If you have recently upgraded your Ubuntu to Ubuntu 14.04 and found that when you open the Nautilus File Manager, all the hidden files are visible rather than hidden, here is the fix.
Open a terminal and type:
gsettings set org.gnome.nautilus.preferences show-hidden-files false
Alternatively, you can do it with a GUI.
1. Install dconf
sudo apt-get install dconf-tools
2. Run dconf-editor
dconf-editor
3. On the left panel, navigate to “org -> gnome -> nautilus -> preferences”. On the right panel, search for an entry “show-hidden-files.” Uncheck the box beside it.
4. That’s it.
Next time you open your Nautilus File Manager, all the hidden files will stay hidden. You can then press “Ctrl + h” to show the hidden files.
Enjoy!
Didn’t work for me. Do you need to restart? I wonder what caused this problem in the first place.
The show-hidden-files key in org.gnome.nautilus.preferences is deprecated
Use the show-hidden key in org.gtk.Settings.FileChooser instead (you will also find this in dconf-editor).
I can confirm
both are unchecked in dconf-editor and neither work, hidden files remain not hidden
I’m running Ubuntu 14.04 LTS in a VirutalBox environment, host pc is Arch Linux, running VirtualBox 4.3.14, and VBox Guest Additions 4.2.16
open terminal and type:
dconf-editor
Enter and then:
org->gtk->settings->file-chooser
uncheck show-hidden