How to delete .DS_Store files on macOS

By mkyong | Updated: September 8, 2023

Viewed: 2,529 (+92 pv/w)

Tags: find mac tips macOS

This article shows how to delete .DS_Store files from the current directory and all its subdirectories on macOS.

1. Delete “.DS_Store” files

The below command will delete .DS_Store files from the current directory and all its subdirectories without asking for confirmation.

  find . -name ".DS_Store" -type f -delete

The command breakdown:

• find . – Start searching in the current directory (. represents the current directory).
• -name ".DS_Store" – Match files with the name ".DS_Store".
• -type f – Only match files (not directories).
• -delete – Delete all files that match the criteria.

If the command fails due to permission issues, try running it with sudo:

  sudo find . -name ".DS_Store" -type f -delete

2. Show and verify all “.DS_Store” files first

It is good practice to run the command without -delete first to verify the list of files that will be deleted.

  find . -name ".DS_Store" -type f        

./base64string/.DS_Store
./base64string/favicon/.DS_Store
./.DS_Store
./javafx/.DS_Store
./javafx/transformations/.DS_Store
./javafx/event-handling/.DS_Store
./mkyong-scorpion/.DS_Store
./quiz/.DS_Store
./quiz/mkyong-quiz/.DS_Store
./quiz/mkyong-quiz/mkyong-quiz-component/.DS_Store
./quiz/mkyong-quiz/mkyong-quiz-component/node_modules/apexcharts/src/.DS_Store
./quiz/mkyong-quiz/mkyong-quiz-component/node_modules/apexcharts/src/modules/.DS_Store
./quiz/mkyong-quiz/mkyong-quiz-component/build/static/.DS_Store
//...

References

• Wikipedia – .DS_Store
• What is .DS_Store file in windows
• Go to the parent folder on macOS
• How to go to a specified folder on macOS