Files and backup
Find files and fix Finder
Where are my files?
> Your files are stored in Macintosh HD > Users > [Your name] in various folders: Movies, Music, Pictures and so on. If you use iCloud Drive, your files and folders are in the Mobile Documents folder in your user account’s library; to locate it in Finder, follow the steps in “Where’s my Library folder?”
Why can’t I empty the Bin?
> This is usually because something in the Bin is still being used by an app (or because your Mac thinks it is, which can sometimes happen after an app crashes). Quit the app if you can and try again; if that doesn’t work, you’ll need to restart your Mac. Still no joy? Boot into Safe Mode (p26) and try once more.
Where’s my Library folder?
> It’s in Macintosh HD > Users > [Your name] > Library, although you can’t see it: Apple rightly assumes that most users don’t need to go there very often, if at all. But you can go there in a couple of clicks from the Finder: in the menu bar click Go > Go To Folder, hold ß and you’ll see Library appear.
Why won’t my file open in Catalina or Mojave?
> This is most likely to happen with older video files, because Apple has stopped supporting some old file formats. Users of iMovie and Final Cut Pro were warned from early 2019 if they were using formats due to be binned when Catalina was released. You can use apps such as VLC or Handbrake to open and convert old files.
Why won’t files open in the app I want?
> Certain types of files are associated with certain apps, so for example when we doubleclick a JPEG or PDF the file always opens in Preview. You can change this by holding ≈ and clicking, choosing ‘Get Info’ and selecting a different app from the menu in the Open With section.
Why can’t Spotlight or Siri find my file?
> Spotlight and Siri don’t necessarily search for every kind of file: if you take a look in System Preferences > Spotlight > Search Results you’ll see a big list of categories.
If a category isn’t ticked, it won’t be included in search results. You can also exclude specific folders in the Privacy tab.
Why aren’t my files in Time Machine?
> Assuming your backup drive has enough space for full backups, are the missing files in a folder that you’ve excluded from your Time Machine backups? Follow the steps right to check; if a folder shouldn’t be in the list you can remove it by selecting the folder and clicking the ‘–’ button.
Where’s my file gone? How do I get it back?
> Check the Bin, search for its filename in Spotlight or use Recents in the Finder sidebar (or the Recents bit of the app’s File menu, if it has one). If you’ve accidentally overwritten it you can use File > Revert To or Time Machine to go back in time to find and recover a previous save.
Why does Time Machine keep timing out?
> Antivirus software is a known offender here: if you can, exclude your backup disc from its scanning. Time Machine also deliberately goes slow when your system is under heavy load or is running out of battery and the “preparing” stage can take longer if the previous backup was interrupted.
What do I do if Time Machine is full?
> If Time Machine has run out of space, you don’t necessarily need to invest in a bigger drive. You can reduce Time Machine’s storage requirements in System Preferences > Time Machine > Options and exclude non-essential folders by adding them to the “Exclude these items from backups” list.
Why isn’t my external drive showing up in Finder?
> If it’s a Mac-formatted drive that previously worked you’re not alone: this happens to us frequently, especially when we wake our laptops from sleep. The tutorial below will help you diagnose your missing drive.