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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

Alberto Ravasio

Level 5

4,291 points

Posted on Apr 12, 2012 1:14 AM

Last but not least, navigate the TM disk within the Finder, (do not enter TM).

When you are on the date you are looking for, navigate the directory structure until you reach the Users folder.

Open Terminal and type

and a space, drag and drop your user name folder inside the Terminal window. That completes the cd command for you. Hit return.

You are now into your user folder inside the TM disk. Type

cd Library

open .

please note the dot after open. Last command opens a Finder window of the Library folder inside TM disk.

Now you are ready to get what you need.

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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!