How to access hidden folders

Ableton Live creates and stores important supporting files inside system folders on your computer that are usually hidden by default. To access hidden folders – for example, in order to reset Live's preferences – follow the steps below on macOS or Windows.

macOS

Ableton Live's supporting files are usually stored in three locations within the user level Library on macOS, at the hidden path Macintosh HD/Users /[username]/Library...

/Application Support
/Caches
/Preferences

To access these folders inside your user account Library, follow the steps below for your macOS version:

macOS 15 Sequoia

1. In Finder, click the Go menu and choose Home.
2. Click on View in the menu bar.
3. Select Show View Options.
   
   
4. In the panel that appears, check the box next to Show Library Folder.
   
   

 

This setting makes the Library folder permanently visible inside your Home folder, even after restarting your Mac. You can then navigate to the relevant folder (Application Support, Caches or Preferences.) If you prefer not to make the Library folder permanently visible, you can still access it using either of these alternative methods:

• In Finder, use the keyboard shortcut Command+Shift+G, type ~/Library, and press Return.
• Open Finder, click on Go in the menu bar, select Go to Folder, type ~/Library, and click Go.

macOS 14 Sonoma and earlier

1. Open Finder.
2. Click Go on the menu bar.
3. Press and hold the Option key.
4. Click the Library shortcut that appears.
5. Then navigate to the relevant folder (Application Support, Caches or Preferences.)

Windows

Ableton Live's supporting files are usually stored in two folders inside the AppData folder at the hidden path Users\[your username]\AppData...

\Roaming
\Local

To access these folders, follow the steps below for your Windows version:

Windows 11

1. In the File Explorer Command Bar, click on the three-dots See More menu.
   
2. Click on Options and open the View tab.
3. Enable Show hidden files, folders, and drives and click Apply.
   

You can then navigate to the relevant hidden folder, such as Users\[your username]\AppData\Roaming or \Local.

Windows 10, 8 and 7

1. Open File Explorer/Windows Explorer.
2. Type %AppData% into the address bar and press Enter.
3. Navigate to the relevant folder (Roaming or Local).

To permanently display all hidden folders on Windows 10 and 8:

1. Open File Explorer/Windows Explorer.
2. Click View, then select Options.
   
3. In the Folder Options window, choose View, select Show hidden files, folders, and drives, then click OK.
   

To permanently display all hidden folders on Windows 7:

1. Select the Start button, then select Control Panel > Appearance and Personalization.
2. Select Folder Options, then select the View tab.
3. Under Advanced settings, select Show hidden files, folders, and drives, and then select OK: