Deleting the System Preference or other .plist file
Hello and welcome to my User Tip
Sometimes you have a problem with System Preferences or something related to it, like it remembering your screensaver or desktop selection, or perhaps it won’t launch or launches funky.
This procedure is for deleting the «preferences» file(s) that is located in your (hidden) User/Library folder that can resolve issues like this.
When the computer is rebooted and the associated program launched again, it recreates this file, but blank of preferences, thus since it’s rebuilt it’s free of problems.
This procedure also works for other programs like iPhoto or iTunes, or whatever that stores a preference file (.plist) in the (hidden) User/Library folder, the procedure is the same, just sub out the program your having problems with .plist file instead of the System Preference .plist file below.
Known preference files issues:
com.apple.systempreferences.plist (corrupted/not launching System Preferences)
com.apple.desktop.plist (corrupted/not working desktop picture changes)
com.apple.safari.plist (safari issues)
See the Steps #12 and #13 for OnyX and it’s preference file checker to find other corrupted preference (.plist) files that might be causing your issues.
So we are going to delete a preference file in a hidden folder, this will only affect the preference file, not your personal files or programs.
1: Go to the Finder and select Go menu and Go To Folder
2: Now paste or type
3: Press GO! and a folder will appear
4: Scroll down and find
com.apple.systempreferences.plist com.apple.desktop.plist (or whatever program your having problems with)
5: There may be two of the same named file, drag the one you can to the Trash can
6: Restart the computer and open System Preferences (or problem program) and reset all your preferences again
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Question: Q: There was an error in Apple ID Preferences.
I cannot sign in Apple ID from MacBookAir (with MacOS Catalina 10.15.1, unfortunately, installed).
I know password. I can sign-in on browser (both in iCloud and in ID).
But on the Mac it simply throws the message:
System Preferences: «Preferences Error: There was an error in Apple ID Preferences.»
What kind of Error is that and what to do?
PS. When the Mac is shown as registered device on web and I try to sign in I’ve got another warning:
«Verification failed: An unknown error occurred.»
I’ve tried to delete the device from ID account. Now it accepts the credentials but fails either.
MacBook Air 13″, 10.15
Posted on Nov 3, 2019 12:27 PM
Helpful answers
Some people have solved this by going to System Preferences/Internet Accounts, selecting an iCloud account there, and signing in. You need to repeat this for each iCloud account.
Might be a corrupt .plist.
Do a backup, preferably 2 backups on 2 separate drives.
Quit System Preferences.
Go to Finder and select your user/home folder. With that Finder window as the front window, either select Finder/View/Show View options or go command — J. When the View options opens, check ’Show Library Folder’. That should make your user library folder visible in your user/home folder. Select Library. Then go to Preferences/com.apple.systempreferences.plist. Move the .plist to your desktop.
Restart the computer, open the application, and test. If it works okay, delete the plist from the desktop.
If the application is the same, return the .plist to where you got it from, overwriting the newer one.
Thanks to leonie for some information contained in this.
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Question: Q: com.apple.preferences.account.plist not being rebuilt
I need a little help with a plist file, namely com.apple.preferences.account.plist.
Whilst attempting to fix an external monitor resolution problem, I deleted com.apple.preferences.account.plist, and expected it to be rebuilt upon restarting the system. However, it appears that it hasn’t been rebuilt: several search attempts (using both spotlight and terminal) have failed to locate the plist, and several restarts have not yet rebuilt it. (The monitor resolution porblem ended up being caused by something entirely different, and is now fixed, however com.apple.preferences.account.plist remains apparently non-existent).
So, does anybody have any ideas as to:
1. Why this plist has not been rebuilt?
2. If it has been rebuilt, where I might find it?
P.S. I currently have two user accounts on the system: one for myself, and one as a test account, both with admin privilieges: com.apple.preferences.account.plist is not showing up in
/Library/Preferences for either account.
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.4)
Posted on Aug 15, 2012 2:45 AM
All replies
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It should be in each user’s ByHost subfolder.
Aug 15, 2012 2:21 PM
Hi baltwo — thanks for the reply,
I searched the file system (via terminal) again this morning immediately after booting up the machine, and com.apple.preferences.accounts.plist still does not exist. The lockfile for the plist (com.apple.preferences.accounts.plist.lockfile) does exist, it’s in /Library/Preferences, but the actual plist is nowhere to be found.
