How To Search For Directory Or File On Mac

Wondering, “Where does iPhoto store photos?” Well, in this post, you will get to know about the location where it stores your photos, and how find photos on Mac.

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From here, you can visit the 'Downloads' folder on Mac. Alternatively, you can also go to your Library and click on the 'Downloads' section from the left panel. Once the Downloads folder on Mac has been opened, you can just look for any file of your choice. There is a search tab on the top that can help you do the same in less time. I am working with a Macbook programming python. What I want to know is how I can access certain files using Python's file functions. A google search failed me. For example, Windows would be something like this: f = open(r'C:textsomefile.txt') How would I access something from a folder saved on the Desktop of a Mac?

  1. The Library folder contains many files and folders which is related to a particular apps and services that you use on your Mac. Note: It is recommended to take a good look at your Library folder and target the issue that you are having, then make any changes.
  2. But when your computer is connected to a Mac running Tiger, Spotlight will search only file names. Add criteria On the right side of the Finder window’s search bar is a plus-sign button.
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Without any doubts, iPhoto is a useful picture management application by Apple. The app was present in a Mac computer, but it replaced with Photos application in 2015. However, whenever users import photos into iPhoto, the app makes copies of their photos and leaves original files somewhere else where users can’t access easily.

No matter for what reasons you want to know the location where iPhoto stores original pictures whether for backup purpose or to transfer them into another application, you can refer to this guide. Here, we are going to show you where iPhoto stores photos in detail. Also, you will get to learn on how to find photos on Mac computer.

Part 1: Where Does iPhoto Store Photos

So, let’s begin: iPhoto stores your pictures copies in a special folder known as “iPhoto Library”. You can locate in your Mac Home folder and then, Pictures folder. Here are the detailed steps to find the location where iPhoto stores photos:

Step 1. To begin the process, go to the “Finder” in your Mac computer and after that, navigate to your Home directory.

Step 2. Thereafter, if you log-in to your Mac computer with the name “Alex”, the full path to the folder “iPhoto Library” would be Mac HD > Users > Alex > Pictures > iPhoto Library. And right-click on the folder, and then, choose the “Show Package Contents” option.

Where Does iPhoto Store Photos

Step 3. When you reach your iPhoto Library folder, you will see a set of files and folders organised with numbers. All these numbers you see are the originals files creation dates. Look at the below figure to understand.

However, if you are now using an iPhoto newer version known as Photos, then you can locate the photos in a similar way as described above. But, you have to locate the “Photo Library” folder instead of “iPhoto Library” folder. And then, tap on “Masters” to view your pictures set in folders by date.

Part 2: How to Find Photos on Mac and Transfer Photos to Mac

No doubt, iPhoto or Photo application allows you to view pictures on Mac. But, what if you want to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac? Don’t worry as AnyTrans is here for you. It is mainly designed for iOS data management and transfer. With the help of it, you can manage your iPhone files including photos on Mac easily. Here are its main features and advantages on photos management:

  • Transfer any type of photos: With the help of it, you can move photos in Photo Stream, Camera Roll, Photo Library, Photo Share and Albums from your iPhone to Mac.
  • Support selective transfer: It allows you to move all photos in one go or only selected photos to your Mac.
  • Multi-directional transfer: It allows you to migrate files from computer to iPhone also, and there will be no data and quality loss during transfer.
  • Supports all data types: No matter whether you want to move photos, audios, videos, apps, contacts, or any other data type from your iPhone to Mac, it can do it with ease.

Now, Free Download AnyTrans on your computer, and then follow the step-by-step guide to view and transfer photos from iPhone to Mac effortlessly.

Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe

Step 1: Connect your iPhone and Mac.

To begin the process, launch the software on your Mac. Then, run it and connect your iPhone to a computer with the help of a digital cable. Next, click Photos category as shown in the figure.

Open AnyTrans and Choose Photos

Step 2: Transfer photos from iPhone to Mac.

After that, select “Photos” and then, choose a photo type you want to move to your Mac computer from iPhone. Let’s take an example of My Photos. Here, choose the desired pictures you want to move and finally, click on the “to Mac” button as shown in the figure.

Step 3: View photos on Mac.

After the process completes, you can view the transferred photos on your Mac.

How to View Photos on Mac

The Bottom Line

That’s all on how to find photo files on Mac and how to transfer them to Mac. Hopefully, this guide helps you to find the location of your iPhoto/Photo original files. However, give a try to AnyTrans software by downloading and installing it on your PC, and manage your iPhone data in a better and efficient way.

