macOS

Where Does Acorn Store Files and Settings on Mac?

Acorn support files and prefs on macOS, and why your .acorn images live wherever you saved them.

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Acorn keeps its brushes, presets and prefs in Library Application Support and Preferences. Your actual images live wherever you saved them, usually Pictures or project folders.

Backing up settings means copying the support folder. Backing up work means copying your own .acorn files. The two rarely sit together, which trips up migration attempts.

Where Acorn stores this, by platform

macOS
~/Library/Application Support/Acorn/

Brushes, actions and shape libraries. Prefs plist is nearby in ~/Library/Preferences/com.flyingmeat.Acorn*.plist (exact name may vary by version, check the app settings if this does not match). Images stay in your own folders.

Frequently asked questions

Where are my Acorn .acorn files?

Wherever you saved them, often ~/Pictures. The support folder only holds presets, not artwork. Use Finder search for .acorn if a project goes missing.

How do I move Acorn presets to a new Mac?

Quit Acorn and copy ~/Library/Application Support/Acorn plus the prefs plist, then relaunch once. Keep a spare copy until brushes appear. Exact plist name may vary by major version.

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