If you want to shift Minecraft saves from computer-to-computer, or upload them to the Internet, you must first locate the world file on your computer. While this is pretty straightforward with Windows machines, it is a little more complicated when it comes to computers running macOS (or its predecessor, OSX). To even be able to see Minecraft world files in the Finder on a Mac, you have to un-hide the hidden files because, by default, macOS hides all the files that regular computer users probably won't use - including Minecraft world files. And this is what this tutorial is for: To show you exactly how to un-hide and locate Minecraft world files on your Mac.
Table of Contents
Method One
Step One: Start Minecraft
This first, easier method makes use of a feature built into the game to make finding your save files easier than usual. Firstly, you just need to start up the game as you usually would whenever you're getting ready to play.
Step Two: Edit World
Select one of your Minecraft worlds, but don't load into the game. Instead, you'll need to click on "Edit" here.
Step Three: Open World Folder
Here you should have the option to "Open World Folder", which will open up a directory inside your Minecraft installation directory, and navigating up one folder will let you go to the location where you have your saves.
Method Two
Step One: Open the Terminal
Hiding and un-hiding macOS's hidden files can only be accomplished via a terminal command. The terminal, if you weren't aware, is an application built into macOS that allows you to access the raw UNIX interface behind the operating system. So open up the terminal now (if you don't know where it's located on your Mac, just search up "terminal" in spotlight).
Step Two: Execute the “un-hide” Command
To un-hide all of the hidden files in the Finder, simply copy and paste the following code into the terminal and hit enter:
defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE
For the changes to appear, however, you'll need to "reboot" the Finder. This could be accomplished by restarting your Mac. Still, a much easier option is to type another command into the terminal - one that restarts the Finder in only a few seconds (remember to press enter to execute the Command):
killall Finder
Step Three: Locate the Minecraft World Files
Now all you've got to do is locate the Minecraft world files in the Finder! So go to your Mac's home folder, open the now-visible library folder, go into 'Application Support,' then 'Minecraft,' and finally 'Saves' (if you're lost, check out the screenshot below).
You will see all of your Minecraft world files/save files in this folder. So to transfer the files from here to another computer simply duplicate the world file and place it in the very same folder on the other computer - although if the other computer is a Windows or Linux machine, the location will be different.
Step Four: Re-hide the Hidden Files (optional)
You don't have to do this if you don't want to, but since it may be annoying to have useless hidden files displayed all over the Finder, here's how to re-hide the hidden files: simply execute the same Command in the terminal as you did to SHOW the hidden files, except replace the "TRUE" statement at the end with a "FALSE" statement, like so:
defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE
Then, of course, you'll need to reboot the Finder for the changes to take effect, by executing this command:
killall Finder
Thank you!
what do I do if I can't find Minecraft in application support
Indeed. There is not any Minecraft folder in my Application Support folder 🙁
I cant find the application support folder...
It's in your Library, while Finder is open... hold Alt/Option key and then on the toolbar, click Go, then click Libraries. Application Support folder should be there, if it's not then just use the search bar to search for the minecraft folder.
also btw if you just click your screen saver, then click go at the top of the screen you can access the everything you need from there
Can't find application support!!
Hello, this may help with some people who can't get to where the minecraft save files are:
(1) open minecraft app
(2) select a world, and then click "edit"
(3) click on "Open World Folder"
This should bring you near the saves file for minecraft where you can then copy or drag the downloaded folder.
Appreciate this post. Will try it out.|
Finally! I’ve been looking where Minecraft worlds are stored on a Mac. I’ve recently transitioned over from a Windows machine so this is all very new to me. My Minecraft world is big and I’ve spent many hours building in it, I didn’t want to lose all of my progress.
Great guide! I also like the suggestion in the comments about opening the world folder, that’s a quick and easy solution as well. I had trouble finding the Minecraft folder a while ago when I was new to Mac but I just dug around for about 10 minutes and eventually found it.
It’s quite surprising to me to learn that Mac only allows you to unhide files from the command line. On Windows and Linux, you can change this setting right from the file manager. I guess it’s to stop people accessing and potentially deleting system files and other important stuff. Good tip, this website is helping me find my way with the new Macbook I just got.