"What is the Mac Applications Support Folder | How to Restore It"

What is the Application Support folder on a Mac?

The Application Support folder houses many files that ensure your installed apps run properly on macOS, including your registration information, preferences, and configuration data.

Every time you install an app on your MacBook Pro or any other Mac model, its subfolders are generated and stored in the Mac Applications Support folder. Even after you uninstall the app, it leaves behind data in its respective subfolder.

When users reinstall an app that they previously deleted, their previous settings can be conveniently restored. Moreover, you can use the "Application Support" folder to make modifications or troubleshoot issues with the app.

Note that the Application Support folder may contain items that affect installed applications, so you should normally avoid accessing this folder.

How to Find the Application Support Folder

If you'd like to visit the Application Support folder on your Mac, here's a screen recording video on how to find the Application Support folder on a Mac:

• 00:06 Click "Go" in the Apple menu bar.
• 00:11 Find the "Users" folder.
• 00:31 Open the "Application Support" folder.

To find the "Application Support" folder on a Mac, follow these steps:

Step 1. Open Finder on your Mac, and click “Go” from the menu bar at the top.

Step 2. Choose “Go to Folder” or press the keyboard shortcut “Shift + Command + G.”

Step 3: Type the path ~/Library/Application Support into the search field, and then press Return.

Then you'll see a lot of folders in the Application Support folder on your Mac.

Can I delete the Application Support folder?

When you clean up system storage space on Mac, you may find the Application Support folder quite large. So, can you safely delete files from this folder to free up space on your Macintosh HD? You can delete the entire subfolders of the applications that are not installed to free up storage.

However, if you're currently using the app and have no intention of ever removing it, you shouldn't do this. Removing an app's subfolder in the Application Support folder can cause the app to misbehave, since it's missing the necessary files and can't run properly.

As mentioned above, most apps leave their data in the Application Support folder even after being uninstalled on a Mac. Therefore, you should manually delete the files of the removed app from the Application Support folder.

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Missing Application Support Folder on Mac

As is known to all, the Application Support folder on Mac is vital for running installed programs. However, under certain circumstances, unintended situations might cause the loss of Application Support. Below are the primary reasons that lead to the disappearance of Application Support:

The Application Support folder is hidden: This is one of the most common reasons. In certain Mac settings, the “Application Support” folder is hidden by default to prevent users from accidentally modifying program files.

Accidental deletion of the Application Support folder: Since applications and the data they create take up a lot of Mac storage space, some users might delete files from the Application Support folder while cleaning up system data to free up space.

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Corrupted Application Support folder: A virus infection or an interruption while macOS is writing data can lead to a lost or corrupted Application Support folder.

Recover Lost Application Support Folder on Mac

As we know, the application support files in the folder are important to ensure the smooth running of applications. Thus, it's necessary to recover lost Application Support folder on Mac. Apart from restoring the accidentally deleted Application Support folder from Mac Trash, we recommend 3 methods to get it back for avoiding data loss.

Method 1: Show Hidden Files to Restore the Application Support Folder

When your Applications Support folder is hidden, rather than missing or deleted, you can unhide the Applications Support folder on your Mac by following these steps:

Step 1: Open “Finder” from the Apple menu bar.

Step 2: Click “Go to Folder.”

Step 3: Type “~/Library” into the search field and press “Enter” to open the “Library” folder.

Step 4. Press “Command + Shift + >” to show any hidden files or folders in Finder.

Method 2: Restore the Application Support Folder with Time Machine

If you had Mac Time Machine enabled before the Applications Support folder was emptied or missing, you can use a snapshot from a Time Machine backup to restore files within the Applications Support folder. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Open “System Preferences,” and then select Time Machine.

Step 2: Check “Show Time Machine in menu bar,” and then close the window.

Step 3: Go to Finder > Go to Folder, and type in ~Library/Application Support.

Step 4: Press "Enter," then click the Time Machine icon to enter Time Machine.

Step 5: Use the arrow buttons to scroll to the snapshot of the "Libraries" folder.

