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 (p20) 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 it's a couple of clicks from the Finder: in the menu bar click Go > Go To Folder, hold Shift 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. 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 double–click a JPEG or PDF, the file always opens in Preview. You can change this by holding Ctrl, clicking "Get Info", and selecting a different app from the menu in the Open With section.