What is AppData for Mac, and How Do You Access Them?

In macOS, any application is not as simple as seeing only one icon. In fact, they all have dedicated AppSata for normal operation and recording of your data, configuration, etc. Do you want to have a deeper understanding of it? Here is all the information you need. In this article, you will know AppData for Mac details, roles, and how to access these folders.

Table of contents
What is AppData for Mac?
Extended: The Folder That Specific Apps Use for AutoRecover/Autosave
Tips on Restoring Your APP Data Files
Recap of Key Points
FAQs

What is AppData for Mac?

AppData is about the configuration files, cache, user preferences, any custom changes, and more of the applications you install on your Mac computer. These data can ensure that this software remembers your settings and runs successfully. In addition, they are usually located in different folders for your management and system access.

The Role of Data in Different Folders of the Application

  1. ~/Library/Containers

    This location is mainly used to store data for Sandbox applications, that is, those you download from the App Store. In addition, new versions of Word, PowerPoint, and other tools with auto-recovery features usually store the documents you are working on here.

    In this Mac AppData folder, each program has a directory containing a unique identifier to ensure that they do not interfere with each other, such as com. Microsoft Powerpoint, com. apple. TextEdit, etc

  2. ~/Library/Preferences

    It contains files that store your custom settings for different applications. In most cases, they are stored in the corresponding. plist file.

    When you find that the application is not running properly or misconfigured, you can delete this file and restore it to its default settings to solve the problem. Of course, for some open-source tools, you can also modify them to achieve more freedom in DIY.

  3. ~/Library/Caches

    In order for applications to run smoothly, they will store frequently accessed data here. However, some do not have the ability to clean cache files. Therefore, the corresponding data will occupy more and more space.

    If your Mac runs low on available space, you can delete them to free up storage without affecting the software or system.

  4. ~/Library/Application Support

    This AppData folder on Mac is where all the essential items required for the application and system to function properly are stored. So, before you want to change or delete it, make a backup.

  5. /private/var/folders/ (Tmp/Temporary Folder)

    It is a place to store cache, logs, and temporary files generated during the operation of applications or systems This App Data for Mac contains many subdirectories with random names.

    Usually, when a program or system is shut down, this data is automatically cleaned up. If you want to clear them to free up space, it is recommended that you use third-party tools instead of not manually operating them. Because the directory structure of this folder is extensive and lacks standardized naming conventions, errors are prone to occur.

How to Navigate to AppData in Mac

When we know the exact location of AppSata for Mac and the roles of different folders, accessing them will become very simple. Here, you can open them using Finder and Terminal.

Way 1. Using Finder to Locate AppData on Mac

  1. Look for the "Finder" icon in the Dock and click on it to open a Finder window.
  2. In the top menu bar, click "Go" and select "Go to Folder." You can also use the shortcut "Shift + Command + G" to open it.
  3. In the dialog box, enter the AppData folder you want to open, such as "~/Library/Containers," and then click "Go." Now, you can view data for a specific app.

Way 2. Browse the Mac AppData Folder by Terminal

  1. Firstly, go to Applications > Utilities and open Terminal.
  2. In the Terminal app, type "cd the AppData Folder you want to access" like "cd ~/Library/Preferences" and press Enter.
  3. Type "ls" again and press Enter. You will find data of various applications in that folder.

Extended: The Folder That Specific Apps Use for AutoRecover/Autosave

This type of folder is unique to some applications and is designed to prevent users from losing data due to crashes, power outages, and other situations while editing content. If you need to locate app data on Mac for this purpose, then the following location should have what you need.

  1. Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

    Word and PowerPoint: ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Application Name/Data/Library/Preferences/AutoRecovery/ (Please replace "Application Name" with the corresponding)

    Excel: ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Excel/Data/Library/Application Support/Microsoft

  2. Adobe Applications (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.)

    ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Application Name/AutoRecover/

  3. Safari Bookmarks and History

    ~/Library/Safari/

  4. Chroem Bookmarks and Their Backup

    ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Default/ ("Bookmarks.bak" is the backup file)

  5. Other Applications

    ~/Library/Autosave Information/

Tips on Restoring Your APP Data Files

Accessing the AppSata folder on Mac is risky. If you accidentally delete, move their location, or make incorrect settings during this process, this application may not work. To rescue it, you can try the following methods.

Recap of Key Points

Knowing the different folders of AppData for Mac can be helpful for managing your applications and troubleshooting. However, whether you need to reconfigure, delete useless items, or access them out of curiosity, you should always be very careful to avoid accidents.

FAQs

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