OS X Lion: how to reveal hidden Library folder

July 21, 2011

Tips & Tricks

Many users switching from Apple‘s Snow Leopard to OS X Lion are unhappy with the default hidden Library folder.library

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, don’t worry then…not something you need to do.

For those who wants to be able to access the ~/Library folder, run the following command in the Terminal (Applications > Utilities).

chflags nohidden /Users/**username**/Library

- Remember to substitute **username** for your account username!

If you change your mind or don’t want to risk deleting some important folder by mistake, re-run the same command but change the “nohidden” with “hidden”.

, , , , , , ,
  • Michael Solis

    Thanks a million for this one, I was having to use finder to reveal hidden folders, this makes things a lot easier. Thanks again.

  • Jody.F

    Great tip. Thank you. Now, I’m back in business!

  • Wolfgang

    AWESOME!! i was using a show line in terminal to open it, but this is great

  • b.qiya

    THANK YOUUU!!! :D You made my day. Thought already I had gone mad… Great stuff

    • silversurfer

      you’re welcome ;)

  • JJ

    when I enter the command I get a message that says “permissions denied” please help

    • silversurfer

      Do you have the right path?

      chflags nohidden /Users/**username**/Library

      Substitute **username** for your account username.

      Let me know

  • Anthony

    This is all well and good, but when you restart your computer it’s hidden again. Isn’t there a way of permanently revealing it. I am not faffing around with terminal every-time I need to access the Library folder which is probably most days. Why do these damn companies spend so much effort in making life needlessly bloody awkward, Apple, really, stop treating your users like there in bloody nappies! If people screw their computers from being stupid then that’s opportunity to learn, why must everyone else have to put up with being put in mittens…

    Thanks for information above, but need something more permanent.

  • Anthony

    Further thought, is there a way of modifying this line in someway:

    defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool true

    If you use the above line in terminal then it permanently reveal every hidden item/file/folder on your computer, which on Leopard wasn’t bad, but there seems to be a hell of a lot more hidden folders and stuff in Lion, more hidden folders in-fact than unhidden in the Users directory. Though I still find this preferable to not seeing the Library folder. So there you go Apple, so much for hiding things, all it causes is the potential for everything to be revealed instead.

    If you look in the file that line of code alters there are a lot of options that can be modified, though I haven’t so far found anything relating to the Library folder.

    Maybe if you copy the same file across from Snow Leopard it will work!? Or maybe I am barking up the wrong file? I might try it anyway, can always swap it back again via Target Disc Mode if all goes a bit wrong! ;p

  • Anthony

    OK furthermore I tried creating a loginhook as described here:

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2420

    I simply created a text file with:

    chflags nohidden /Users/S/Library

    the above terminal command in set it up as a login hook, though it didn’t work, maybe this is because the command is operated before Lion executes it’s code to hide the library file!? Or maybe this is not how you create an executable code!? I am searching in the dark here with very little experience of using terminal…. so anyone have any better ideas?

  • Anthony

    ahahha :) Amazing, I guessed it was a question of time before someone did something like that…. But here it is already ….:) thanks for that! :)

    • Anthony

      Though I take it back in part, as I assumed this would work with a permanent effect, you still need to select unhide the library every time you login. It’s an improvement but still left with a system that is a step back from Lion, and the Mac Mail layout is not clear for sorting large amounts of emails, and seems to be no way that I can see so far of changing the layout more like it used to be. Dashboard seems to have lost it’s point as you can no longer view the widgets in an overlayed manner over the top of your desktop/applications, for me it now has little more functionality than just loading a separate application to check the weather or use a calculator etc… I am not finding any useful changes so far only annoyances, I am starting to think seriously about reinstalling Snow Leopard….

      • Silversurfer

        Anthony, don’t tell anybody, but I’ve rolled back to SL. Will wait for Lion 10.7.3 at least before re-attempting

        • Anthony

          haha lol

          yeah, I really don’t blame you, and I said to myself I wasn’t gonna bother updating until Christmas for the very same reason, though managed to find an official disc for £7 so got tempted as it was so cheap.

          Anyway, for anyone who’s interested I found the ultimate work around for the hidden Library folder, and it was so obvious:

          Select your library folder after revealing it and then make an alias copy/version.

          The alias remains visible no matter what… problem solved :)

          • Anthony

            Also just to update my comment about Mac Mail, you can actually change the preferences so it appears the same as the original OS X version.

            Preferences>Viewing>Use Classic Layout(check/tick the box)

  • Carolyn

    Thanks for this tip! Big help! I am not a fan of Lion yet, thinking of downgrading back to OS 9…ok maybe Snow Leopard.

  • Mike

    Apple have a widget that locks or unlocks hidden files made by Matthew hansen and trevor sayre.

    Does the trick

  • laura

    You are a lifesaver! Thank you thank you thank you!

  • Snorre

    thx a lot, but unfortunately no luck

    I have tried this – no message as a response in terminal mode
    then tried to find the hidden files and folders – but nothing there

    is there a command to read the status; hidden or not, in terminal mode?

    I hate lion….now at least….

    • Silversurfer

      There’s a small and free app called Lion Tweaks that gives you the option, among others, to reveal the Library folder.

      https://lovefortech.com/2011/08/10/turn-off-new-changes-in-os-x-lion-with-free-app-lion-tweaks/

      • Snorre

        Thx – tried that, but still no luck – lots of hidden fikes and folders, but none of the files in that template folder of aged attachments for outlook…

        The folder is said to be named outlook temp but seams like the folder is named saved attachments, so a subfolder I guess.!

        Anyone?

  • Ambrose

    Just a quick note to say, when I couldn’t get to the Library, I used the Finder’s “Go to folder” command (shift apple g) and put in “~/Library”.

    Remember that trick when next Apple thinks you don’t need to see your own stuff…

  • Harry

    I was going bonkers looking for the hidden file that used to be unhidden in earlier version of the OS. I wasted hours of my life trying to find those hidden files. Wish I had read your solution earlier; you saved my butt. Many thanks.

    • Silversurfer

      No worries!

  • Nepkiej

    These directions were no help at all.  I’ve lost a file in the Outlook Temp file and can’t retrieve it.  I’ve lost an hour and need help.
     

  • Ronnnnnnny

    Thanks for the tip.  I understand Apple’s reasoning behind hiding the folders as a default.  (My guess is their Genius Bar got too many calls related to files deleted accidentally.)  But, it’s nice to know it’s simple enough to obtain access.

    Later.

  • Jestabil

    I tried it, too, and it did not reveal the hidden file…

  • GratefulPerson

    These instructions were perfect, thanks so much!!

    • GratefulPerson

       For those who could not find their outlook temp files, look here:
      users> yourname> Library>Cashes>TemporaryItems>Outlook Temp

  • Marcel Welman

    This didnt work for me, so i opened an email attachment via outlook, save as, it opened the location Outlook temp and then i dragged that location to under my Favourites in finder, then i could access all the files i needed :)

    NjoyMarcel 


Free iPod Apps      App Store Download      How to Jailbreak      IPod Touch Free Apps