JAEN

macOS

dot_clean

SafeMerge ._ junk files

dot_clean <dir>

Merges the '._' AppleDouble files cluttering USB drives and shares — clean up before handing to Windows users.

Examples

  • dot_clean -m /Volumes/USBMerge and remove ._ files
  • find /Volumes/USB -name '._*' | headPreview the ._ files first
  • dot_clean -n /Volumes/USBDelete ._ files whose main file no longer exists
  • defaults write com.apple.desktopservices DSDontWriteNetworkStores -bool trueStop creating .DS_Store on network shares

Syntax

dot_clean [-m] <directory>

Key points

  • ._ files store Mac extended attributes on FAT, exFAT and SMB shares. They are hidden on the Mac but visible on Windows.
  • .DS_Store is a different file and dot_clean does not remove it.
  • -m always deletes the ._ files after merging.

Before you run it

Touches only AppleDouble files.

Used when you see

USB full of '._' junk files
1
Merge and remove AppleDouble files with dot_clean
See the whole flow →

Related commands

  • dittoCopy preserving metadata
  • lsList directory

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