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Restore hidden files with Apple Mac OS X Time Machine

Apple's Time Machine works great, but restoring hidden files (files that start with a dot, like .ssh, .bashrc or .Trash) is difficult, but possible!

Time machine uses the settings as used by the Finder. So first step is to change Finders behaviour, to show hidden files. Execute this command (as a regular user) from within the Terminal.

$ defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE
$ killall Finder

Now you should be able to see extra files in the finder, like this:

Now start Time Machine and scroll back to the date you were sure a file existed.

Restore it and to hide all these (annoying) hidden files, revert to original Finder settings:

$ defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE
$ killall Finder

Comments

Tue, 03/20/2012 - 05:27 — Thoai (not verified)

You saved my day!!! PS: Apple

You saved my day!!!

PS: Apple should have created a preference pane for this.

Fri, 02/17/2012 - 03:13 — Chris (not verified)

Thanks!

Thanks!

Tue, 03/08/2011 - 22:55 — Brian Povlsen (not verified)

If you don't want to use the

If you don't want to use the terminal then the Cocktail utility works great. You can show all files using that program and far more.

http://www.maintain.se/cocktail/download.php

Tue, 01/25/2011 - 00:48 — Anonymous (not verified)

Thanks you! Very useful :)

Thanks you! Very useful :)

Wed, 11/10/2010 - 03:42 — Anonymous (not verified)

Thanks. This was very useful.

Thanks. This was very useful.

Wed, 08/25/2010 - 00:02 — Marty Phlipmann (not verified)

Thank you, thank you, thank

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I was afraid I would have to do a complete restore just for a little 400MB hidden app directory!

Thanks again!

Thu, 08/12/2010 - 04:54 — Anonymous (not verified)

Thanks. I blew away my

Thanks. I blew away my .bashrc tonight and wanted to get it back.

I ran into the same problem and was thinking about setting the "show all files" setting, but I wasn't sure it would work.
You laid it out perfectly. It worked like a champ.

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