.DS Store

For the car dealer network, see DS Automobiles § DS Store.
Apple Desktop Services Store
Filename extension
.DS_Store
Internet media type
application/octet-stream
Magic number\0\0\0\1Bud1\0
Developed byApple Inc.

In the macOS operating system, .DS_Store is a file that stores custom attributes of its containing folder, such as folder view options, icon positions, and other visual information.[1] The name is an abbreviation of Desktop Services Store,[2] reflecting its purpose. It is created and maintained by the Finder application in every folder, and has functions similar to the file desktop.ini in Microsoft Windows. Starting with a period . character, it is hidden in Finder and many Unix utilities. Its internal structure is proprietary,[3] but has been reverse-engineered.[4] Starting at macOS 10.12 16A238m, Finder will not display .DS_Store files (even with com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES set).

  1. ^ "Removing .DS_Store files on Macintosh OS X?". Adobe Systems. 24 February 2003. Archived from the original on 29 September 2006. Retrieved 29 September 2006.
  2. ^ Gourdol, Arno (1 October 2006). "On the origins of .DS_Store". arno.org. Retrieved 1 October 2006.
  3. ^ "File Extension .DS_STORE Information". PC.net. 2007. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  4. ^ "DS Store File Format". 18 July 2007. Retrieved 16 October 2022.