Overview
Configuring your FTP client to show hidden files is a process that differs significantly between each FTP client. Instructions for doing so using many popular FTP clients are found below:
You should be using SFTP to connect (rather than FTP) since SFTP ensures a secure connection to your server.
If you are already connecting using SFTP, you may already be able to see hidden files. This depends on the client you're using.
Using FileZilla
Click the Server tab at the top and select Force showing hidden files:
Using CuteFTP 9.0
- Right-click within the server side window.
- Select the Filter… option
- Under Server side filtering, select the Enable server side filtering (server applies filters) check box.
- Type -al in the Remote filter field box.
- Click Apply.
Using Fetch
- Open Fetch.
- When Fetch opens, a settings screen appears. Here is an example of connecting with a user named 'user' on the server 'charles-pickney':
- After you log in, the content of your web server appears:
- Enable hidden files by navigating to 'Fetch > 'Preferences':
- Select the Miscellaneous tab and make the following selections:
- Make sure 'Omit hidden items whose names begin with a period' is UN-checked.
- Check the box for 'Use 'LIST -al' command to reveal hidden items'.
- After making this change, be sure to refresh your view by going to 'View > Refresh':
Using Transmit
- Open Transmit.
- When Transmit opens, your connection settings appear to the right. The following example uses an FTP user named 'user' and a server named 'charles-pickney':
- Once connected, enable hidden files by going to the menu at the top and selecting 'View > Show Invisible Files':
Using FTP Voyager
- Select the Site Profiles Manager option at the top left.
- Select Advanced Options on the window that comes up
- Select the Connection tab on the Site Profile Advanced Options window that opens.
- Under the General column, type the following next to the LIST Parameter field:
[server]$ -la
- Click OK.
