Where To Find Library Preferences On Mac

The invisible Library subfolder of your Home folder is the repository of everything that OS X needs to customize your Mac to your tastes. If you want to add something to a Library folder, it’s usually best to add it to your Home/Library folder.

You won’t spend much time (if any) adding things to the Library folder or moving them around within it, and that’s probably why it’s now hidden from sight. Still, it’s a good idea for you to know what’s in your Home/Library.

Mar 29, 2019 You can also access the Library folder by opening Spotlight and typing in the path to the Library folder. The path is /Users/name/Library where name is your Mac's username.

The public Library folder is used to specify preferences for all users on this Mac. This Library folder, however, is all about you and your stuff.

Be cautious with all Library folders. OS X is very persnickety about how the folders and files within it are organized. You can add items to and remove items safely from most public or Home Library folders, but leave the folders themselves alone. If you remove or rename the wrong folder, you could render OS X inoperable.

It’s like the old joke about the guy who said to the doctor, “It hurts when I do that,” and the doctor replies, “Then don’t do that.”

To find your hidden Home/Library folder, do this:

  1. Hold down the Option key on your keyboard.

  2. Click the Go menu.

    The (formerly) invisible Library folder appears in the Go menu as long as the Option key is pressed.

  3. Select Library and release the mouse button.

You should see several folders in the Home/Library folder; the exact number depends on the software that you install on your Mac. You probably have folders called Mail, Safari, Logs, and Preferences, for example.

If you don’t want to have to do this dance every time you want to open your Home/Library, select your Home folder in the Finder and choose View→Show View Options (or press Command+J). Enable the Show Library Folder check box and your Home Library will be visible evermore (or at least until you deselect the check box).

Some of the most important standard folders in the Library folder include the following:

  • Application Support: Some applications store their support files here; others store theirs in the main (root-level) public Library folder.

  • Fonts: This folder is empty until you install your own fonts here. The easiest way to install a font is to double-click its icon and let the Font Book utility handle it for you. Here’s how to install a font manually:

    • To install a font that only you can use: Drag the font file’s icon to the Fonts folder in your Home/Library. The font is available only to this user account (because other users can’t use fonts stored in yourHome/Library folder).

    • To install a font for all users of this Mac: Drag the font file’s icon into the Fonts folder in the public Library folder — the one at root level that you see when you open your hard drive’s icon.

  • Preferences: The files here hold the information about whichever things you customize in OS X or in the applications you run. Whenever you change a system or application preference, that info is saved to a file in the Preferences folder.

    Don’t mess with the Preferences folder! You should never need to open or use this folder unless something bad happens — say, you suspect that a particular preferences file has become corrupted (that is, damaged). Just forget that you know about this folder and let it do its job.

    If you don’t know why you’re doing something to a folder (other than the Fonts folder) in your Home/Library, don’t do it. There must be some good reasons why Apple decided to hide the Home/Library folder in OS X Yosemite, and one of them is to keep you from accidentally screwing something up.

Numerous program settings are stored in the Adobe Photoshop Preferences file, including general display options, file-saving options, performance options, cursor options, transparency options, type options, and options for plug‑ins and scratch disks. Most of these options are set in the Preferences dialog box. Preference settings are saved each time you quit the application.

Unexpected behavior may indicate damaged preferences. If you suspect damage to preferences, restore preferences to their default settings.

To re-create the preferences files for Photoshop, start the application while holding down Ctrl+Alt+Shift (Windows) or Command+Option+Shift (Mac OS). Then, click Yes to the message, 'Delete the Adobe Photoshop Settings file?'

Note: If this process doesn't work for you while you're using a wireless (Bluetooth) keyboard, attach a wired keyboard and retry.

Open Preferences On Mac

Where To Find Library Preferences On Mac

Important: If you re-create the preferences by deleting the Adobe Photoshop Settings file, make sure that you only delete that file. If you delete the entire settings folder, you also delete any unsaved actions or presets.

Finder preferences mac

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Reinstalling Photoshop does not remove the preferences file. Before reinstalling Photoshop, re-create your preferences.

Important: Apple made the user library folder hidden by default with the release of Mac OS X 10.7. If you require access to files in the hidden library folder to perform Adobe-related troubleshooting, see How to access hidden user library files.

Photoshop preference Filename Path
General settingsAdobe Photoshop [version] Prefs.pspUsers/[user name]/Library/Preferences/
Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings
ActionsActions palette.pspUsers/[user name]/Library/Preferences/
Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings
Camera Raw PreferencesAdobe Camera Raw [version] PrefsUsers/[user name]/Library/Preferences
Color settings (Color management)Color Settings.csfUsers/[user name]/Library/Preferences/
Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings
Custom Color settings (Color management)Userdefined.csfUsers/[user name]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Color/Settings
Custom proof setups (Color management)Userdefined.psfUsers/[user name]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Color/Proofing
Editing and painting toolsBrushes.psp, Contours.psp, Custom Shapes.psp, Gradients.psp, Patterns.psp, RepoussePresets.psp, Styles.psp, Swatches.psp, ToolPresets.pspUsers/[user name]/Library/Preferences/
Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings/
PathsAdobe Photoshop [version] PathsUsers/[user name]/Library/Preferences
Save for Web

Adobe Save For Web CS6 Prefs


Adobe Save for Web [version] Prefs

Users/[user name]/Library/Preferences/
Adobe/Plugins/Adobe Save for Web CS6/
Photoshop
Users/[user name]/Library/Preferences
Filters and EffectsAdobe Adaptive Wide Angle [version], Adobe Dicom [version], Adobe Filter Gallery [version] Prefs, Adobe Lens Blur [version] Prefs, Adobe Lens Correction [version] Prefs, Adobe Liquify [version] Prefs, Adobe VanishingPoint [version],Adobe Oil Paint [version]
Users/[user name]/Library/Preferences/
Adobe/Plugins/[effect or filter name]/
Photoshop
Lens Profiles (Created with the Lens Profile software)Userdefined.lcsUsers/[user name]/Library/Preferences/
Adobe/LensCorrection/1.0/Settings
Workspaces

