It is recommended that you block the names of certain files and directories in a share. This makes the blocked files and directories invisible and inaccessible in the share. This can speed up directory listings and other operations.
This table shows frequently blocked files and directories.
Item | Type | MacOS or Windows | Location | Function and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
desktop.ini | File | Windows | Anywhere | Hidden file that controls how a folder in Windows is displayed. |
Thumbs.db (Windows-specific, but still present on macOS shares) | File | Windows | Anywhere | Application/OS-created image previews. Automatically regenerated unless blocked. |
.apdisk | File | MacOS | Anywhere | Shared folder info. Automatically recreated by Mac Finder. |
.com.apple.timemachine .donotpresent | File | MacOS | Volume Root | Time machine metadata file. Only required for AFP and SMB shares that support time machine. Unnecessary. See Time machine. |
.DS_Store | File | MacOS | Anywhere | Window position/icon arrangement information. Usually block from network volumes. Apple supports blocking this via a client Finder setting: Adjust SMB browsing |
.FB* | File | MacOS | Volume Root | Sherlock Find by Content. For macOS 9 and earlier. |
.fseventsd | File | MacOS | Volume Root | File system events logging folder. |
.Spotlight-V100 | File | MacOS | Volume Root | Index database for Spotlight. Not supported for SMB. |
.TemporaryItems | File | MacOS | Anywhere | Folders used as temporary storage. |
.Trashes | File | MacOS | Volume Root | Files marked for deletion. Works with Recycle Bin for restore. Volume-specific. Not portable between volumes. |
.VolumeIcon.icns | File | MacOS | Volume Root | Custom Share icon. If required, migrate manually. |
.VolumeIcon.low.icns | File | MacOS | Volume Root | Custom Share icon. If required, migrate manually. |
TheVolumeSettingsFolder | Directory | MacOS | Volume Root | Volume-specific metadata. Unique per volume. No need to copy. |