Why can't I find my local (user specific) library folder in Lion's Finder?

orvn · Jan 22, 2012

Hey guys,

I'm having trouble accessing some stuff that should be in my library folder.
I can access my general library folder in ~/library but not my user specific one in ~/users/orun/ (orun is my username).

I can navigate to it in unix
cd /users/orun/library
open .

But it just isn't there in Finder.. what gives?

GGJstudios · Jan 22, 2012

To get to your /Library or ~/Library folder in Lion, launch Finder and click Go > Go to Folder and type: /Library or ~/Library

You can also reach your ~/Library folder by holding the Option key while clicking the Go menu item, which reveals your ~/Library folder in the menu.

grapes911 · Jan 22, 2012

Tilde (~) refers to your home directory. The slash (/) refers to root.

/users/orun/library
is the same as
~/library

orvn · Jan 22, 2012

thanks guys!

Weaselboy · Jan 23, 2012

If you want, you can run the command below in Terminal and it will unhide the ~/Library folder. Then you can see it in a normal Finder window.

Each time a point OS release comes out though it gets hidden again and you will need to run the command.

Code:

chflags nohidden ~/Library/

maflynn · Jan 23, 2012

You can also use in the Finder
Click the Go menu, then Go to Folder if you don't want to change the flags.

jasonvp · Jan 23, 2012

orvn said:
But it just isn't there in Finder.. what gives?

It looks like you got some good advice here from the worthies, but the answer to the "what gives?" question is: For Lion, Apple decided they didn't want users mucking about in their Library directory with Finder. Apparently they felt it too risky for those that don't know what they're doing. Obviously you can still easily get to it via CLI; Apple probably figured that anyone poking around via CLI already knows what they're doing.

In other words: protect the end users from themselves. For better, for worse...

jas

maflynn · Jan 23, 2012

jasonvp said:
In other words: protect the end users from themselves. For better, for worse

My issue is that they took 7 versions of OSX to decide the people should not have access to that folder?

Seems a little over zealous and closed minded

jasonvp · Jan 23, 2012

maflynn said:
My issue is that they took 7 versions of OSX to decide the people should not have access to that folder?

Seems a little over zealous and closed minded

I'm not sure I have a cogent answer to your point, really. There are a number of things Apple does with OS X that I scratch my head about. This is just another one of those things to put on the list. Thankfully they have work-arounds for it, even if said work-arounds are sub-optimal.

jas

orvn · Jan 23, 2012

Weaselboy said:
If you want, you can run the command below in Terminal and it will unhide the ~/Library folder. Then you can see it in a normal Finder window.

Each time a point OS release comes out though it gets hidden again and you will need to run the command.

Code:

chflags nohidden ~/Library/

Thank you! That's what I was looking for.

jasonvp said:
It looks like you got some good advice here from the worthies, but the answer to the "what gives?" question is: For Lion, Apple decided they didn't want users mucking about in their Library directory with Finder. Apparently they felt it too risky for those that don't know what they're doing. Obviously you can still easily get to it via CLI; Apple probably figured that anyone poking around via CLI already knows what they're doing.

In other words: protect the end users from themselves. For better, for worse...

jas

So the system library folder remains unhidden while the user library is hidden? Why not hide both?

maflynn said:
My issue is that they took 7 versions of OSX to decide the people should not have access to that folder?

Seems a little over zealous and closed minded

Not to mention sudden and unwarranted.

Peace · Jan 23, 2012

orvn said:
Thank you! That's what I was looking for.

So the system library folder remains unhidden while the user library is hidden? Why not hide both?

Not to mention sudden and unwarranted.

A bit like this thread.

jasonvp · Jan 23, 2012

orvn said:
So the system library folder remains unhidden while the user library is hidden? Why not hide both?

That's actually a good question and I can only assume it has to do with permissions. If you set your normal user up such that it can't administer the box (which is how I set mine up), then even if you can see the /Library and /System/Library directories, you can't write anything to them. Unlike your ~/Library where you could conceivably mess everything up.

Again, just a guess.

jas

orvn · Jan 23, 2012

Peace said:
A bit like this thread.

hey!

----------

jasonvp said:
That's actually a good question and I can only assume it has to do with permissions. If you set your normal user up such that it can't administer the box (which is how I set mine up), then even if you can see the /Library and /System/Library directories, you can't write anything to them. Unlike your ~/Library where you could conceivably mess everything up.

Again, just a guess.

jas

Reasonable guess.

macrem · Jan 23, 2012

jasonvp said:
I'm not sure I have a cogent answer to your point, really. There are a number of things Apple does with OS X that I scratch my head about. This is just another one of those things to put on the list. Thankfully they have work-arounds for it, even if said work-arounds are sub-optimal.

jas

Probably in response to a spike in Support calls from users who broke something by mucking around in their library folders.

dknightd · Jan 23, 2012

Weaselboy said:
Each time a point OS release comes out though it gets hidden again and you will need to run the command.

Code:

chflags nohidden ~/Library/

Bummer. I would not have guessed a point release would mess with user account settings.

Weaselboy · Jan 24, 2012

dknightd said:
Bummer. I would not have guessed a point release would mess with user account settings.

Yep... 10.7.1 and 10.7.2 both rehid the folder for me and I had to run the Terminal command again.

adelec · Apr 4, 2012

Something else to try

I located the library as described (thanks!), then added it to the sidebar using the option on the file menu (CMD t). Has made is readily accessible - time will tell if it survives an update.

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Why can't I find my local (user specific) library folder in Lion's Finder?

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