AppData Folder on Mac

What is AppData folder on Mac

The AppData folder is where Windows apps save their files. On Mac computers, the equivalent location is usually the ~/Library/Application Support directory. Additionally, you might want to check the ~/Library/Caches and ~/Library/Preferences folders, as these contain your apps’ cache memory and settings, respectively.

If you’re new to macOS and feeling a bit lost, you may also find helpful our guide devoted to locating where the Applications folder is on Mac.

A note from our experts: 

 

Managing temporary files and app-related files on your Mac can be cumbersome. If you’re looking to free up space or enhance your Mac’s performance by cleaning these files, the best solution is to use a tool like MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup.

 

Here’s how to use MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup on your Mac:

1. Launch the MacKeeper app on your machine.
2. Choose Safe Cleanup from the sidebar.
3. Click Start Scan.
4. Select the folders you wish to scan on your Mac.
5. Hit the Clean Junk Files button.
6. Click Empty Trash to confirm.
7. Wait until MacKeeper is done scanning your device.

How to find AppData folder on Mac

To find AppData on Mac, the simplest method is to open Finder and use the shortcut Shift + Command + G. In the dialog box that appears, you can search for the following folders: ~/Library/Application Support, ~/Library/Caches, and ~/Library/Preferences. These folders contain the app data for your Mac, including temporary files, caches, settings, preferences, and several support files.

1. Open via Application support

One of our favorite ways to access AppData folder Mac is by navigating to the ~/Library/Application Support directory. In this location, you’ll find files from the apps installed on your Mac that store important data, such as registry information and settings needed for the proper functioning of your software.

Follow these steps to access the Application Support folder on your Mac:

1. Launch Finder on your device.
2. Choose Go from the menu bar.
3. Select Go to Folder from the dropdown menu.
4. Type in ~/Library/Application Support, then hit Enter.

2. Get with Caches

Based on our experience, we believe that one of the most effective ways to get to AppData on Mac is through the ~/Library/Caches folder. This is where the cache files created by your apps are stored. While these files are essential for your apps to run quickly, they can also take up unnecessary space on your disk.

If you feel it’s time to clean up your Mac’s Caches folder, follow these instructions:

1. Open Finder on your Mac.
2. Select Go from the menu bar.
3. Choose Go to Folder from the dropdown menu.
4. Type in ~/Library/Caches, then hit Enter.

For detailed instructions on the process, check out our guide on how to delete app cache on Mac.

3. Show via Preferences

Finally, we recommend visiting the ~/Library/Preferences directory to remove files related to your Mac’s custom settings. However, please ensure that deleting these files won’t impact your Mac’s performance.

To locate the Preferences folder on your Mac, follow these steps:

1. Launch Finder on your Mac or MacBook.
2. Choose Go from the menu bar.
3. Click Go to Folder from the dropdown menu.
4. Type in ~/Library/Preferences, then hit Enter.

Additionally, we suggest reading our tips on showing hidden files on Mac, as these files are often unnecessary and can take up valuable space.

AppData roaming in Mac

Roaming is a subfolder within the AppData directory on Windows, primarily used to store data that synchronizes a user’s settings across multiple computers. While macOS doesn’t have a direct equivalent to this folder, the most similar is /Library/Application Support. In this directory, you’ll find essential information related to the sync and configuration of the apps installed on your Mac.

If you can’t find what you need, you may find it helpful to read about relocated items on Mac.

Examples of AppData-like locations for popular apps

Accessing the equivalent of the AppData folder Mac isn’t as straightforward as on Windows, but it can be very beneficial for transferring app settings or backing up important data. Here’s where you can find the data for some commonly used apps:

• Safari: The settings and configuration files for the macOS browser can be found in ~/Library/Safari.
• Google Chrome: To access data from the popular browser, go to ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Default in the Go to Folder feature in Finder.
• Microsoft Word: If you need to recover unsaved files, navigate to ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Word/Data/Library/Preferences/AutoRecovery.
• Microsoft Excel: For accessing Excel files when the app is unresponsive, visit ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Excel/Data/Library/Application Support/Microsoft.
• Adobe Photoshop: If you encounter errors in Photoshop, you can access recovery files in ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Photoshop/AutoRecover. You can replace “Photoshop” with the name of any other Adobe program as needed.
• Minecraft: For installing a resource pack and similar actions, the Minecraft folder can be found at ~/Library/Application Support/Minecraft.

Open AppData folder on Mac now!

The Windows AppData folder doesn’t have a direct equivalent on Mac. However, you can find cache files, settings, preferences, and other support files in the following directories: ~/Library/Application Support, ~/Library/Caches, and ~/Library/Preferences. This information can help transfer and sync data between devices.

If you’re concerned about the valuable space these files occupy on your Mac, we recommend using MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup feature. It’s the fastest, most effective, and safest way to remove temporary files, logs, cache, and other unnecessary files to speed up your machine.