Apple - How to view Root directory and subdirectories in Finder?

Shift-Command-G in Finder brings up a "Go to folder" dialog. Type in the name of the directory, for example, /usr/local. Finder will show the directory. I use this with Finder in 'View as Columns'

While this doesn't give a browsable directory from the root directory down, I've found it quite useful.


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.


The problem with using sudo chflags nohidden / is that it will unhide the root directory (which is already visible)... but you want to unhide particular folders that are inside the root directory. Which is why sudo chflags -R nohidden /* will work.

But that will make everything in the root directory visible.

Personally, I didn't want to make everything visible, just the /usr directory.

So I used sudo chflags nohidden /usr