[User Defined]

Workspaces that have been modified

Users/[user name]/Library/Preferences/
Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings/WorkSpaces

Users/[user name]/Library/Preferences/
Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings/WorkSpaces (Modified)

Third-party plug-in settings (for example, location of the plug-ins folder)(varies)Users/[user name]/Library/Preferences folder
Saved presets[User defined]Users/[user name]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Presets/[feature name]
Photoshop PreferenceFilenamePath
General settings

Adobe Photoshop [version] Prefs.psp (32-bit version)

Adobe Photoshop X64 [version] Prefs.psp (64-bit version)

Users/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings
ActionsActions palette.pspUsers/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings
Camera Raw

Windows registry key

.xmp files saved from Camera Raw dialog box

HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Adobe/Camera Raw/[version]

Users/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/CameraRaw/Settings

Color settings (Color management)Color Settings.csfUsers/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings
Custom Color settings (Color management)Userdefined.csfUsers/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/
Color/Settings
Custom proof setups (Color management)Userdefined.psfUsers/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/
Color/Proofing
Editing and painting toolsBrushes.psp, Contours.psp, Custom Shapes.psp, Gradients.psp, Patterns.psp, Styles.psp, Swatches.psp, ToolPresets.pspUsers/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings/Presets
PathsPreferences are saved as value data in the SettingsFilePath value name in the Windows registry.

(Windows registry key) HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Adobe/Photoshop/[version]

Settings FilePath value:

Users/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings

Save for Web

Adobe Save for Web 13.0 Prefs

Save for Web file

Users/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Plugins/
Adobe Save For Web [version]/Photoshop

Users/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Optimized Settings/filename.irs

Filters and EffectsAdobe Effect [version] Prefs, Adobe Filter Gallery [version] Prefs, Adobe Lens Blur [version] Prefs, Adobe Lens Correction [version] Prefs, Adobe Liquify [version] Prefs, Adobe Mondo Filter [version], Adobe Oil Paint [version]
Users/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Plugins/
[effect or filter name]/Photoshop
Lens Profiles (Created with the Lens Profile software)

Userdefined.lcs

Adaptive lens profile files: .wac

Users/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/
LensCorrection/1.0/Settings

Users/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Optimize Settings

Workspaces

[User Defined]

Workspaces that have been modified

Users/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings/Workspaces
Users/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings/Workspaces (Modified)
Third-party plug-in settings (for example, location of the plug-ins folder)Settings are stored as value data in the SettingsFilePath value name in the Windows registry.HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Adobe/Photoshop/[version]
Saved Presets[User defined]Users/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Presets/[feature name]
Photoshop PreferenceFilenamePath
General settingsAdobe Photoshop [version] Prefs.pspDocuments and Settings/[user name]/Application Data/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings
ActionsActions palette.pspDocuments and Settings/[user name]/Application Data/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings
Camera Raw

Windows registry key

.xmp files saved from Camera Raw dialog

HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Adobe/Camera Raw/[version]

Documents and Settings/[user name]/Application Data/Adobe/CameraRaw/Settings

Color settings (Color management)Color Settings.csfDocuments and Settings/[user name]/Application Data/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings
Custom Color settings (Color management)Userdefined.csfDocuments and Settings/[user name]/Application Data/Adobe/Color/Settings
Custom proof setups (Color management)Userdefined.psfDocuments and Settings/[user name]/Application Data/Adobe/Color/Proofing
Editing and painting toolsBrushes.psp, Contours.psp, Custom Shapes.psp, Gradients.psp, Patterns.psp, Styles.psp, Swatches.psp, ToolPresets.pspDocuments and Settings/[user name]/Application Data/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Presets
PathsPreferences are saved as value data in the SettingsFilePath value name in the Windows registry.

KEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Adobe/Photoshop/[version]

SettingsFilePath:
Documents and Settings/[user name]/Application Data/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings

Save for WebAdobe Save for Web [version] PrefsDocuments and Settings/[user name]/Adobe/Plugins/Adobe Save For Web [version]/Photoshop
Filters and EffectsAdobe Effect [version] Prefs, Adobe Filter Gallery [version] Prefs,
Adobe Lens Correction [version] Prefs,
Adobe Liquify [version] Prefs,
Adobe Adaptive Wide Angle

Documents and Settings/[user name]/Application Data/Adobe/Plugins/[effect or filter name]/Photoshop

Documents and Settings/[user name]/Application Data/Adobe/Plugins/Adobe Lens Correction [version]/Photoshop

Documents and Settings/[user name]/Application Data/Adobe/Plugins/Adobe Liquify [version]/Photoshop

Documents and Settings/[user name]/Application Data/Adobe/Plugins/Adobe Adaptive Wide Angle [version]

Lens Profiles (Created with the Lens Profile software)Userdefined.lcsDocuments and Settings/[user name]Application Data/Adobe/Plugins/Adobe Lens Correction [version]/Photoshop
Workspaces

[User Defined]

Workspaces that have modified

Documents and Settings/[user name]/Application Data/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings/Workspaces

Documents and Settings/[user name]/Application Data/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings/Workspaces (Modified)

Third-party plug-in settings (for example, location of the plug-ins folder)Settings are stored as value data in the SettingsFilePath value name in the Windows registry.HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Adobe/Photoshop/[version]
Saved presetsSaved presetsDocuments and Settings/[user name]/Application Data/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Presets/[feature name]

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