Where Does Ulysses Keep the Library and Backups?
Ulysses stores local sheets in a hidden group container, not in Documents. The Mac library path, iCloud location and backup folder.
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Ulysses manages its own library instead of giving you plain files. Sheets in the On My Mac section sit in a group container under ~/Library, split into hash-named folders with .ulysses files inside. Each of those bundles a Content.xml plus a Text.txt. Don't rename anything in there by hand.
If you sync through iCloud, the live copy moves to the Mobile Documents container instead. Local backups accumulate in a Backups folder you can reveal from inside the app. For plain Markdown you actually control, use External Folders pointed at a normal directory.
Where Ulysses stores this, by platform
~/Library/Group Containers/X5AZV975AG.com.soulmen.shared/Ulysses
Local sheets under Documents/Library/Groups-ulgroup, backups under Backups. Right-click a backup in the app and choose Reveal in Finder to land here. The iCloud copy sits in ~/Library/Mobile Documents/X5AZV975AG~com~soulmen~ulysses3.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a lost Ulysses sheet on my Mac?
Open the path above and browse the Groups-ulgroup folders. Each .ulysses file contains a Text.txt with the sheet's Markdown, so grep for a distinctive phrase. Better: right-click any backup in Ulysses and Reveal in Finder to confirm you're in the right place.
How do I keep Ulysses sheets as normal files?
Add an External Folder in the sidebar pointed at a regular directory. Sheets there can stay as plain Markdown readable by any editor. You lose a few Ulysses-only extras, which is the trade for full file control.
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