Repair Disk Permissions on Mac | 3 Methods

Finley updated on Nov 28, 2024 to Mac File Recovery | How-to Articles

Discover how to repair disk permissions on Mac using Disk Utility, Recovery Mode, and Terminal. Learn effective methods to verify disk health and recover lost data with EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.

MacOS disc permissions protect and optimize system files, programs, and user data. These permissions may corrupt over time, causing errors, slowdowns, and program malfunctions. Disc permissions may be modified to improve speed and avoid difficulties.

This article covers three solid methods to repair disk permissions on Mac: Disc Utility, Recovery Mode, and Terminal. In addition, the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac can monitor the health of your disk and recover lost data during repair. If you have troubles with your startup disc or an external drive, these options can help keep your Mac running smoothly.

Repair Disk Permission on Mac Using Disk Utility

Disk Utility in macOS manages storage devices and repairs disc permissions. Repair disc permissions on your Mac using Disc Utility:

Step 1. Launch Disc Utility from Finder > Applications > Utilities.

Step 2. Select the disc or partition to repair from the left menu.

Step 3. In Disc Utility, click the "First Aid" tab at the top-right. Click "Run" to verify and correct disc permissions.

Step 4. Disc Utility shows repair summary. If difficulties arise, it automatically fixes or suggests solutions.

Repairing disc permissions using Disc Utility is simple and effective, optimizing system and external drive performance. If issues continue, try Recovery Mode or Terminal for further solutions.

Repair Disk Permission Via Disk Utility in Recovery Mode

Recovery Mode is a more complex alternative for disc permissions problems when Disc Utility fails. Recovery Mode lets macOS users fix disc permissions without active activities. This mode's access relies on your Mac's hardware:

  • Mac M1 or M2: Shut down. Hold Power when powering on to see Recovery Mode choices.
  • Macs with Intel: Restart your Mac and hold Command + R until the Apple logo or spinning globe appears.

Follow the steps to repair Disc Permissions in Recovery Mode:

Step1. Access Recovery Mode for your Mac model by following these instructions.

Step 2. The macOS Utilities panel appears in Recovery Mode. Launch "Disk Utility" by selecting it and clicking "Continue."

Step 3. Select the "drive or partition" to repair from the left-hand list.

Step 4. Open "Disk Utility" and click "First Aid." Select "Run" to confirm.

Step 5. Disk Utility checks for and fixes problems. A summary of its acts will appear after that.

For ongoing disc permission difficulties, Recovery Mode assures a comprehensive repair. If this fails, try Terminal or other advanced troubleshooting.

Repair Disk Permission Via Disk Utility and Terminal

The Terminal allows command-line users to fix Mac disk permissions precisely. This approach is handy when Disk Utility fails, or deeper system-level adjustments are needed. To repair disk permissions using Terminal, follow the below steps:

Sep 1. Launch Terminal from Finder > Applications > Utilities by double-clicking.

Step 2. Enter the following Terminal command to reset user permissions:

sudo diskutil resetUserPermissions / ‘id -u’ 

Step 3. Enter your Mac's administrator password and hit Enter again. Note that password entry is hidden for protection.

Step 4. Use these commands to fix “Error -69841”:

chflags -R nouchg / sudo diskutil resetUserPermissions / ‘id -u’ 

To ensure accuracy, run the instructions sequentially.

Step 5. After resetting permissions, the Terminal will confirm. Finish by closing Terminal.

Pro Tips: How to Check the Disk Condition Using Disk Utility

Disk Utility's First Aid function may diagnose and fix faults with your Mac's internal disk or external storage device. This utility diagnoses and fixes disk issues. First Aid cannot fix the startup disk while macOS is operating. How to utilize First Aid and evaluate your disk:

Step 1. Launch Disk Utility from Finder > Applications > Utilities.

Step 2. Select the suspected problem disk or volume in the sidebar. If not, click "View" and choose "Show All Devices" from the list.

Step 3. Click "First Aid" at the top of Disk Utility.

Step 4. Disk Utility will check the disk for problems. Automatic repairs are attempted if faults are found. Click Run to continue.

The diagnostic procedure will momentarily disable your Mac. This may take longer, depending on disk size and problem severity.

Bonus Tips: How to Recover Data Lost During Repairing Permissions

Restoring disk permissions might accidentally delete data. In this case, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac can quickly and efficiently recover deleted data.

Users and experts trust this data recovery tool for Mac from EaseUS. Its user-friendly UI and powerful recovery tools earn it a 4.7-star rating with compatibility with macOS 10.9 and above. This utility can recover data from SSDs, HDDs, SD cards, and USB devices.

Key Features of EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac

  • Recover data lost on Mac by unintentional deletion, formatting, corruption, system issues, and disk permission fixes.
  • Support Recovers images, movies, documents, emails, and archives.
  • Previews recoverable files before restoration to ensure integrity.
  • Finds and recovers deep-buried files using Quick and Deep Scanning modes.

Install EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac and follow its simple recovery method to restore lost data. Follow easy steps to scan, preview, and recover data. Moving on to complete recovery, the program provides a powerful and easy technique to restore lost data.

Step 1. Select the location and scan

Launch EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac and choose the disk where you lost data. Then, click "Search for lost files" to start scanning.

Step 2. Filter and preview lost files

After the scan, use the file format filter on the left or upper right corner to find the deleted files you need.

Step 3. Recover lost data or files

You can double-click a file to preview its content, or choose multiple files to recover them at once. Click "Recover" to restore the lost data to a local or cloud drive.

Final Words

Fixing disk permissions on your Mac is essential for system health and speed. This tutorial uses efficient approaches, including Disk Utility, Recovery Mode, and Terminal. We also mentioned Disk Utility's First Aid function for disk diagnosis and repair.

Use EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac if data is lost during repairs. Its user-friendly interface, extensive scanning algorithms, and reliable recovery capabilities make it a trustworthy file recovery tool. EaseUS protects your data against unintentional deletions, system faults, and disk repairs. With its user-friendly features and high success rate, EaseUS simplifies recovery, letting you concentrate on Mac maintenance. Try it if disk repairs cause unexpected data loss!

FAQs

Below are the common queries of users about repair disk permissions on Mac:

1. How do I repair disk permissions on my Mac?

Disk Utility (Finder > Applications > Utilities) repairs disk permissions. Select the afflicted drive from the sidebar, select First Aid, and run. Automatically evaluate and fix permission problems using Disk Utility.

2. How do I fix a permissions error on a Mac?

Fix permissions problems using Disk Utility or Recovery Mode. Select the faulty disk in Disk Utility and click First Aid to fix issues. Recovery Mode or Terminal may fix intractable problems.

3. How to change permissions of hard disk in Mac?

Right-click the disk in Finder and choose Get Info to modify permissions. Under the Sharing & Permissions tab, adjust user and group access levels. You need admin permission to make these changes.