mv - Move All Files Including . Hidden Files - How To for Linux Unix

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Linux mv

By default, the mv command will not move files in the source directory that begin with . (also known as hidden files). If you want to move all files (including hidden files that begin with a dot .), run mv like this:

 mv ./{*,.*} /destination/directory/here 

 ​Below are some examples of a directory structure before and after running mv:

./
├── level1
│   ├── 1
│   │   ├── one.txt
│   │   └── .two.txt
│   ├── 2
│   │   ├── .four.txt
│   │   └── three.txt
│   ├── five.txt
│   └── .six.txt
└── level2

mv ./level1/* ./level2/

./
├── level1
│   └── .six.txt
└── level2
    ├── 1
    │   ├── one.txt
    │   └── .two.txt
    ├── 2
    │   ├── .four.txt
    │   └── three.txt
    └── five.txt

As you see ./level1/.six.txt did not move because it was in the source directory and it was a hidden file. If you were to move it the correct way, it would work and look like this:

mv ./level1/{*,.*} ./level2/

.
├── level1
└── level2
    ├── 1
    │   ├── one.txt
    │   └── .two.txt
    ├── 2
    │   ├── .four.txt
    │   └── three.txt
    ├── five.txt
    └── .six.txt

 

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