden folders in Finder? I am running OSX 10.9.
MacOS – Access hidden “root-only” folders on Finder
findermacosroot
Related Solutions
Enter in Terminal:
sudo chflags nohidden directoryname
Whereby directory name is the name of the directory that you want to see in Finder.
Reverse this by typing:
sudo chflags hidden directoryname
The Macintosh HD basically resembles the root directory. If you want it to appear on the desktop and in finder change this in the finder preferences.
Showing all files in Finder
Type in the terminal
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE
Then log out and back in.
Pull down the Finder menu and select Preferences...
In the Preferences dialog, along the top row, click on the Sidebar tab. Check the boxes next to the items you want to see in the sidebar of every Finder window.
Close the Finder Preferences window and you are good to go.
Best Answer
Sometimes it is useful to quit the Finder application and reopen as the root user. You can quit the Finder application by entering the following command in a Terminal application window.
Below is the Terminal application commands for opening as root user. I assume here that you have first quit any previous opened Finder applications.
If using Mavericks (OS X 10.9) or Yosemite (OS X 10.10):
If using Yosemite (OS X 10.10) or El Capitan (OS X 10.11):