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Your Mac has Local, User, and System Library folders, which you’re able to access from different directories. Of these three folders, the User Library folder is hidden by default in macOS. We’ll teach you how to access all of them below, as the steps are a bit different.
Opening the Local Library Folder on Your Mac
You’ll find the Local Library folder at the root of your Mac’s hard drive. This folder is shared by all user accounts on your Mac. It houses system-wide settings and items like screensavers, wallpapers, and apps that share their data and settings with other users on your system.Apple doesn’t recommendstoring your files and folders here.
To access the Local Library folder, open a Finder window and select your Mac’s hard drive, typically namedMacintosh HD, underLocationsin the sidebar. You should see the local Library folder on the right. Double-click it to view its contents.
Opening the User Library Folder on Your Mac
As the name suggests, the User Library folder is specific to a Mac user account. Here, you’ll find user-specific app data, support files, Mail preferences, browsing history, etc. Even though the User Library folder is hidden by default, it’s still easy to access fromthe macOS menu barwith a simple shortcut.
ClickGoin the menu bar and hold down theOptionkey to reveal theLibraryoption in the dropdown menu. Then, click it to reveal all the files and folders in it.
Alternatively, you can open a Finder window, select theHomefolder in the sidebar, and pressCommand + Shift + Period (.)to reveal the hidden User Library folder. Doing this also lets yousee other hidden files on your Mac.
If you want Finder to show the User Library folder permanently, select theHomefolder in Finder and clickView > Show View Optionsfrom the menu bar. Then, check the box next toShow Library Folderin the pop-up window.
you’re able to also open the User Library folder by clickingGo > Go to Folderfrom the menu bar and typing~/Libraryin the dialog box.
Opening the System Library Folder on Your Mac
This Library folder contains all the files macOS needs to function properly. Because ofSystem Integrity Protection (SIP), you won’t be able to modify and delete the contents of this folder. Only system-level events can affect the files in there.
Accessing the System Library folder is just as easy as accessing the Local Library folder. Open a new Finder window and select your Mac’s internal drive (Macintosh HD) underLocationsin the sidebar. Then, go toSystem > Libraryon the right.
Alternatively, you can clickGo > Go to Folderfrom the menu bar, type/System/Library, and hitReturnto open it.
These are the easiest ways to open all the Library folders on your Mac. You usually may want to access your User Library folder tofree up space on your Macby clearing cache files, log files, and other leftover files. But I highly recommend not removing anything from here unless you know what you’re doing.
