It can also automatically hide any app data that users might not need in their everyday routine.īesides that, Mac also allows us to hide any file or folder from its settings. The system doesn't want any user interference with these files and hides them instead. This is because these files are either temporary or run in the background. For instance, there are plenty of log files, temporary data, system files, cache content, directory files, library folders, etc. It represents any file or folder that a user would have hidden or the system itself hid.Ī lot of systems generated files are automatically hidden by Mac. On the other hand, a hidden file or folder would have a dimmed icon (if they are visible at all). The standard file or folder would be depicted in the usual way in Finder and its icon won't be dimmed. Ideally, any file or folder can be hidden in Mac. Part 1: What Are the Hidden Files or Folders on Mac? Part 4: How to Prevent Manually Hidden Files/Folders on Mac?.Part 3: How to Scan and View Manually Hidden Files/Folders on Mac?.Part 2: 4 Ways to Find and See Auto Hidden Files/Folders.Part 1: What Are the Hidden Files or Folders on Mac?.For those new to the Library folder, check out our Top 6 Reasons to Visit Your Library Folder. While many Mac users don’t need to venture into their Library folder (hence why Apple chose to hide it by default), there are indeed many useful maintenance and troubleshooting tasks which require access to it. You’ll now see your Library folder listed inside your Home folder, where it will remain unless you uncheck the aforementioned option. With your Home folder open, go to View > Show View Options from the menu bar, or use the keyboard shortcut Command-J.Īt the bottom of the View Options window, check the box labeled Show Library Folder and then close the window with the red close button in the upper-left.

To unhide your Library folder in macOS Sierra, launch Finder and navigate to your user Home folder (you can jump directly to your user folder by select Go > Home from the Finder’s menu bar or using the keyboard shortcut Shift-Command-H).

While Apple still hides the user’s Library folder by default, you can restore it with a single checkbox. Thankfully, recent versions of the Mac operating system make things easier. There were still several workarounds to access or unhide the Library folder, but they weren’t immediately obvious or simple. Although arguably well-intentioned, this change was frustrating for longtime Mac power users. With the release of Mac OS X Lion way back in 2011, Apple removed easy access to the user’s Library folder.

How to see hidden library folder on mac