Archived - Mac OS X 10.4.3: Allowing non-admin users to change the time zone setting

In Mac OS X, a user who isn't an administrator cannot change the time zone setting in System Preferences without authorization. In this advanced article, learn how an administrator can use Mac OS X 10.4.3 or later to change the /etc/authorization file so that a non-admin user can adjust the time zone setting.

Please note that this will not affect other settings in the Date and Time preferences or other secured System Preferences settings.

Important: This article contains instructions for editing the /etc/authorization file and is only intended for use by system administrators who are familiar with editing configuration files in a command-line interface. Misconfiguring this file can cause issues, including preventing any user from logging in. Be sure that you make a back up of the /etc/authorization file before editing it.

To grant time zone setting access to a non-admin user, do this:

1. Make sure that you've updated to Mac OS X 10.4.3.
2. Open the /etc/authorization file in a text editor.
3. Locate the text that makes up the system.preferences.accounts right; it looks like this (in its entirety):
   
   <key>system.preferences.accounts</key>
   <dict>
   <key>allow-root</key>
   <true/>
   <key>class</key>
   <string>user</string>
   <key>comment</key>
   <string>This right is checked by the Admin framework when making changes to the accounts preference pane</string>
   <key>group</key>
   <string>admin</string>
   <key>shared</key>
   <false/>
   </dict>
   


4. Below this block of text (immediately below the </dict> tag), add the following section of text:
   
   <key>system.preferences.dateandtime.changetimezone</key>
   <dict>
   <key>class</key>
   <string>allow</string>
   <key>comment</key>
   <string>This right is used by DateAndTime preference to allow any user to change the system timezone.</string>
   <key>shared</key>
   <true/>
   </dict>
   
   Please note that the "This right is used by..." string does not include a line break; make sure that you enter it all on one line.
5. Save the file.