Level 1

6 points

How can I access ~/library on my time machine backup?

I recently re-installed OSX Lion and made sure i'd backed everything up before I did a clean install and did not want to transfer my old archive across. I need to access my user library on Time Machine so that I can restore my Transmit favourites and Little Snapper image database.

I've tried following the process here: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3633972?start=0&tstart=0 but I get "The folder can't be found" (see screenshot) and now i'm at a complete as to what to do.

Any suggestions?

Posted on Apr 10, 2012 11:57 PM

Top-ranking reply

arzaidi

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Sep 1, 2017 12:31 PM

Simplest is to first navigate to your user's folder in back up then do following from the same finder window

1- Command + Shift + G

2- In the popup type exactly this (without any / or \ or ~ etc): Library

Now it should take you to the Library folder of your selected backup.

View in context

51 replies

scanlonr

Level 1

0 points

Jul 1, 2014 11:26 AM in response to Alberto Ravasio

Thank you for this! So helpful!!!!!

son2j

Level 1

4 points

Sep 22, 2014 11:56 PM in response to Alberto Ravasio

It did work for me!! Great help, thank you so much!!

Oct 19, 2014 12:04 PM in response to Alberto Ravasio

Thank you very much for your post; it saved my ***!

Sleeva

Level 1

0 points

Nov 20, 2014 6:32 AM in response to hiredgoon

This worked for me:

Navigate to your user folder in Finder

Press Cmd+shift+G

Type Library/

Done!

mfaasse

Level 1

13 points

Jan 15, 2015 4:00 PM in response to hiredgoon

Instead of typing "~/Library/" just type "Library/" after you open the parent folder and type Cmd-Shift-G.

bob1144

Level 1

0 points

Feb 11, 2015 12:52 PM in response to Alberto Ravasio

Thank you Alberto, I was looking to find the hidden folder on a Mountain Lion TM backup and this works. Thanks.

May 11, 2015 11:37 AM in response to Alberto Ravasio

Just to say this got me out of a big hole!!!!!

Thanks

May 23, 2015 1:49 AM in response to Alberto Ravasio

Thanks for the advice! Just recovered a drum kit preset I spent hours on and thought might be lost. FYI this is still working on 10.9.5, opening the library on a TM disk from 10.8.4. Cheers!

May 23, 2015 1:51 AM in response to Sleeva

This also worked perfectly. Much easier than Terminal.

BakOS

Level 1

0 points

Jun 9, 2015 12:31 AM in response to Alberto Ravasio

Thank you so much man - you saved my work-time records = a lot of money 🙂

.Nick.

Level 1

0 points

Jun 15, 2015 12:23 PM in response to Sleeva

Sleeva wrote:

This worked for me:

Navigate to your user folder in Finder

Press Cmd+shift+G

Type Library/

Done!

This is the best solution.

"Library/" not "~/Library/"

Thanks!

Jul 29, 2015 4:10 PM in response to Alberto Ravasio

Alberto Ravasio, you have saved this troubled banana. Thank you so much 11/10

gelati

Level 1

0 points

Aug 23, 2015 2:26 AM in response to HonestDon

This is the only solution that worked for me, Aug 2015, 11"Air, latest OS

Many thanks

FCPeditor

Level 2

169 points

Sep 28, 2015 6:28 AM in response to Linda Ahlblad

Linda, Genius, pure unadulterated Genius. Thanks for the tip as I needed the answer too.

Oct 2, 2015 6:47 AM in response to HonestDon

Fastest way to accomplish this task! Perfect! Thanks Don!

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How can I access ~/library on my time machine backup?