.DS_Store File on Mac

What is .DS_Store file

.DS_Store is a file with folder information and icons. The tool shows you what a folder looks like in the Finder app.

Why does macOS create .DS_Store files

Finder makes .DS_Store files to remember elements of your Finder folders. It’s helpful for keeping metadata stored in relation to viewing modes and sorting order. As a result, you can navigate your content more easily in the app.

A note from our experts:

If your problem is looking for files that you’ve accumulated but no longer need, MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup tool is a macOS Finder alternative for ensuring that you don’t accidentally delete essential processes.

Using the tool is very straightforward—follow the steps below to accomplish your objective:

1. Download MacKeeper.
2. Navigate to Cleaning > Safe Cleanup in the left-hand toolbar.
3. Select Start Scan at the bottom of your screen.
4. Your device will then start looking for files and folders. Wait for this to happen.
5. When the file/folder categories appear, tick everything you want to delete.
6. Select Clean Junk Files.
7. If prompted via the pop-up window, confirm whether you’d like to also empty your Trash folder.

How to see .DS_Store files on Mac

Initially, .DS_Store files are invisible. To see these on your computer, you’ll have to open the Finder app. Below are the instructions you need to follow:

1. Open Finder and go to the place you want to see folders.
2. On your keyboard, press Command + shift +.
3. Press these keys again when you’re ready to hide them.

An extra solution from us: 

If you find that Finder isn’t working properly, read our tips on Finder not responding.

Common issues with .DS_Store files on MacBook

Though useful for finding file metadata, you may encounter problems where the .DS_Store file on your Mac causes more harm than good. Some of the potential problems that can be caused include:

• File corruption: Sometimes, your computer’s content may get corrupted due to this file. Removing them might be the only solution in these instances.
• Cross-operating system issues: You’ll find .DS_Store files on Mac and Windows, but they may not work together if files have been on both operating systems.
• Problems resetting certain areas: If you’ve customized your display settings and other elements, this file may cause conflicts when you want to reset or adjust them.
• Problems transferring files and folders: Be sure that .DS_Store files aren’t causing issues with transferring files and folders on your device.

How to remove .DS_Store files from your Mac

To delete .DS_Store files on your Mac, you need to follow our hints below:

1. Search for Terminal in the Spotlight app.
2. When the app opens, type sudo find / -name “.DS_Store” -depth - exec rm {} \;.
3. Enter your computer password when asked.

It’s also possible to use the below methods to limit or delete .DS_Store files on your computer.

• Manual deletion of .DS_Store files
• Automating .DS_Store file removal

1. Manual deletion of .DS_Store files

Manually removing your files technically gives you more control over everything, but it also increases the risk of accidentally deleting something important. So, I recommend proceeding with caution here.

To manually delete your files, you’ll again need to go into Terminal:

1. Open Terminal and find the place for which you wish to delete the .DS_Store file.
2. Enter this prompt, replacing each field with something applicable to your computer: cd /Users/username/folder_name.
3. Hit the Enter key before then typing find . -name ‘.DS_Store’ -type f -delete. Then, tap the Enter key once more.
4. Type your password if needed.

2. Automating .DS_Store file removal

Automating your file removal is an excellent way to limit the amount of manual work required on your part. You can again do this by opening the Terminal app:

1. Type sudo crontab -e in Terminal.
2. Enter your password.
3. Press I on your computer.
4. Enter 5 1 * * * root find / -name “.DS_Store” -depth -exec rm {} \; on your device.
5. Fill out the preferences for when you wish to automatically get rid of these files.

How to prevent .DS_Store files from being created on Mac

It’s also possible for your Mac to disable .DS_Store, meaning that you won’t have to remove them. You can do this by opening the Terminal app:

1. Enter com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteNetworkStores -bool TRUE.
2. Hit the Enter key on your Mac.

How to hide .DS_Store files on Mac

If you no longer want to see .DS_Store files on your Mac, you can easily hide them this way:

1. Open Terminal and type AppleShowAllFiles FALSE.
2. Hit the Enter key. Your changes should take effect within a few seconds.

It’s also worth learning how to find large files on your Mac to keep everything consistent and clean.

Impact of removing or disabling .DS_Store files

Most of the time, you shouldn’t encounter any problems when deleting or disabling your files. These are more for showing you things rather than performing key functions. However, you’ll probably lose your custom settings and need to reconfigure them.

Deleting .DS_Store files is straightforward

If you want to see .DS_Store files on your Mac and then delete them, the process for both is simple. These files do contain useful information about different areas of your device, but they can occasionally lead to glitches. Thankfully, though, getting rid of them shouldn’t cause too many issues.

Nonetheless, you could accidentally delete something important without realizing it. For this reason, it’s a good idea to use an efficient and safe third-party solution. MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup tool is one such example. It’ll help you remove login items and much more.