Mac generally does not require disk partitions. Everything on the Mac is organized by folder. Therefore, understanding the function and hierarchy logic of several key folders of macOS will help us better understand and use Mac file collation, multi-user, and file sharing.

At the bottom of the macOS hierarchy is the “Macintosh HD,” which represents the entire Mac system disk. This is the root of the Mac local file system.

Under Macintosh HD, there are folders like Resources, Users, System, and Applications.

The Repository folder contains fonts and other files that all users can use. Generally, do not put your own files in this “resource library” folder, and do not easily delete files in the “resource library” folder.

The Apps folder, as its name suggests, is where all the applications (or software, apps) installed on macOS are stored. The installed App is automatically saved to this folder, and uninstalling the App is essentially deleting it from this folder.

The System folder contains files for the macOS operating system. Usually don’t move either.

The Users folder is the one we use the most. Inside is the Mac create user’s personal folder.

For example, my Mac created two users huangyang and Yang, and in the User folder I have two folders named huangyang and Yang.

All files of each user are saved in their own personal folder. Inside the personal folder we often use such as “desktop”, “download”, “document” and other folders, but also in the personal folder to create their own folder. For details, check out my previous article 👉 Getting started on Mac: My Mac Tips on file management

It is recommended to create a new folder under the personal folder of the user to store our own files. For example, I created a “Video Work” folder.

I also recommend that you put your personal folders on the left side of “Visit”. This makes it easy to access directly from the sidebar. You can also set “access” to open personal folders by default.

If you want to access another user’s personal folder, for example, the huangyang user is not allowed to access files in the Yang folder by default because there is no user permission. And the folder icon will display a red forbidden logo.

Each personal folder is like a house. No one can get into your house, and you can’t get into anyone else’s house.

For the sake of understanding, I will continue to compare users’ personal folders to “houses.” Every folder in the house is a box.

Shared folders and public folders

Under the Users folder, there is also a folder named Shares. This folder is special, any logged-in user can see the files in this “shared” folder, can also add new files to this folder for other users to use, and can copy the files in their own personal folder for use. But other than the file owner, no user can delete or modify files directly from the “shared” folder.

A “shared” folder is like a common box that sits outside all the houses. Everyone can put things in it and take anything in it.

Each user’s personal folder also has a folder named “Public.” This “public” folder acts like a “shared” folder. The difference is that the “public” folder is placed under the personal folder.

The “public” folder is placed inside the house, while the “shared” folder is placed outside the house.

Throw a box

Under the “public” folder under each personal folder, there is a folder called “Drop Box.”

If you open another user’s “public” folder, you’ll notice that the “Drop Box” folder icon is also different from the normal folder icon, with a small downward arrow in the lower right corner.

Drop boxes can be used to share files one on one. You can put files in other users’ Drop boxes, but you can’t open other users’ Drop boxes, and you can’t see the contents of other users’ Drop boxes.

A drop box is like a drop box at the door of a house. You can drop things into other people’s houses, but you can’t look in their drop boxes.

conclusion

Local macOS folders make up the Mac’s entire file system. And through different folder location and permissions to give folders different functions.

By the way, the shortcut for creating a new folder is shift-command-n