Can't find a folder I know exists

Question

Level 1

13 points

Can't find a folder I know exists

In my spotify preferences, it says my Offline Songs Storage folder is in:
/Users/Ben/Library/Application Support/Spotify/PersistentCache/Storag

However,

1. When I go to /Users/Ben I can't find the Library folder

2. When I go straight to Macintosh HD, I can access my Library folder, but then...

I go Library > Application Support
But my Spotify folder is nowhere to be found...

So I go into Terminal and I type:

mdfind kind:folder "spotify"

And it shows the same location that Spotify does:

/Users/Ben/Library/Application Support/Spotify

So, just to see if it was a hidden folder or something, I go back into Terminal and type:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES.

Then I option/alt + Right-click finder, click Relaunch

But the folder is still nowhere to be found

The folder definitely exists because Spotify says it does, Terminal says it does, and I have tons of "Saved" songs stored on my hard drive (somewhere).

Please help!

If you could also figure out why Library isn't showing under /Users/Ben as well, that would be great.

Thank you

-Ben

MacBook Pro with Retina display, macOS Sierra (10.12.6), 15"

Posted on Nov 14, 2017 9:32 AM

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Answer 1

tygb

Level 9

64,588 points

Nov 14, 2017 11:38 PM in response to benwexler8

1.when you click on finder from dock > Click on Go > Home this is the home folder in which you see the path Users > Home

2. But when you directly go to Macintosh HD , this is your system library the path would be Macintosh HD > Library > Application support

3. when you click on finder > Go > press option key and don't release it , click on computer hidden ( Folder Library ) this is the way to enter hidden library called as user library .

Both system library and user library have application folders .

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Answer 2

macjack

Level 10

111,168 points

Nov 14, 2017 9:43 AM in response to benwexler8

I think you are confusing 2 different Library folders. Actually you have 3 Library Folders. ~/Library, /Library, and /System/Library. Your ~/Library (Home folder/Library) is hidden by default. To access it you can go to Finder "Go" menu > Go to folder and type ~/Library/Application Support. You could also use the "defaults write" command you used and look in your Users/(your name)/Library/Application Support.

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Answer 3

Niel

Level 10

726,719 points

Nov 14, 2017 9:56 AM in response to benwexler8

To keep an account's personal files separate from ones available to all accounts or those for the OS itself. The Library folder on the top level of the drive can only be changed by administrators, and the one in /System/ by root.

(155044)

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Answer 4

benwexler8 Author

Level 1

13 points

Nov 14, 2017 10:02 AM in response to Niel

That makes sense...

But does this serve a purpose if there is only one user on this macbook?

Also, does this dual Library system duplicate folders and files?

If there is only one user, is there a way I can optimize/simplify this somehow?

Thanks again

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Answer 5

Ferd II

Level 10

104,221 points

Nov 14, 2017 9:45 AM in response to benwexler8

Ben,

After you open "Ben," from the Finder Menu, select View>Show View Options...and select "Show Library Folder."

That will allow you to display your User Library.

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Answer 6

Niel

Level 10

726,719 points

Nov 14, 2017 9:39 AM in response to benwexler8

With your home folder open, choose Show View Options from the Finder's View menu and check the box for it. Alternatively, choose Go to Folder from the Go menu and put the entire path in.

(155041)

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