I'm using a 2019 MacBook Air and I would like to know where the System Preferences are saved in case I ever have to reinstall macOS. There has to be a file, or files, somewhere that I can save to a USB flash drive and then copy back over in the event I ever have to reinstall macOS. Where are these files located?
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Resolved Where are system preferences saved? How do I back them up?
- Thread starter revmacian
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/Users/home/library/preferences
It's more than just "preferences" that you should be backing up.
You should be backing up the entire drive.
For this I recommend:
a. Get an external drive that's equal to the size of your internal drive (or larger).
b. Get either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper (both are FREE to download and try for 30 days)
c. Create a bootable cloned backup using either one.
d. Get in the habit of "updating the clone" once or twice a week.
Do this, and you'll be protected.
Not just your preferences -- everything else, as well.
It's more than just "preferences" that you should be backing up.
You should be backing up the entire drive.
For this I recommend:
a. Get an external drive that's equal to the size of your internal drive (or larger).
b. Get either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper (both are FREE to download and try for 30 days)
c. Create a bootable cloned backup using either one.
d. Get in the habit of "updating the clone" once or twice a week.
Do this, and you'll be protected.
Not just your preferences -- everything else, as well.
I've been looking at Carbon Copy Cloner lately and I like the price, would happily pay for that software given what it does. I need to buy an external drive.
Thank you for your help and advice.
System preferences are kept in
/Library/Preferences
/System/Library/Preferences
and maybe other places too.
Then each user account has its own ~/Library/Preferences files.
I wouldn't recommend trying to save all preferences with the expectation of restoring them and expecting the new setup to mirror the old, because you might miss some important files and/or Apple might change their locations.
Cloning the entire disk is a much better idea. I've been very impressed with CCC's quality and support over the years.