Application's data folder in Mac

Question

What is the equivalent of Window's C:\Users\userName\AppData\Roaming\appName?

I need a directory that won't cause permission problems to store the updateable part of my application so I can automatically download and override my content.

Thank you.

flyx · Accepted Answer · 2017-10-18T07:43:16.790

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/Users/USERNAME/Library/Application Support/

Edit:

This answer has drawn a lot of upvotes despite its minimalistic nature. Therefore, I want to point out the things mentioned in the comments here to make them more visible:

There are several other folders being used for application data / configuration, as mentioned in this answer.
If writing an application, don't hardcode that path. Instead, use macOS' API to retrieve it. This question has several answers for both ObjectiveC and Swift.

edited Oct 18 '17 at 07:43

answered Feb 29 '12 at 08:09

flyx

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One shouldn't actually hard-code that path, since it is possible to move one's home directory. Use `-[NSFileManager URLsForDirectory: NSApplicationSupportDirectory inDomains: NSUserDomainMask].` – JWWalker Mar 30 '15 at 16:42
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**This may not be the correct answer**. See https://apple.stackexchange.com/a/28930/6533 – Pacerier Oct 06 '17 at 05:57
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On my Mac `System.Environment.SpecialFolder.ApplicationData` (C#) returns `/Users/USERNAME/.config`, which (probably as a result) is also a folder that is used by some applications. – Joost Huizinga Jan 31 '18 at 05:38
@JoostHuizinga Yes, that directory conforms to the [XDG Directory Specification](https://standards.freedesktop.org/basedir-spec/basedir-spec-latest.html). This schema is primarily used by applications that have been ported from Linux; however, it is not considered by macOS to be a config directory. Note that this directory is sometimes also used on Windows by ported applications; so it is certainly not equivalent to Windows' *native* application data directory. – flyx Jan 31 '18 at 10:07
Is there an environment variable for that? – Royi May 31 '19 at 15:47
@Royi Not directly, but you can use `"$HOME/Library/Application Support"` in a script. – flyx Jun 01 '19 at 21:36

score 19 · Answer 2 · edited Mar 31 '15 at 04:12

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~/Library/Application Support/

in shift+command+G in finder

edited Mar 31 '15 at 04:12

James A Mohler

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answered Mar 30 '15 at 16:26

TEH

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Thanks for adding the keyboard shortcut, very helpful. – james-see Mar 02 '16 at 21:44
This is the best answer. – Matt Sep 30 '16 at 17:26
Is there an environment variable for that? – Royi May 31 '19 at 15:48

Application's data folder in Mac

2 Answers2