How To: Make Library Visible In Mac OS X 10.7 Lion

A couple times a year, I need to get inside ~user/Library, rummage around and do something — remove or otherwise alter a file. However, one of the things that’s changed in Mac OS X 10.7 Lion is that the Library directory isn’t visible. Here’s how to fix this Apple sin of commission.

Generally speaking, when you want to add or remove a OS X feature that Apple’s hides, you’ll need get the job done in Terminal, the Mac’s command line. However, as Unix voodoo goes, this particular how to is very, very low impact.

So, however you want to do it — Applications > Utilities > Terminal, Launch Pad > Terminal, Spotlight > Terminal — open Terminal and then copy or paste in the following command:

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.

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