diff --git a/sleap/gui/app.py b/sleap/gui/app.py
index 736d7207f..e872ce9a6 100644
--- a/sleap/gui/app.py
+++ b/sleap/gui/app.py
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@
 from logging import getLogger
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Callable, List, Optional, Tuple
+import sys
+import subprocess
 
 from qtpy import QtCore, QtGui
 from qtpy.QtCore import QEvent, Qt
@@ -84,7 +86,7 @@
 from sleap.io.video import available_video_exts
 from sleap.prefs import prefs
 from sleap.skeleton import Skeleton
-from sleap.util import parse_uri_path
+from sleap.util import parse_uri_path, get_config_file
 
 
 logger = getLogger(__name__)
@@ -515,6 +517,13 @@ def add_submenu_choices(menu, title, options, key):
             fileMenu, "reset prefs", "Reset preferences to defaults...", self.resetPrefs
         )
 
+        add_menu_item(
+            fileMenu,
+            "open preference directory",
+            "Open Preferences Directory...",
+            self.openPrefs,
+        )
+
         fileMenu.addSeparator()
         add_menu_item(fileMenu, "close", "Quit", self.close)
 
@@ -1330,6 +1339,20 @@ def resetPrefs(self):
         )
         msg.exec_()
 
+    def openPrefs(self):
+        """Open preference file directory"""
+        pref_path = get_config_file("preferences.yaml")
+        # Make sure the pref_path is a directory rather than a file
+        if pref_path.is_file():
+            pref_path = pref_path.parent
+        # Open the file explorer at the folder containing the preferences.yaml file
+        if sys.platform == "win32":
+            subprocess.Popen(["explorer", str(pref_path)])
+        elif sys.platform == "darwin":
+            subprocess.Popen(["open", str(pref_path)])
+        else:
+            subprocess.Popen(["xdg-open", str(pref_path)])
+
     def _update_track_menu(self):
         """Updates track menu options."""
         self.track_menu.clear()
diff --git a/sleap/util.py b/sleap/util.py
index 5edbf164b..eef762ff4 100644
--- a/sleap/util.py
+++ b/sleap/util.py
@@ -270,30 +270,20 @@ def get_config_file(
         The full path to the specified config file.
     """
 
-    desired_path = None  # Handle case where get_defaults, but cannot find package_path
+    desired_path = Path.home() / f".sleap/{sleap_version.__version__}/{shortname}"
 
-    if not get_defaults:
-        desired_path = os.path.expanduser(
-            f"~/.sleap/{sleap_version.__version__}/{shortname}"
-        )
+    # Make sure there's a ~/.sleap/<version>/ directory to store user version of the config file.
+    desired_path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
 
-        # Make sure there's a ~/.sleap/<version>/ directory to store user version of the
-        # config file.
-        try:
-            os.makedirs(os.path.expanduser(f"~/.sleap/{sleap_version.__version__}"))
-        except FileExistsError:
-            pass
-
-        # If we don't care whether the file exists, just return the path
-        if ignore_file_not_found:
-            return desired_path
-
-    # If we do care whether the file exists, check the package version of the
-    # config file if we can't find the user version.
+    # If we don't care whether the file exists, just return the path
+    if ignore_file_not_found:
+        return desired_path
 
-    if get_defaults or not os.path.exists(desired_path):
+    # If we do care whether the file exists, check the package version of the config file if we can't find the user version.
+    if get_defaults or not desired_path.exists():
         package_path = get_package_file(f"config/{shortname}")
-        if not os.path.exists(package_path):
+        package_path = Path(package_path)
+        if not package_path.exists():
             raise FileNotFoundError(
                 f"Cannot locate {shortname} config file at {desired_path} or {package_path}."
             )