Have you ever noticed that you hardly ever see any system files on your Mac? Although macOS occupies tens of gigabytes on your hard drive, there is no trace of it.
The system is configured this way because macOS prefers to hide critical data from users, to protect them from accidentally deleting or tampering with files that can harm their Mac.
However, sometimes users who know what they are doing need to access hidden files and folders like usr, local, bin. How can this be done?
In this article, we will explain what is Mac bin folder and usr folder, how to open bin files on Mac and what is the safest way to manage hidden files.
What is a bin folder?
Looking at the name, you might assume that the bin folder is the same as the Trash, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Bin stands for “binary”, a directory of all the executable commands for your applications. Advanced users may want to access the bin folder to change various application configuration files or license numbers, for example.
What is a usr folder on Mac?
Another hidden Mac destination is the usr folder. His name doesn’t just come from “user” as most people think. It’s short for “user-related,” and it contains various read-only data, libraries, documentation, binaries, and other read-only software—everything that your Mac’s applications need to run smoothly, but that users never do. they need. I need to see.
Why is usr not visible on Mac?
The reason macOS hides folders like usr and bin is the same reason pipes and cables are hidden in your house. They’re not pretty, and something can go seriously wrong if you modify them in a way they’re not supposed to be modified.
However, macOS also offers some options for advanced users to access all parts of the system. Users can do this through Finder, Terminal, or other third-party applications.
How to access /usr/local/bin in Finder
The general problem with usr, local, bin and similar folders is that they are simply not visible. You can’t even know they’re there unless you’re specifically looking for them.
The first thing you can do is make all invisible files visible. To do that, go to Finder and then use the shortcut Shift + ⌘ + . (point).
You will see some new files appear in light gray with a dot before their name (eg .Trash).
So where is /usr/local/bin? To locate it:
- From the menu bar, select Go ➙ Computer (Shift + ⌘ + C)
- Click Macintosh HD
- Select usr ➙ local ➙ bin or any other file path you need
If you are working with files and folders in Finder all the time, moving files, copying them, transferring them between devices, etc., you can benefit from using a powerful file manager, like Commander One.
Commander One is a great alternative to Finder. This dual pane file manager makes managing any file and folder a breeze. Browse two separate archive environments in one place, use a quick search that allows regular expressions, transfer files to iOS or Android, connect to your server via FTP, unzip any file with the archive tool, and much more.
To show hidden files and folders in Commander One, simply go to View ➙ Show Hidden Files (Shift + Option + ⌘ + H) in the menu bar.
✕ Remove app banner
How to find a bin folder in Terminal
Since macOS is based on UNIX system which is mainly managed by command line interface, Mac has its own version called Terminal.
Terminal is a utility that gives advanced users access to just about everything on their Mac through special commands.
To open Terminal, go to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
A simple command to list all files and folders in the current directory is ls -la followed by Return. You will also immediately see all the hidden files in your directory (the ones with a dot in front of them).
To go up one level in the folder structure, type cd ../ and then Return. To go down one level, type cd [folder name] and go back.
This is how you can find any file or folder on your Mac.
How to find folders like /usr/local/bin on Mac
Both Finder and Terminal are good ways to locate folder paths like /usr/local/bin. But most users will probably be more comfortable with something more visual.
CleanMyMac X is an easy-to-use Mac optimization app that makes all kinds of complex processes work at the click of a button. You can get rid of junk, scan for malware, completely uninstall apps, and much more.
One of the best features of CleanMyMac X is called Space Lens, which gives you a very visual representation of your Mac’s folder structure, as well as all the files.
To use the spatial lens:
- Inicie CleanMyMac X
- Navigate to Space Lens in the sidebar
- Click Scan
- Just go through the folders you want. Larger folders will be visually represented on the right. All hidden files will be visible by default.
✕ Remove app banner
As you can see, usr, local, bin, and other hidden folders can be accessed quite easily, either through Finder, Terminal, or with the help of powerful applications like Commander One and CleanMyMac X. Now you can. everybody!
Best of all, Commander One and CleanMyMac X are available free for seven days through the trial version of Tecnologar, a platform with more than 240 applications for Mac and iOS for any task you can imagine, from managing your budget (MoneyWiz) to automatic file hiding (Spotless). Try all the Tecnologar applications today at no cost and watch your productivity increase!