Mac Os X Show User Library Folder
The user library folder in Mac OS is usually hidden. If you are on mac OS Sierra, Mac OS High Sierra and Mac OS Mojave, you will not be able to see the library. But when you come across the need to access this folder, you will start wondering how to find library on Mac. We will let you know about the steps that you have to follow in order to locate the Library folder on Mac.
Now you must be wondering why the ~/Library folder in Mac is hidden. This folder contains a lot of important files and data about the Mac user accounts. The data helps the proper functionality of the apps that you have installed on the Mac.
Jan 30, 2019 The user library folder in Mac OS is usually hidden. If you are on mac OS Sierra, Mac OS High Sierra and Mac OS Mojave, you will not be able to see the library. But when you come across the need to access this folder, you will start wondering how to find library on Mac. Ever since Lion (OS X 10.7), Apple has hidden your personal Library folder (/Library) by default. In Lion and Mountain Lion (OS X 10.8), you could make the folder visible, but it required some. With the release of Mac OS X Lion way back in 2011, Apple removed easy access to the user’s Library folder. Although arguably well-intentioned, this change was frustrating for longtime Mac power. Jun 10, 2015 Up to OS X 10.7 Lion, accessing the Library folder was quite simple; all you needed to do is navigate to your Home folder, and from there you could access the Library folder. But from OS X 10.8 onwards, Apple has hidden the Library folder, meaning it won’t show up in your Home folder anymore. How To: Unhide User Library Folder Mac OS 10.9 Mavericks. Open a window in the Finder; Select you user folder (mine: joes10) or if your User Folder is not in the sidebar, while in the Finder hit ⇧⌘H to open directly to your User Folder; Select menu: View Show View Options or hit ⌘J; Check “Show Library Folder” in the View Options.
Therefore, it is recommended for you to keep the ~/Library folder untouched. If you are an ordinary Mac user, there’s no valid reason for you to gain access to the content that is available in this folder. Therefore, you are encouraged to keep it untouched at all times.
Read more:How to Uninstall Apps on Mac?
But when you come across the need to access the ~/Library folder for any reason, you will need to figure out how to find hidden library folder on Mac. Here are the steps that you will have to follow in order to get the job done.
Accessing the Library folder in macOS Sierra and macOS Mojave
If you don’t want your Mac to always show the Library folder, but you only need to access it for one time, you can think about accessing it through Go Menu. If you can’t find Library on Mac, you need to follow the below mentioned steps to get the job done.
- From the macOS Finder, visit “Go” menu.
- Now you need to select “Library” from the list.
- It is also possible for you to enter Command + Shift + G from the macOS Finder, so that you will be able to jump to the ~/Library folder immediately.
In case if you are in an older version of Mac OS, you need to hold down the Option Key, instead of Shift Key.
How to show the ~/Library file in macOS Sierra and macOS Mojave
When you come across the need to access the ~/Library file on a regular basis, you will need to make it show at all times. Changing some of the settings in your Mac will assist you to get the job done. Here are the steps that you have to follow for that.
Show User Library Mac
- First of all, you should visit macOS “Finder”.
- Then you must access user’s “Home” folder.
- From there, you need to pull down “View” menu and then select “Show View Options”.
- You should now select Show Library Folder in the settings option.
This will help you to display the ~/Library folder at all times. However, you must keep in mind that the settings change you do is personal to the user accounts. If you log in to your Mac from another user account, it will not be possible for you to see this change.
You will also be able to use the command line in order to reveal the ~/Library directory. You can go to the terminal and enter the following:
Now you will be able to see the Library folder on your Mac.
The Library Menu item is hidden by default on Macs, to prevent the possibility of inexperienced users deleting important files in the Library Folder. In this article, you will find different methods to reveal the hidden Library Menu and access the Library Folder on your Mac.
Access Library Folder On Mac
The Library Folder on your Mac contains Preference Files, Caches, and Application Support Data.
While regular Mac users may not find the need to access the Hidden Library Folder, advanced Mac users will at times come across the need to access files inside the Library Folder for troubleshooting and other purposes.
One example of the need to access the Library Folder on Mac would be to rebuild the Database Files in the Library Folder, in order to fix Launchpad related issues like Apps Missing From Launchpad or deleted Apps showing up in the Launchpad.
Before going ahead with the steps to Access the Hidden Library Folder on your Mac, you need to be aware that ~/Library Folder contains important Data and Files related to Mac User Accounts.
Hence, make sure that you are accessing the Library Folder for a good reason and you do know as to what you are trying to achieve.
Access Hidden Library Menu Option On Mac
Follow the steps below to access the Hidden Library Menu option on your Mac.
1. Left-click your mouse anywhere on the screen of your Mac. This will reveal the Go Option in the top menu bar of your Mac. You can also click on the Finder Icon in the Dock of your Mac to activate the Go Option.
2. Next, click on the Go option in the top menu-bar of your Mac.
3. While you are still on the Go option, press and hold the Option key on your Mac and then click on the Library option that appears when you press down the Option Key.
Note: Press the Alt Key in case you are using a Windows keyboard with your Mac.
4. Clicking on the Library Menu option will take you straight to the Library Folder on your Mac.
Access Library Folder On Mac Using “Go to Folder” Option
Another way to access the Library Folder on your Mac is by using the Folder Option on your Mac.
1. Left-click your mouse anywhere on the screen of your Mac to reveal the Go Option in the top menu bar. You can also click on the Finder Icon in the Dock of your Mac to activate the Go option.
2. Next, click on the Go option from the top menu-bar on your Mac and then click on Go to Folder… option in the drop-down menu (See image below).
3. In the search window that appears, type ~/Library, and click on the Go button.
This will immediately take you to the Library Folder on your Mac.
Permanently Unhide the Library Menu Option On Mac
Show Library Folder Mac Os
You can permanently unhide the Library Menu Option in the top-menu bar on your Mac by using the Terminal Command. The process is reversible and you can easily go back to the default hidden Library Menu Setting by using the Terminal command once again.
1. Click on the Finder icon in the dock of your Mac to activate the Go option in the top Menu bar of your Mac.
2. Next, click on the Go option in the top menu-bar and then click on the Utilities option in the drop-down menu.
3. On the Utilities window, open the Terminal App by clicking on it.
4. Next, type chflags nohidden ~/Library/ and Press the Enter key to submit your command for execution.
Once the command is executed, you will see the Library Option clearly visible and permanently unhidden in the top menu-bar of your Mac.
As mentioned above, you can always go back to the default hidden Library option on your Mac by executing a simple command in the Command Prompt Window.
Show User Library Folder Mac
1. To hide the Library option, type chflags hidden ~/Library/ in the Command prompt window (See image below)
2. After typing the Command, hit the Enter key on the Keyboard of your Mac to execute this Command.
Once the Command is executed, you will see the Library Menu option becoming hidden.