Since Mac OS 10.7 Lion, Apple has hidden the User Library folder to prevent accidental damage to system files. If you need to make changes to system files, there are several ways you can display the Library folder. However, keep in mind that the Library folder is intended for storing system files, not regular documents.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Via Go Menu
Step 1. Click the Finder icon in the Dock, or click any part of the desktop to move to the Finder
You'll see a Finder menu at the top of the screen.
You can do this on any version of OS X that hides the Library folder, including 10.7 Lion, 10.8 Mountain Lion, 10.9 Mavericks, 10.10 Yosemite, and 10.11 El Capitan
Step 2. Click Go on the menu at the top of the screen to open the menu
Leave this menu open.
Step 3. Press the Option key
When you press this button, the Library option will appear in the Go menu.
Step 4. Select Libraries
The contents of the Library folder will appear in any open Finder window, if any, or in a new Finder window.
Method 2 of 4: Using the Go. Command
Step 1. Click the Finder icon in the Dock, or click any part of the desktop to move to the Finder
You'll see a Finder menu at the top of the screen.
Step 2. Click Go in the menu at the top of the screen, then click Go to Folder
You will see a text box on the screen. You can use this text box to enter a folder name.
You can also access the Go to Folder function by pressing Command + Shift + G
Step 3. Enter ~/Library and press Enter
Now, you will see the files in the Library folder.
- You must include the ~/ symbol at the beginning of the command. This symbol "signals" the computer to display only the user's files.
- The tilde or ~ key is in the upper-left corner of most keyboards. If you can't find the button, copy and paste the symbol from this article.
Method 3 of 4: Showing Library Folders Permanently (OS X 10.9 and Up)
Step 1. Check your OS X version
This step can only be performed on OS X Mac OS 10.9 Mavericks, 10.10 Yosemite, and 10.11 El Capitan. To check your OS X version, click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of the menu, then select About this Mac.
Step 2. Open your user folder by opening the folder in Finder and clicking on the home icon with the username in the left part of the window
If you don't see this icon, click Go in the top menu, and select Home.
Step 3. Once inside the folder, select View > Show View Options from the top menu
You can also access commands by pressing Command + J
Step 4. In the window that appears, check the box next to Show Library Folder to permanently display the Library folder
This option will only appear if you are in the user folder. If you don't see the option, leave the window open, then open the user folder by following the steps above
Method 4 of 4: Displaying the Library folder Permanently (OS X 10.7 and Up)
Step 1. Open Terminal by clicking Applications > Utilities > Terminal
Through Terminal, you can display the Library folder on OS X 10.7 and above. This step is commonly used by OS X 10.7 Lion and 10.8 Mountain Lion users, who are unable to use the steps described above to display the Library folder.
Step 2. Enter the command chflags nohidden ~/Library into the Terminal window
Make sure you write the command correctly.
Step 3. Press Enter to run the command
The command will run immediately. After that, open the user folder (Home in the Go menu in Finder), then find the Library folder.
To hide the Library folder again, enter the command chflags hidden ~/Library.
Tips
- Generally, you only need to access the User Library folder described in this article. However, your computer actually has two other Library folders, namely on the main drive and in the System folder. Both folders contain system files, and can only be seen by the Administrator user. Don't change the contents of either folder, unless you know what you're going to do.
- System updates can hide the Library folder again. After you display the Library folder, it will remain visible until you install a system update.
Warning
- Do not move, rename, or delete the contents of the Library folder, unless you are aware of the function of the changed file.
- The Library folder is not intended for storing documents. If you want to search for photos, music, or other files, find the user's folder by clicking the Finder icon in the Dock, and then choosing Go → Home from the menu.
