Mac storage basics · Library folders explained

Why does my Mac have three different Library folders?

Short answer: Your own Library holds your settings and caches; the top-level Library holds items shared by all users; the System Library belongs to macOS and is protected. Clean the first two, leave the third alone.

They serve different scopes:

  • Your Library (in your home folder, hidden by default) holds your own app settings, caches and data. Most per-user clutter lives here.
  • /Library (at the top of the disk) holds things shared by every user, such as fonts, printer drivers and plug-ins installed for everyone.
  • /System/Library belongs to macOS itself and is protected; you can't and shouldn't change it.

When you hunt for space, start with your own Library, then the top-level one, and leave the System one alone. Open yours with the steps in opening the Library folder.

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