How to: Make Library visible in OS X 10.8

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How to: Make Library visible in OS X 10.8

31 December 2012 2,931 views 6 Comments

Need to remove a funky plist or manually update some file? Here are some quick and easy ways to make Library visible on your Mountain Lion Mac

Need to remove a funky plist (preference) or manually update some file? Then OS X 10.8 Library folder access is a necessity. Here are some quick and easy ways to make Library visible on your Mountain Lion Mac.

First off, there’s the easy and temporary method. In the Finder, click the Go menu and then press the Option key — the Library will appear. However, releasing the Option key makes it disappear again.

Or more permanent way to make the OS X Mountain Lion Library folder can be performed via Terminal and the Command Line.

So, navigate to and open Terminal:

Choose a method…
• Applications > Utilities > Terminal
• Launch Pad > Utilities > Terminal
• Spotlight > Terminal

Next, copy and paste the following command into Terminal and hit Return:

chflags nohidden ~/Library/

Alternately, if you want to hide the Library in your home directory, type or paste this command:

chflags hidden ~/Library

Whether making the Library visible or hiding it, the above commands deliver immediate results — there’s no need to log out or restart — you’ve got a Mac, it just works.

However, there is a quirk in that even after make Library visible via Terminal, it doesn’t show up in the Finder’s Go menu unless you press Option. That’s just odd.

Know a nifty tip or trick? Share your story and a link in the comments below…

via Apple Support Forums

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6 Comments »

Roger Walters said:

It’s been my experience that nine times out of ten, entering the provided code into terminal will return a line that says “you don’t have permission to make that change”. (or something to that effect) My solution has been to use the Go menu while holding down the option key to make the hidden Library Folder open. Then drag the folder icon from the top of the window to the sidebar. I choose to position the Library Folder just below the “home icon”. From then on, the Library Folder is always available regardless of permissions.

# 1 January 2013 at 9:06 am

iPad Bookmarks Disappeared? Try This Simple Fix - FairerPlatform said:

[...] posts: — How to: Disable Dashboard in OS X Mountain Lion — How to: Make Library Visible in OS X 10.8 — How to: Run Snapchat on Mac — 27-inch iMac Benchmarks: Bang for the Buck? [...]

# 7 January 2013 at 9:00 pm

Is my Mac AirDrop Compatible? Find Out - FairerPlatform said:

[...] Bookmarks Disappeared? Try This Simple Fix — How to: Disable Dashboard in OS X Mountain Lion — How to: Make Library Visible in OS X 10.8 — How to: Run Snapchat on Mac — How to: Delete an iPhone, iPad or Mac from Find My [...]

# 8 January 2013 at 1:16 pm

BitTorrent Surf Extension for Chrome Arrives - FairerPlatform said:

[...] Related posts: — Mac Mods: Get the Mac OS [old school] Theme — Is my Mac AirDrop Compatible? Find Out — iPad Bookmarks Disappeared? Try This Simple Fix — How To: Disable Dashboard in OS X Mountain Lion — How to: Make Library visible in OS X 10.8 [...]

# 11 January 2013 at 11:53 am

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[...] Related posts: — OS X Wallpapers: It’s Big Cat Week! — 15 free Mountain Lion screensavers — 10 Mountain Lion wallpapers for your Mountain Lion Mac — Mac Mods: Get the Mac OS [old school] Theme — How to: Make Library visible in OS X 10.8 [...]

# 20 January 2013 at 11:44 am

How To: Compress PDF Files with OS X Preview - FairerPlatform said:

[...] the file and then drag the contents into the Filter folder in the OS X Library (see: How to: Make Library visible in OS X 10.8): [...]

# 21 January 2013 at 11:11 am