Library folders are central to the macOS file system structure. As a Mac user, you may have noticed the Library without knowing what it’s for. So let’s discuss the role of the Library folder and show you how to access it.

Introducing the macOS Library Folders

Most of the files you use daily are located in one of several home directories on your Mac: Downloads, Documents, Pictures, Movies, Music, and Desktop. These are the files you actively use and move around, such as pictures, documents, and downloaded files.

Applications and system-related files keep their data—application support files, caches, log files, preferences, email attachments, fonts, and other service files—in the Library folder. The Library folder is hidden by default to simplify the user experience and prevent accidental damage.

library folder contents Mac

The Different Library Folders

There are three main Library folders: the “main Library” folder, the “user Library” folder, and the “system Library” folder. The main Library folder is located on the root of your hard drive, located at

        /Library
    

This is a folder that’s shared among all users on the Mac and controls system-wide settings. In here, you’ll find screensavers, wallpapers, applications, and more that share the data or preferences with all users on the computer.

Each user also has a user Library folder in the Home folder, located at

        ~/Library
    

This folder is hidden and located on the same level as your Documents and Downloads folders. It contains user-specific application data, preferences, support files, Mail settings, Safari bookmarks, browsing history data, and more.

Finally, the System Library is located at

        /System/Library
    

This contains data that macOS needs to operate. Only macOS has the access to modify this data, and only system-level events should affect it. There’s no reason for you to touch anything in this folder. Read our guide to learn more about folders you shouldn’t touch in the macOS file system.

different library folders mac

It makes sense to ask why there are three different Library folders. Each Library folder is a system resource that caters to the needs of a particular domain: Local, User, and System. macOS separates these resources to increase the user and system security and reliability and improve the user experience.

With this system in place, macOS ensures that you won’t have to hunt for your files for specific troubleshooting and hide the folders you normally don’t need to see.

How to Access Your User Library

If you look in your Home directory, you probably won’t be able to find a Library folder. That’s because the user Library folder is hidden by default. You have a few different options for accessing your user Library.

1. Use Finder’s Go Menu

access library folder through finder go menu

Press and hold the Option key and select Go in Finder’s menu bar. The Library folder option will then be revealed. This is a quick and easy way to access your user Library folder if you don’t often need to access it.

2. Use the Go to Folder Function

go to folder option with autocomplete feature

With this option, you can keep the Library folder hidden and still navigate to it. From Finder’s menu bar, select Go > Go to Folder or press Shift + Cmd + G. In the dialog that appears, type in the destination path.

To access the user Library folder, enter ~/Library. As soon as you enter the first few characters of the path, the autocomplete feature will usually suggest completing it. You can use the Tab key to complete the rest of the path. Then, press the down and right arrow keys to freely navigate the directories.

3. Add Your User Library to Finder’s Favorites

Open the Library window using one of the above methods, then drag-and-drop the Library folder to the Favorites column in the Finder sidebar. Now you can click this at any time to visit the user Library.

4. Unhide the Library Folder

more hidden files and folders mac

Your Mac contains many hidden files and folders apart from the Library folder. To view these hidden files, press Cmd + Shift + Period in Finder.

5. Always Show the Library Folder

If you need more frequent access to your user Library, consider showing it permanently. Open a Finder window and go to your Home folder. Now choose View > Show View Options. In the View Options window, tick the checkbox next to Show Library Folder.

always show the library folder

Be Careful Poking Around in the Library

Whenever you delve deep into a Library folder, remember that your system and application rely heavily on this data. Manually clearing a macOS cache or deleting a corrupted preference file may fix a malfunctioning app if you know what you’re doing. But when you randomly start deleting files unknowingly, your apps can get corrupted.

As a general rule of thumb, don’t edit anything in the Library if you don’t know what it does. And always make a backup of your Library (or your entire Mac) before making any changes.

Clean Up Other Storage on Mac

The Library folder forms the core foundation of the macOS file system structure. You might take an interest in the Library folder if you’re running out of storage on your Mac—especially if you’re losing a lot of space to Other or System data on your Mac. But there are lots of other clean-up steps you should take before editing the Library.