While many Mac users may never need to access their User Library folder while running macOS Sierra — some advanced users, may need to get in there and access support data and such when troubleshooting. The folder is hidden by default in macOS Sierra, but it only take a few moments to access it, or make it so that the folder is always visible.
How to view the /Library folder in Mavericks; My Library folder is missing. Missing Library folder in Mac OS X Lion; Re-Enable Your Library Folder In Mac OS X; How to Reveal Your Library Folder in Lion or macOS; This is a simple step to unhide “- /Library” folder in your Mac OS X. The user’s Library folder, which is different than the root Library folder at the top-level of the hard drive, contains hundreds files that store important preferences and settings for many of the applications on your Mac. It’s a good idea to learn how to access this folder, even if you don’t need to open it right now. The Library folder contains many of the resources that installed applications need to use, including preferences, support documents, plug-in folders, and ever since OS X Lion (10.7), the files that describe the saved state of applications. In recent versions of its operating system, your Mac has been hiding the Library folder.
Before we begin, we want to say that it’s usually a good idea to leave things in the users ~/Library folder alone, unless directed to by support personnel. The folder contains caches, application support data, and preference files, and if you screw around in there too much, you could really screw things up. We DO NOT recommend it. Now that our butts are covered, here’s how to find and display your User Library folder.
Opening the User Library Folder in macOS Sierra
If you just need to access the user ~/Library folder on occasion, you can get into it by using the Finder “Go” menu.
- From the Finder in macOS, (Click anywhere on the Desktop where there isn’t already an app window, and you should see “Finder” appear in the upper left hand corner of your display, up near the Apple icon), click the “Go” menu item, and then hold down the SHIFT key on your Mac’s keyboard.
- Click on “Library” in the drop-down list. (If you release the SHIFT key, the “Library” option will disappear from the menu. Now you see it, now you don’t.)
If you’re not much of a mouser, you can just hit the key combo of Command + Shift + L, and a Finder window will appear showing the ~/Library directory of the active user account.
Always Show the User Library Folder in macOS Sierra
If you are an advanced user, you might want to always display the user ~/Library folder in your user Home directory. It just takes a few clicks to enable this option.
- In Finder, go to the Users’ home folder
- Click the “View” menu and then click “View Options”
- Click the “Show Library Folder” option in the Settings options for the User home folder, as shown below.
Following the above steps will change the settings for only the current user. Any other users will also have to follow the above steps while logged into the machine.
These steps also work with Mac OS X El Capitan and Yosemite. In earlier versions of OS X, a command line entry was required to perform the same magic.
(Thanks to OS X Daily)
For most people, not having access to the Library is not a problem. Most of us don't need this level of access. But for some, it’s useful — even essential — so not having access can cause a problem. Not only that, but for those who've suffered any kind of malware, ransomware, adware, or other infection, gaining access to the Library is the most effective way of forever eradicating a serious problem that has infected your Mac.
In this article, we cover how you can gain access to your Library folder.
How to access the Mac Library folder?
Although this skill isn’t essential for everyone, some power users need to know how to find a Library on a Mac. If you want, you can even show the Library folder in a Mac permanently so that you never need to wonder where it is and why you can’t access it.
The Library folder, also known as a directory, has long-since been a go-to location for Mac users when an application misbehaves. It is often easier to go to the source of a problem and fix it directly than to troubleshoot an issue. Before you do that, you need to access this hidden directory.
There are a couple of ways to make this visible, whether or not you want this to be permanent or only visible as needed.
To make this change permanent, follow these instructions:
Finding Library via Terminal
- Launch Terminal, which you can find in /Applications/Utilities
- Enter the following command in Terminal:
chflags nohidden ~/Library. This changes the flag visibility to on, thereby making Library a visible folder. - Click Return
- Quit Terminal
- Now Library should be visible in Finder and should sit alongside other folders and files.
- If you ever want to undo this change, use Terminal to input this command:
chflags hidden ~/Library- to hide the Library again.
The path Apple recommends
Another way to make Library visible, although not permanently visible, is to follow another set of instructions that Apple recommends.
Apple prefers people not to make regular use of Terminal. There is too much of a risk that something unexpected and fairly catastrophic could go wrong. Plus, making the Library permanently visible could have the same impact. So taking the “Apple recommended” approach means that Library will only appear as long as you keep the Finder window for the Library folder open.
Library User Folder Mac Version
Here is how you can temporarily view files in the Mac Library:
- Either within Desktop or with a Finder window open, hold down the Option key and select the Go menu;
- The Library will be listed as one of the items in the Go menu;
- Double-click on Library, which will open a Finder window containing the contents of the Library folder;
- Once you close that window, the Library folder will be hidden again. This method is only temporary, designed to give you immediate access.
Another similar method, for anyone using macOS Mavericks or later, is to follow these steps to view the Library:
- Open a Finder window.
- Click View > Show View Options
- Place a checkmark in a box to Show Library Folder.
Now you should be able to access and open the Library folder on a Mac with ease and to do this whenever you need it.
How to reveal hidden folders:
Use Shift + Command + Period key shortcut to see hidden folders in your Documents. They will appear grayed out compared to the regular folders.
How to peek underneath your macOS
Show Library Folder
Some system folders and apps are deliberately hidden from view. Besides Finder and Terminal, there is an easier way to look under the hood of your Mac. Apps like CleanMyMac X will show you the entire storage structure of your computer. What for? Because this way you can find your forgotten folders and find what's wasting the most space.
Here is an interactive storage map I made for my Mac using the Space Lens tool in CleanMyMac X.
You can download this app for free — and make your own storage map.
Once you install the app, click Space Lens in the sidebar.
Those bubbles have different sizes — depending on the folder size. You can click these folders and explore them deeper. Using this method, you can find folders that 'slipped through the cracks,' for example, old backups or documents. Cool way to learn more about your Mac and free up space at the same time!
Look at the screenshot; the Library folder is also there:
Access System Library Mac
Okay. Hope you found your Library folder and learned something new about your Mac. Stay tuned for more Mac tips.