It just now occured to me that perhaps my method of searching is not rigorous enough. This is the terminal command I’m using:
Could that search method be improved, or is there a better method.
Aug 15, 2012 4:46 PM
Aug 15, 2012 6:16 PM
AFAIK, it doesn’t have accounts in its name. On my machine, it’s com.apple.systempreferences.XXXX-XXXXX-XXXXXXX-XXXXX.plist (XXXX symbolize that I hid the user ID info). Easiest way to search to open up the hidden
/Library/Preferences/ByHost/. I usually don’t use find, so can’t help with that.
Aug 15, 2012 7:15 PM
hpr3 : Yep I did look in
/Library/Preferences, but com.apple.preferences.accounts.plist was not in there. In fact, it appears to not be on my system anywhere, which indicates to me that it was not rebuilt (upon system reboot) after I deleted it to fix another problem. The search continues.
baltwo : seems as though my case of missing files is getting worse: I also don’t seem to have any plist of the form com.apple.systempreferenes.XXX-. in the directory
/Library/Preferences/ByHost. Which makes even less sense than the first plist I seem to have lost: the
/Library/Preferences/ByHost stores user-exclusive plists, so you would imagine that my plist of personalised system preferences would be in there.. but no, there’s no such plist in there. Ok so, to keep track, the missing plists are now:
1) com.apple.preferences.accounts.plist, and
2) com.apple.systempreferenes.XXX-. plist
Hmmm, why are my plists slowly leaving me. lol 😁
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com.apple.systempreferences.plist missing
colinw0239
macrumors newbie
Hey y’all, I could really use some help here. New the forums, not sure where to post — hope this is okay.
I’ve been having some serious System Preferences issues, probably due to something that I did on accident. A couple of the panes give the message
«To use the _____ preferences pane, System Preferences must quit and reopen.»
I’ve done lots and lots of searching, and apparently one of the best solutions is to delete the preferences .plist file and restart the computer. Only problem is, that file just isn’t there! Any ideas on where it could be?
JediMeister
macrumors 68040
colinw0239
macrumors newbie
Hey JediMeister — thanks for the response.
I’ve tried opening Preferences in both 32-bit and 64-bit mode with no luck. I’ve checked in both system (/Library/Preferences) and user library (
/Library/Preferences). The .plist file just isn’t there. Restarting doesn’t bring it back either. I’m just about at my wit’s end here — unfortunately I cannot find the DVDs to do a fresh OS install either, so that’s out of the question.
macrumors 65816
Hey JediMeister — thanks for the response.
I’ve tried opening Preferences in both 32-bit and 64-bit mode with no luck. I’ve checked in both system (/Library/Preferences) and user library (
/Library/Preferences). The .plist file just isn’t there. Restarting doesn’t bring it back either. I’m just about at my wit’s end here — unfortunately I cannot find the DVDs to do a fresh OS install either, so that’s out of the question.
Weird. Please reboot and then open Terminal (in Utilities). In Terminal, copy and paste in
colinw0239
macrumors newbie
Pretty lengthy, but here goes:
Last login: Thu Jan 17 06:18:37 on console
Alexandria-Krausss-MacBook-Pro:
colinweaver$ ls -l
/Library/Preferences/com.apple.*.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 131 Nov 16 03:52 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.ATS.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 881 Jan 14 03:59 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.ActivityMonitor.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 128 Jan 17 03:44 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.AddressBook.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 139 Nov 16 03:00 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.BezelServices.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 119 Jan 17 06:18 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.CalendarAgent.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 1565 Dec 14 01:50 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Chess.SandboxedPersistentURLs.LSSharedFileList.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 1095 Jan 2 22:09 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Console.LSSharedFileList.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 388 Jan 2 22:14 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Console.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 104 Nov 16 03:00 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.CoreGraphics.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 115 Jan 16 02:21 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.DirectoryUtility.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 185 Jan 8 01:57 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.DiskUtility.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 337 Nov 16 03:00 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.FontRegistry.user.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 1089 Jan 16 21:06 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.LaunchServices.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 119 Jan 14 05:58 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.MassStorageCamera.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 298 Jan 14 23:53 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.PhotoBooth.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 13688 Jan 15 01:38 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Preview.LSSharedFileList.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 2357 Jan 15 01:39 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Preview.SandboxedPersistentURLs.LSSharedFileList.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 153 Dec 10 20:30 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.ProblemReporter.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 73 Nov 16 03:03 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.PubSubAgent.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 12529 Jan 13 21:17 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.QuickTimePlayerX.LSSharedFileList.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 118 Jan 9 02:24 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.QuickTimePlayerX.SandboxedPersistentURLs.LSSharedFileList.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 2493 Jan 11 16:42 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Safari.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 10763 Jan 17 06:20 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.ServicesMenu.Services.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 107 Nov 16 03:00 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SetupAssistant.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 173 Jan 16 20:59 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SystemProfiler.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 15436 Jan 16 21:04 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Terminal.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 14806 Jan 16 21:02 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.TextEdit.LSSharedFileList.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 118 Jan 16 21:02 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.TextEdit.SandboxedPersistentURLs.LSSharedFileList.