Step 6: Click “Restore” to restore your Application Support folder.

Note that restoring the Applications Support folder from a Time Machine backup replaces any files and data created since the snapshot was taken.

Method 3: Recover the Application Support folder with Data Recovery Software

Without a Time Machine backup, you can use data recovery software to restore data from the Application Support folder. Tools like Data Recovery Wizard for Mac can help you effectively and quickly recover data from a lost Application Support folder.

To get an easy insight into how to recover lost Application Support folder on Mac, you can follow the three steps below:

Step 1. Select the drive to scan

In the main “Data Recovery Wizard” utility window, all the drives connected to your Mac will be listed. Select the drive from which you need to recover lost/deleted files and click on the “Search for Lost Files” button.

Note: Before you proceed with data recovery, it's recommended that you click “Disk Backup” from the left sidebar and create a backup of your Mac to prevent further data loss. After the backup, the software can recover data from the Mac backup, and your computer can be written with new data again.

Select a location and scan for lost Mac data

Step 2: Choose the data/files you lost

Data Recovery Wizard immediately scans the selected disk volume and displays the scan results in the left pane. If you are looking for specific files, you can sort the results to locate the needed files.

Step 3: Recover Lost/Deleted Data

Once the scan is over, preview the files you want and then click “Recover” to start restoring your deleted or lost Mac files.

Conclusions

The “Application Support” folder stores files and data for the apps you have installed on your Mac. If you delete these files, the apps won't work properly on your computer. Thus, if your Application Support folder is missing, you'll need to restore it. If your Application Support folder is hidden instead of missing or deleted, you'll need to unhide it.

However, if you don't have a Time Machine backup to restore the missing Application Support folder, data recovery software can come to your aid. Tools like Data Recovery Wizard for Mac support data recovery in various scenarios, including retrieving a lost Application Support folder.

"Frequently Asked Questions about the Application Support Folder on Mac"

Here are some other questions people ask when searching for the “Application Support” folder on a Mac:

**1. Can I delete the Application Support folder on my Mac?**

If you don't want the app anymore, you can delete the entire subfolder within the "Application Support" folder to free up storage space. However, don't do this if you're still using the app.

2. Where are the Application Support folders?

The Application Support folder is located within the Library folder. You can access the Application Support folder by following these steps:

Step 1: Open the "Finder," then choose "Go."

Step 2: Hold down the “Option” key.

Step 3: Select “Library” from the menu and press “Enter.”

3. Where is the Apps folder in Windows 10?

You can view the AppData folder by manually navigating to it in Windows 10's C drive within the "Users" folder. The typical path is C:\Users\ADMIN.

**4. How do I clean up my Mac Applications folder?** To clean up your Mac's Applications folder, follow these steps: 1. **Open Finder:** Click on the Apple icon in the top-left corner of the screen, and then choose "Finder." 2. **Go to Applications:** In the left sidebar of Finder, click on "Applications" (or "Apps"). 3. **Review applications:** Browse through the list and identify apps you no longer use or need. 4. **Remove applications:** For apps you don't need, press and hold the Control key, click the app, and then choose "Move to Trash" from the dropdown menu. Alternatively, drag the app directly to the Trash. 5. **Handle permissions:** If an app can't be deleted directly, you may need to quit it or run it with administrator privileges. Right-click the app, choose "Show Package Contents," find the Info.plist file within the Contents folder, right-click it, and select "Open As Administrator." Edit the permissions and try deleting the app again. 6. **Empty the Trash:** After deleting the apps, remember to empty the Trash (right-click the Trash icon and choose "Empty Trash") to permanently remove them. 7. **Use third-party tools:** For a more thorough cleanup, consider using a third-party cleaning tool like CleanMyMac. These tools can help you locate and delete unnecessary apps and related files. Make sure to verify that the apps you're removing aren't essential to the system, as deleting them could cause functionality issues. It's always a good idea to back up your data or research before deleting if you're unsure.

Most applications keep their files in the “Application Support” folder, so go there, select the application you don't need, and move it to the Trash.