Some parts of your macOS are closed to visitors. Every new macOS update makes it harder for ordinary users to manipulate system-critical components. But 'harder' doesn't mean impossible. With tips we've laid out in this article, you can get into the operating system's hidden parts, access private folders, and do other things 99% of Mac users can't. Now, let's break some rules.
Access private folders on a Mac (Library)
Since 2011 the Library folder was closed from regular access. Not only was this a security risk from cyber-attacks and viruses, but people could also too easily alter settings that proved important, and therefore, difficult to fix. However, this Library folder often proves an invaluable source of troubleshooting for those who are confident and comfortable accessing the app files contained within.
For Mac power users, you may have heard the expression to “Delete the application's plist,” which is only something you can do with access to the Library folder. If you've never heard of this before, you might have been lucky with the applications you've been using. The Library folder is also a useful place to make customizable tweaks and changes to applications and programs you use regularly.
So if this sounds like something you need access to, we outline three ways we recommend to gain access.
Before you do that: are you trying to access some infected folder or a suspicious app? If that is one reason you need access to the Library, I suggest eliminating it with CleanMyMac first. I have used it to clean my drive in the past, and it got rid of a nasty trojan virus in my system folders. Give it a try here — a link to download a free edition.
Pro Tip: This app also detects private Large & Old folders on your Mac, those rarely visited by you.
Select a folder in which you want to create a new folder. From the Home tab on the Ribbon, click the New Items button, and then choose Folder. The new folder will appear nested in the folder you selected in step 1 as Untitled Folder, with the name editable. Re-title it by typing the new title in the text box. The simplest version does not require a file or folder to be selected, and adds a keyboard shortcut of your choice. Part 1: Create a new Quick Action (was Service) In Automator, create a new Quick Action (previously called a Service). From the left site, click Utilities then. How to Encrypt a Folder on Mac Using Disk Utility. Disk Utility can create an encrypted file known as a disk image. It is similar to a zip file, but it utilizes the strongest Mac encryption method. For example, this option is how I would add an encrypted folder to my Mac to keep an archive of past financial records. Apple articles, stories, news and information. On your Mac, choose Apple menu System Preferences, then click Sharing.
Now, if you want to make space and improve the performance of apps manually, here are the three ways you can access the Library
#1: Make the Library permanently visible
Before you try this, are you familiar with the Terminal? It's not that scary as it looks.
If you are, we recommend going this route to provide permanent uncovered access to the Library. It will save you a whole load of time if you want and need 24/7 access. But only do this if you are perfectly comfortable and familiar using the Terminal. Making mistakes within Terminal can break things and cause problems that you would rather not have, which is the same for anyone who needs Library access.
Here is how you make the Library visible all of the time:
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(1) Launch Terminal, which you can find in /Applications/Utilities
(2) Enter this command in Terminal: chflags nohidden ~/Library
(3) Click Return. Make sure the command is executed.
(4) Quit Terminal. Library should be visible in the Finder > Go menu
If you ever want to restore this to how it was before, enter the following command in Terminal: chflags hidden ~/Library
Click Return again, and it should be back to how it was.
If you still don't see the Library, try pressing the Option key while you are in the Finder > Go menu.
#2: Temporarily unhide the Library
As we mentioned, the use of Terminal — and Library — can cause things to break unexpectedly, which might mean involving an Apple specialist to fix an unexpected problem. Whenever possible, Apple prefers people to do things the way they suggest, and there is a suggested Apple way to make the Library visible, albeit temporarily.
(1) Either using Desktop or the Finder Menu, hold down the option key and select the Go menu.
(2) Library should show up in the Go menu
(3) Double-click on Library, which will open a Finder window containing the contents of that folder;
(4) Once you close that window, the Library folder will be hidden again.
#3: Unhide any private folder instantly
Luckily, macOS developers provided a shortcut to access private folders on Mac. Be careful with that one as you may delete something critically important (no wonder they hid it).
Press Shift+ Command + Period (a key for period character)
Did it work? Now you can browse the transparent folders, hopefully, you'll find what you're looking for. To undo this option, press the Shift + Command + Period again.
#4: How else to see hidden space on Mac?
Now, if space and performance issues are troubling you, there is a better way of getting under the hood than accessing a private folder on Mac. Using external tools like CleanMyMac X, you can quickly spot what is going on in your Mac. For example, the mentioned app has the Space Lens feature. What it does is builds a visual map of your storage so you can zoom in/out and enter any folder you want. It will show you what is taking up so much room. It also shows folders you normally don't have access to.
I downloaded the app's free edition here.
Once you’ve got this information, you can safely delete anything you don't need and go to unexplored places on your Mac. Stay tuned!
A text (TXT) file contains unformatted text with the file extension .txt (e.g., macreports.txt). By unformatted, it is meant that these type of text files are plain text files without any styling and formatting, for instance, these documents do not have bold texts, italic texts, images, colors, different font types, hyperlinks, tables, bulleted lists etc. These documents just have plain texts. A TXT file can be created, opened and edited on a Mac with a text editor. An example of a text editor is TextEdit, which is included with the macOS software. Here is how you can create a text file:
Open and use TextEdit and create a text file
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- Open the TextEdit app on your Mac (Applications > TextEdit, or use Spotlight, press Command-Space bar, to search, find and open TextEdit). TextEdit is a text editing and word processing tool that comes with your Mac.
- In the TextEdit app, choose File > Open. TextEdit has two format modes: (a) plain text (.txt file) and (b) rich text (.rtf file). The difference is that .txt mode will not allow formatting, while .rtf mode will let you format like adding images, colors, tables etc.
- Default format is rich text format. You can change this by going to TextEdit > Preferences and select Plain Text.
- You can also change the mode while you editing your text by going to Format > Make Plain Text or Format > Make Rich Text. If you change a .rtf file (rich text) to .txt file (plain text), your document will lose all formatting options.
- Create and edit your text file
- And then go to File > Save to save your text file.
- Name your file and save it.
You can also create more rich documents, you can use Pages, Pages for iCloud or similar apps. One other note is that text files are also known as flat files or ASCII files.
See also: Where Do Screenshots Go On Mac?