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 200 Jan 16 00:07 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.appstore.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 182 Jan 16 21:00 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.archiveutility.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 186 Dec 14 01:53 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.conference.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 112 Nov 20 13:01 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.dashboard.client.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 1239 Jan 1 16:56 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.desktop.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 4789 Jan 17 06:18 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.dock.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 287 Nov 16 03:00 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.mouse.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 781 Dec 17 01:32 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 199 Nov 16 03:00 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 5819 Jan 17 06:18 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.facetime.bag.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 19272 Jan 17 06:18 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 244 Jan 16 04:01 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.frameworks.diskimages.diuiagent.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 250 Dec 14 01:58 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.gamed.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 14258 Jan 13 19:45 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.garageband.LSSharedFileList.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 114325 Jan 13 19:44 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.garageband.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 638 Jan 11 03:00 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.help.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 80 Nov 16 04:02 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.helpd.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 954 Jan 14 23:51 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iApps.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 766 Jan 17 06:15 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iChat.AIM.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 96 Nov 21 23:50 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iChat.Jabber.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 118 Nov 21 23:48 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iChat.LSSharedFileList.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 190 Nov 21 23:47 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iChat.StatusMessages.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 96 Nov 21 23:50 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iChat.Yahoo.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 22130 Jan 17 06:14 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iChat.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 4845 Dec 4 23:59 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iMovieApp.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 118 Nov 18 21:23 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iPhoto.LSSharedFileList.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 10048 Jan 15 04:13 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iPhoto.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 475 Jan 8 18:40 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iPod.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 14702 Nov 21 21:39 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iTunes.eq.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 126343 Jan 17 06:16 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iTunes.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 139 Jan 3 23:53 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.imagent.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 985 Nov 21 23:51 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.imessage.bag.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 96 Nov 21 23:50 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.imservice.FaceTime.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 185 Nov 21 23:52 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.imservice.iMessage.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 465 Dec 3 01:28 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.internetconfigpriv.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 25219 Jan 17 06:14 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.logic.pro.LSSharedFileList.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 162287 Jan 17 06:14 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.logic.pro.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 764 Jan 11 16:44 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginitems.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 165 Jan 17 06:16 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 138 Jan 10 15:26 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.quicklookconfig.plist
-rw-r—r—@ 1 colinweaver staff 13753 Nov 16 03:03 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.quicktime.plugin.preferences.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 23118 Jan 17 06:19 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.recentitems.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 326 Nov 16 02:42 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.scheduler.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 225 Jan 15 04:13 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.security.pboxd.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 7575 Nov 16 03:52 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.sidebarlists.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 421 Jan 17 06:19 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.spaces.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 162 Nov 16 15:52 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.speech.recognition.AppleSpeechRecognition.prefs.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 191 Nov 16 15:51 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.speech.recognition.feedback.prefs.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 163 Jan 16 00:07 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.storeagent.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 282 Nov 16 03:00 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.symbolichotkeys.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 42 Jan 8 18:40 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.syncserver.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 828 Jan 17 06:19 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systempreferences.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 146 Dec 10 02:55 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systemuiserver.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 358 Nov 16 14:33 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.ubd.plist
-rw——- 1 colinweaver staff 422 Jan 17 06:18 /Users/colinweaver/Library/Preferences/com.apple.universalaccess.plist
I can see it there. But for whatever reason, it’s not showing up in the folder.
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