Why does a .DS_Store file keep appearing on the desktop?

Question

Every time I delete it from the desktop, I get the same file ".DS_store" created after some time. Is there a reason why this happens ? And can I permanently stop it from being created ?

Answer 1

Type this in Terminal (/Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app):

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE
killall Finder

The first command sets the hidden files visibility to hidden; the second one forces Finder to restart. This is needed for the first command to take effect.

You can also log out/reboot instead of killing the Finder, but the first command is needed to change a hidden preference (one that the Finder can’t change using the normal Finder view options or preferences).

Answer 2

There's a way to hide all "dot" files from Desktop with 3rd party app called XtraFinder.

Go to Settings → Features tab → Hide dot files on Desktop

Though I still didn't manage to hide all .DS_Store files and keep all other dot files visible, this is a pleasant improvement.

Answer 3

For those who would like to still view other hidden files but hide the desktop .DS_Store file, the solution is to give the desktop version a transparent icon. The best instructions I have found are here:

https://www.scottofford.com/2013/03/hide-ds-store-on-mac/

When finished with the transparent icon, drag the icon's text to off the screen and you will never see the desktop file again.

Answer 4

.DS_Store is used by OS X to store directory information used by Finder such as icon position, etc.

In OS X any file name that starts with a "." is hidden, so to hide the .DS_Store file you can use the terminal command:

sudo defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles NO

Basically, you can ignore it. If you are copying a directory to a flash drive and looking at it in Windows, feel free to just delete it. It is Mac OS X Finder that creates this file whenever it opens a new directory.

An alternative solution would be to prevent Finder from automatically creating these files. The following terminal command changes the default setting from automatically creating them to not:

defaults write com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteNetworkStores TRUE

And to revert back to the default behavior:

defaults delete com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteNetworkStores

Answer 5

Just to keep this thread up to date, it's no longer necessary to kill the Finder to show/hide dot files.

This Applescript will do it by refreshing all window contents instead; it's also faster than relaunching the Finder.

set newHiddenVisiblesState to "YES"
try
    set oldHiddenVisiblesState to do shell script "defaults read com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles"
    if oldHiddenVisiblesState is in {"1", "YES"} then
        set newHiddenVisiblesState to "NO"
    end if
end try
do shell script "defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles " & newHiddenVisiblesState


tell application "Finder"
    set theWindows to every Finder window
    repeat with i from 1 to number of items in theWindows
        set this_item to item i of theWindows
        set theView to current view of this_item
        if theView is list view then
            set current view of this_item to icon view
        else
            set current view of this_item to list view

        end if
        set current view of this_item to theView
    end repeat
end tell

Save as an app & launch to toggle visibility.

Answer 6

You can Remove all DS_Store files

1. Select Applications > Utilities to launch Terminal.

2. Enter the following UNIX command:

3. sudo find / -name ".DS_Store" -depth -exec rm {} \;

When prompted for a password enter your Mac OS X Administrator password.

You can also schedule a crontab to remove them periodically More details: https://helpx.adobe.com/dreamweaver/kb/remove-ds-store-files-mac.html

Answer 7

And can I permanently stop it from being created ?

Over 3 years later and still no further to being able to exclude .htaccess files from being hidden without showing all hidden (dot) files.

This answer comes a little late, but I've stumbled across this question, and I believe I have a useful solution: you could just disable the .DS_store creation in the first place. Death to .DS_Store explains one way how. I have tested this on 10.5, 10.6, and 10.15.

brew install deathtodsstore

This installs a handy GUI application, check "Launch Agent Installed" and "Patch Finder". (I think you have problems with re-opening windows on log-in in 10.15.) However, as documented, still, this will not work with SIP on; specifically (from experimentation,) csrutil disable; csrutil enable --without fs --without debug (this is undocumented and probably not manufacturer approved.) However, with this, hiding files behave much more as expected.

Answer 8

There is an application you can download called Show Hidden Files.app It allows you to easily toggle hidden files on and off. The .ds store file is always generated in finder. You can only hide the file through the methods mentioned, or with this handy script.

Answer 9

You can just download and use an app to remove ds_store files from the Apple App Store.

Answer 10

Apparently, it was due to an old Safari update that accidentally showed the .DS_Store file.