Sep 20, 2011 I am trying to write documentation for Mail.app, but whenever I delete /Library/Mail and go to re-enter my settings, I notice that some things are kept, such as the SMTP Server List, whether or not the incoming or outgoing server uses SSL, etc.
If you do have problems with getting Preference settings to stick, where do you look for the property list file containing them?
As a general principle:
Store Config Settings For Macos Free
- Apple and App Store apps should now be accessed via ~/Library/Containers/[app signature]/Data/Library/Preferences, where [app signature] is something like com.corpname.appname
- settings which apply to all users, particularly if they apply before a user logs in, are normally in /Library/Preferences
- settings which apply to an individual user, only after they have logged in, are normally in ~/Library/Preferences (that’s the Library folder in your Home folder)
- settings files should be named something like com.corpname.appname.plist, but many still aren’t.
If you’re in doubt, open the Preferences (or other) folder in which you suspect the file is stored, and order the files by time and date last changed, the newest at the top. Open the app/pane, make a change in the Preferences or other settings, and the property list should shoot to the top of the Finder window.
Store Config Settings For Macos Computer
For some years now, preference files are handled in a deceptive way by macOS. If you try making manual changes to them, those changes are likely to get ignored and reset. Before making any changes to preference files, consult this article for the best solution.
Here is a list of well-known preference files, for macOS Sierra 10.12. These are essentially the same as in El Capitan, but Yosemite was slightly different, and earlier versions even more different.
Activity Monitor preferences ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.ActivityMonitor.plist
Airport preferences /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.airport.preferences.plist
Ambient light sensor /Library/Preferences/com.apple.iokit.AmbientLightSensor.plist
App preference settings ~/Library/Preferences/[app signature].plist
App Store account settings ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.commerce.plist
App Store autoupdate settings /Library/Preferences/com.apple.commerce.plist
App Store settings ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.appstore.plist
Apple accounts enabled /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.accounts.exists.plist and ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.accountsd.plist
Apple Magic Mouse gestures ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.mouse.plist
Apple Magic Trackpad ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad.plist
Apple Remote Desktop /Library/Preferences/com.apple.ARDAgent.plist
Archive Utility ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.archiveutility.plist
Audio MIDI Setup ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.audio.AudioMIDISetup.plist
Audio settings /Library/Preferences/Audio/com.apple.audio.DeviceSettings.plist and /Library/Preferences/Audio/com.apple.audio.SystemSettings.plist
Automator ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Automator.plist
Bluetooth configuration /Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth.plist
Calculator exchange rates, etc. ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.calculateframework.plist
Calendar ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iCal.plist
ColorSync calibrations ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.ColorSyncCalibrator.plist
Contacts ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.AddressBook.plist
Crash Reporter ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.CrashReporter.plist
Date & Time menubar clock ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.menuextra.clock.plist
Date & Time timezone auto setting /Library/Preferences/com.apple.timezone.auto.plist
Desktop ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.desktop.plist
Dock ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.dock.plist
Emoji & Symbols palettes ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.CharacterPaletteIM.plist and ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.CharacterPicker.plist
Energy Saver settings were at /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.PowerManagement.plist but as of 10.12.2 have moved to /Library/Preferences/com.apple.PowerManagement.plist, and in 10.12.3 are in com.apple.PowerManagement.[UUID].plist, where [UUID] is replaced by your hardware UUID.
Find My Mac /Library/Preferences/com.apple.FindMyMac.plist
Finder ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
Help ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.help.plist
iBooks ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.bookstoreagent.plist and ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.ibooks.plist
iMessage ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.imessage.bag.plist
Infra-red controller /Library/Preferences/com.apple.driver.AppleIRController.plist
iTunes ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iTunes.plist
iTunes, Aperture, iPhoto paths ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iApps.plist
Keyboard settings before login /Library/Preferences/com.apple.HIToolbox.plist
Keyboard settings after login ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.HIToolbox.plist
Login window /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow.plist
Miscellaneous preferences ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systempreferences.plist
Network extensions /Library/Preferences/com.apple.networkextension.plist
Network interfaces /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/NetworkInterfaces.plist
Network settings /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/preferences.plist
Network Utility ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.NetworkUtility.plist
Photos ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.Photos/Data/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Photos.plist
Power Management were at /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.PowerManagement.plist but as of 10.12.2 have moved to /Library/Preferences/com.apple.PowerManagement.plist, and in 10.12.3 are in com.apple.PowerManagement.[UUID].plist, where [UUID] is replaced by your hardware UUID.
Printers /Library/Preferences/org.cups.printers.plist
Remote Access servers /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.RemoteAccessServers.plist
Safari ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Safari.plist
Siri ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Siri.plist
SMB servers /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.smb.server.plist
Software updates /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist and ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.commerce.plist
Spaces ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.spaces.plist
Spotlight ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.spotlight.plist
Text substitutions (Keyboard pane, Text tab) in an SQLite database in ~/Library/Dictionaries/CoreDataUbiquitySupport/ under your UUID; not readily editable or removable
Time Machine backups /Library/Preferences/com.apple.TimeMachine.plist
Universal Access ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.universalaccess.plist
User dictionary in an SQLite database in ~/Library/Dictionaries/CoreDataUbiquitySupport/ under your UUID; not readily editable or removable
WiFi settings /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.wifi.message-tracer.plist
Last revised 20 July 2017.
