Mac storage basics · Caches, logs and temporary files

How do I open the hidden Library folder on my Mac?

Short answer: Hold Option and choose Go → Library in Finder, or use Go → Go to Folder and type ~/Library. Command-J in your home folder can keep it visible.

Your user Library is hidden by default. Three ways to reach it:

  • In Finder, hold Option and open the Go menu — Library appears in the list.
  • Choose Go → Go to Folder… (Shift-Command-G), type ~/Library and press Return.
  • To keep it visible, open your home folder, press Command-J and tick Show Library Folder.

The Library holds app settings, caches, support files and containers. Most of it is safe to look at; be cautious about deleting, because some of it is the only copy of an app's data.

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