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Essentially, the .DS_Store file is hidden within each directory, and Mac users cannot see it unless it is set to display. Continue reading the article below by Mytour to learn more about what .DS_Store files are and how to delete .DS_Store files on Mac OS X.
1. What is a .DS_Store file?
The .DS_Store file contains information about a directory. Essentially, it serves as a metadata storage file for every folder on Mac. These files are hidden within each directory, unseen by Mac users unless set to display. Every folder in Finder has a .DS_Store file. If you're wondering, Finder on Mac is equivalent to Windows Explorer on Windows.
What is a .DS_Store file? How to delete .DS_Store file on Mac OS X
The .DS_Store file stores information such as icon information, custom icon information, color schemes of icons within the folder, background images (if any) inside the folder, window position information for a specific folder, necessary information to display the folder in Finder, ...
Because the purpose of the .DS_Store file on the Macintosh platform is to stay out of sight and not interfere with any running processes, hence the file name starts with a dot.
On Unix operating systems, files starting like this may be ignored by most applications, except those actively searching for such files. Similar applications exist on Linux.
How to Hide DS_Store Files on Mac OS X
To hide DS_Store files on Mac, you simply need to disable the display of hidden files in your directory. To do this, open a Terminal window and enter the following command:
defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE
Next, restart Finder (right-click and select Relaunch) and DS_Store, along with other hidden files, will no longer be visible in your folder.
2. How to Delete DS_Store File on Mac
To delete DS_Store file on Mac, simply drag the file to the trash, or alternatively, right-click on the file and select Move to trash.
What happens if the .DS_Store file is deleted?
DS_Store files are not protected but merely hidden. Mac users can delete DS_Store files without needing root user permissions. Does deleting DS_Store files cause any serious issues? The answer is no, unless you customize folder colors or backgrounds. However, Mytour advises keeping DS_Store files intact and not deleting them.
DS_Store File Display on Networks Connection
In network environments, where files are often transferred between platforms, Windows users may see DS_Store files in most folders sent from Mac OS X users.
This may inconvenience users, but it's how the Mac OS operates. Macs connect seamlessly within their own network, but in cross-platform connection environments, DS_Store files cause many nuisance issues.
How to Disable .DS_Store File on Network Connection
Run the following command in Terminal window to disable .DS_Store file on Network Connection:
defaults write com.apple.desktopservicesDSDontWriteNetworkStores true
So, the article on Mytour just explained to you what .DS_Store files are? How to delete .DS_Store files on Mac OS X. Essentially, the .DS_Store file is somewhat complex, mainly due to its file name structure, and it's just a metadata file. Just like .DS_Store file, many Mac users wonder what commerce is? why it's running on Mac. If you also have similar concerns, then refer to Mytour's articles for clarification.