- The files and file locations given here are defaults. Some of these locations can be customized in the Lightroom Preferences or Catalog Settings dialog boxes.
- While troubleshooting, when possible, rename files instead of deleting them.
- If possible, back up catalogs on a different hard disk or volume from the disk where your catalog is located. For more information on backing up in Lightroom Classic, read Back up a catalog.
Note: The user Library file is hidden by default on Mac OS X 10.7 and later. For temporary access to the user Library file, press Option and choose Go > Library in the Finder.
The Lightroom application file /Applications/Adobe Lightroom/Adobe Lightroom.app
Preferences
- Lightroom Classic: /Users/[username]/Library/Preferences/com.adobe.LightroomClassicCC7.plist
- Lightroom 6: /Users/[username]/Library/Preferences/com.adobe.Lightroom6.plist
In Mac OS 10.9.x and later, to reset Lightroom's preferences, after you delete the above file, restart your Macintosh. Also, beginning with Mac OS 10.9, to fully reset your Lightroom preferences, in addition to deleting the plist file, press the shift + option keys immediately after you restart Lightroom, and select Reset Preferences from the resulting dialog box.
Catalog /Users/[username]/Pictures/Lightroom/Lightroom Catalog.lrcat
Preview cache /Users/[username]/Pictures/Lightroom/Lightroom Catalog Previews.lrdata
Smart Preview cache /Users/[user name]/Pictures/Lightroom/Lightroom Catalog Smart Previews.lrdata
Catalog lock file /Users/[user name]/Pictures/Lightroom/Lightroom Catalog.lrcat.lock
Note: The lock file prevents the catalog from being overwritten when in use.
Catalog journal file /Users/[user name]/Pictures/Lightroom/Lightroom Catalog.lrcat-journal
Open catalogs use the journal file to check for incomplete database records. Do not delete the journal file unless you're deleting its associated catalog as well.
Catalog backup /Users/[user name]/Pictures/Lightroom/Backups/[date and time of backup]/Lightroom Catalog.lrcat
Presets and templates
- (.lrtemplate) Presets or templates in the .lrtemplate format are stored at: /Users/[user name]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Lightroom/[preset or template folder]/[preset or template filename.lrtemplate]
- (XMP) Beginning with Lightroom Classic CC v7.3, the existing presets in the.lrtemplate format are automatically converted to a new XMP preset format. After conversion, the new XMP presets are saved at: ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CameraRaw/Settings
- (Presets stored with the catalog): If you've enabled the Store Presets With This Catalog option in the Lightroom Classic preferences, the presets and templates files are saved at: MacHD/[catalog location]/[catalog folder name]/Lightroom Settings/Settings
Serial number /Users/[user name]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Lightroom/Lightroom 6.0 Registration
Note: Some of the folders you're looking for could be hidden. To view them, choose Start > Control Panel > Appearance and Personalization > Folder Options. In the Advanced area of the View tab, make sure that Show Hidden Files and Folders is selected, and then click OK.
The Lightroom program file C:Program FilesAdobeAdobe LightroomLightroom.exe
Preferences
- Lightroom Classic: C:Users[user name]AppDataRoamingAdobeLightroomPreferencesLightroom Classic CC 7 Preferences.agprefs
- Lightroom 6: C:Users[user name]AppDataRoamingAdobeLightroomPreferencesLightroom 6 Preferences.agprefs
To reset your preferences in Windows, restart Lightroom from the pinned application icon in the Start Screen, and immediately press the Shift + Alt keys. In the resulting Reset Preferences dialog box, indicate you want to reset your preferences.
Catalog C:Users[user name]PicturesLightroomLightroom Catalog.lrcat
Preview cache C:Users[user name]PicturesLightroomLightroom Catalog Previews.lrdata
Smart Preview cache C:Users[user name]PicturesLightroomLightroom Catalog Smart Previews.lrdata
Catalog lock file C:Users[user name]PicturesLightroomLightroom Catalog.lrcat.lock
Note:The lock file prevents the catalog from being overwritten when in use.
Catalog journal file C:Users[user name]PicturesLightroomLightroom Catalog.lrcat-journal
Note: Open catalogs use the journal file to check for incomplete database records. Do not delete the journal file unless you're deleting its associated catalog file as well.
Catalog backup C:Users[user name]PicturesLightroomBackups[date and time of backup]Lightroom Catalog.lrcat
Presets and templates
- (.lrtemplate) Presets or templates in the .lrtemplate format are stored at: C:Users[user name]AppDataRoamingAdobeLightroom[preset or template folder][preset or template filename.lrtemplate]
- (XMP) Beginning with Lightroom Classic CC v7.3, the existing presets in the .lrtemplate format are automatically converted to a new XMP preset format. After conversion, the new XMP presets are saved at: C:Users[user name]AppDataRoamingAdobeCameraRawSettings
- (Presets stored with the catalog): If you've enabled the Store Presets With This Catalog option in the Lightroom Classic preferences, the presets and templates files are saved at: C:Users[user name][catalog location][catalog folder name]Lightroom SettingsSettings
Serial number C:Users[user name]AppDataRoamingAdobeLightroomLightroom 6.0 Registration.lrreg