The system used to format and organize files on a disk. This includes directory structure, permissions management, metadata, and more. The current default file system for macOS is APFS (High Sierra and higher) and HFS+ (Sierra or lower).
Questions tagged [filesystem]
968 questions
88
votes
9 answers
How to set to open folder with enter in finder?
I want to set to open a folder in finder with Enter.
I know it's possible to open a folder with ⌘ Command + ↓ Down Arrow but I don't like it and I never use it because it's easier to use the trackpad, but enter would be the easiest way.
I tried to…
Adam Halasz
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82
votes
3 answers
How to change path in Finder by entering the path manually?
It seems that by default there is no way to enter a whole path in the Finder, so instead one should traverse through all the tree to get somewhere deep in the filesystem. Is there anyway to overcome this problem? If there is no GUI for it in the…
aligf
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69
votes
9 answers
File can't be moved by root on OS X
I tried to move a few files to a subfolder on OS X. One refused to move. It said Operation not permitted. I tried again as root:
$ sudo mv file subfolder/
mv: rename file to subfolder/file: Operation not permitted
$ sudo mv file filex
mv: rename…
eje211
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61
votes
2 answers
Where should I store command line applications?
When I download command line applications they are located in my ~/Downloads/ directory. But I feel this is wrong place to have a command line application located. Where in the Mac OS X filesystem should I store command line…
Jonas
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56
votes
7 answers
Do Macs need to be defragmented?
I don't see any application to defragment my Mac (running OS X).
Is defragmenting not necessary for Mac OS X? If so, why not?
spong
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55
votes
6 answers
Can I make a DIY Fusion Drive?
I have a Mac Mini with two drives: a 256GB SSD and a 500GB HDD. From what I've read, the new Fusion Drive does all of it's magic in software, using the Core Storage APIs.
Can I get my setup to behave like a Fusion Drive? That is, I want the two…
FishesCycle
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55
votes
6 answers
Mount Ext4 on El Capitan
I recently installed OS X 10.11 on my Mac.
I tried to read a SD card with an Ext4 partition which wasn't even shown in Disk Utility, although diskutil did show it as a Linux partition.
I can't seem to mount the partition (the mount command seems to…
Milliways
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47
votes
8 answers
Disable storage of invisible files "._" on my cfs or smb network storage
I use OS X Mavericks and have some company storage drives mounted (using smb or cfs).
(smb://username@address.path.toserver.com/directory/data).
When I work with files on the drive or copy files to the drive, some hidden files are created. Most of…
CousinCocaine
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43
votes
3 answers
What are the differences between journaling HFS+ and non-journaling HFS+?
I'm about to format an external hard disk drive (HDD).
What are the key differences between journaling HFS+ and non-journaling HFS+? Apart from the fact that one has journaling and the other does not, how does it affect the drive's performance (with…
Jari Keinänen
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42
votes
2 answers
What is standard for OS X filesystem? e.g. /opt/ vs. /usr/
What does and should go into /opt/ and what should/does go into /usr/? My understanding is that /usr/ used to be for user home directories, but since they exist in /Users/ - what is the purpose now?
Is there a manual or guide to what all of the…
DilithiumMatrix
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39
votes
2 answers
Excessive "Opening application for the first time" dialogs
I often get the dialog box warning me that I'm opening an application for the first time. But, it isn't the first time. Some of these are applications that I use daily.
I seem to be getting more of these after an OS upgrade, almost as if some…
Bill Nace
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39
votes
1 answer
OS X El-Capitan - /cores directory taking up a lot of space?
Im using a program called Daisy Disk to see what is taking up space in my Mac and I find that the /cores directory is taking up 77gb.
Is that a problem? Can I get rid of it to regain the space?
RandomMath
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35
votes
3 answers
Strange case of truly invisible file (?) and undeletable directory on macOS
I'm having issues deleting a directory on my macOS Mojave 10.14.3 system.
The filesystem is APFS and these are the symptoms:
$ rm -rf strange/
rm: strange/: Directory not empty
$ sudo rm -rf strange/
Password:
rm: strange/: Directory not empty
$…
Kusalananda
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32
votes
5 answers
Keyboard shortcut for launching Apps in Dock
In Windows 7, Win
+ 1, 2, 3 ... 9 launches the first, second etc App in task bar.
Is there a similar keyboard shortcut in OS X in order to launch Apps that are in the Dock?
johnk
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31
votes
4 answers
Easiest way to browse iPhone filesystem
What method of browsing the root filesystem is least likely to make any modifications to it? Hooking to a pc is an option. Jailbreaking is not an option for this question.
themirror
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