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When you’ve got loads of files — hundreds or even thousands isn’t unusual after a couple of years using the same Mac — it can be difficult to get the correct file path. We attempt to solve this problem in this article for those tired of looking for files and file paths on a Mac.

After trying Spotlight Searches or browsing through files, you might be ready to give up. At times, not knowing the right name can cause software conflicts. But don't despair. There is always a way to locate a file path.

How to get a file path on a Mac?

To get a basic understanding of where your file is located, just right-click the file.

  1. Right-click the file.
  2. Click Get Info.

Look up what’s written under Where:


The selected area shows the enclosed folder of your document.

How to copy the file path

Copying any text from the previous window isn’t easy, obviously. But still, you need a complete file address that you can copy and paste anywhere. So you do one extra step:

  1. Click on Finder
  2. Click View in the upper bar
  3. Click Show Path Bar


Interestingly, the file path will immediately appear underneath the Finder window.

  • Now, Control + Click the file you want the location for
  • Hold the Option key

You will see the new command that has appeared in the context menu — Copy …. as Pathname

  • Click on the selected command

You are now ready to paste. This information is pasted into the Clipboard. Make sure to complete pasting/moving it elsewhere, or this will be lost and you will need to find the folder again.

And that is how to get folder path in Mac. Nice and simple.

How to find the file path using Terminal

Also known as a folder path, or directory path, they aren't always easy to find. When every other method has failed, turn to Terminal as your solution.

  1. Go to Applications > Utilities.
  2. Launch Terminal.
  3. Make sure you are using it as a Super User (which means being logged in as an Admin), so type in sudo su — then press Return.
  4. Now you need to have something of an idea of what this file might be called, so once you do, type in the following (the name in the middle is where you’d put a file name): find / -name randomfilename
  5. Give it time to process the query, which could take several minutes.
  6. A list of names should appear, some or many of which you can ignore as they will be followed by file-end names, such as “operation not permitted”; so focus on the ones that make the most sense, such as: /Library/Application Support/randomfilename/settings/
  7. Now copy and paste the full name and drop it into Finder or Spotlight Search.

Alternatively, you can drag and drop the file onto the Terminal window, and it will show the full path. Hopefully, this will bring you to the file you need.

How To Search For Directory Or File On Mac

A shortcut to see unlisted (grayed out) files

For those who love Apple, which for many is more than a tech company, it’s a representation of a lifestyle, a brand that has many fans, we’ve got a fun fact for you. Did you know there is a shortcut combination to see hidden files?

This shortcut should work for anyone running macOS Mojave, High Sierra, and Sierra, and anything beyond OS 10.12. Here is how you access the shortcut:

  1. From Finder, go anywhere where you suspect there are hidden files, such as the Macintosh HD root directory, or Home folder
  2. Next, press down the Command + Shift + Period keys, which should toggle to show hidden files in that folder.
  3. As you press the shortcut the keys are visible: when you switch it off, they disappear again.

Any hidden files that have been made visible will have greyed out names and icons.

How to find other hidden files on Mac?

It isn't always easy to know where you’ve put every file on your Mac.

After a couple of years of constant use, a Mac can start to resemble a cluttered old-school file cabinet. Files in places that once make sense, but are now in the wrong place. Files and folders that should be in the right place, but have been put somewhere else. Files that seemingly don't exist, or are floating around elsewhere.

One solution to this is to download CleanMyMac X. It’s a handy and easy-to-use Mac performance improvement app. It comes with a few tools for finding unlisted, hidden, and large old files that have slipped through the cracks. Here is how you use it:

  1. Download CleanMyMac X (download a free edition here).
  2. Click on Space Lens.


These blue bubbles represent all your documents in relation to their size. You can dive into each of these folders to reveal their contents — a more visual alternative to Finder.

How To Find Directory Of A File On Mac

You can also use the Large & Old files scanner (in the same app). Either or both features will highlight a few gigabytes worth of space you can free up, uncovering files that can easily slip through the cracks and become forgotten. By the way, CleanMyMac X is notarized by Apple, which means this app is malware-free and safe to use on your Mac.

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For those with a lot of files, or Mac users badly in need of making more hard drive space, CleanMyMac X is an invaluable tool. We hope you found this article useful about how to locate and copy the file path details when searching for what you need.