OS X Mavericks: Set permissions
Permission settings determine who can view and alter disks, folders, and files.
Assign permissions to users and groups
- Select a disk, folder, or file, then choose File > Get Info.
- If the information in Sharing & Permissions isn’t visible, click the disclosure triangle.
- Select a user or group from the Name column, then choose one of the following from the pop-up menu in the Privileges column. If necessary, click the lock icon and enter an administrator’s name and password.
Option Description Read & Write: Allows a user to open the item and change it. Read Only: Allows a user to open the item, but not change its contents. Write Only: Makes a folder into a drop box. Users can copy items to the drop box, but can’t open it. Only the owner of the drop box can open it. No Access: Blocks all access to the item.
Apply permissions to all items in a folder or a disk
- Select a folder or a disk, then choose File > Get Info.
- Click the lock icon to unlock it, then enter an administrator’s name and password.
- Choose "Apply to enclosed items" from the Action pop-up menu (looks like a gear).
Change an item’s owner
- Select the item, then choose File > Get Info.
- Click the lock icon to unlock it, then provide an administrator’s name and password.
- If the new owner’s name isn’t listed in the Name column in the Sharing & Permissions section, click Add (+) to add the new owner.
- Select the new owner in the Name column, then choose “Make __ the owner” from the Action pop-up menu (looks like a gear).
Add or remove a user or group in the Name column
- Select an item, then choose File > Get Info.
- If you don’t own the item, click the lock icon to unlock it, then provide an administrator’s name and password.
- In the Sharing & Permissions section, do one of the following:
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To add a user or group, click Add (+) below the table, select a user or group, then click Select.
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To remove a user or group, select the user or group, then click Delete (-) below the table.
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Undo changes
You can undo any changes made in the Sharing & Permissions section of an Info window since opening it, except applying permissions to all the items in a folder or disk.
- Make sure the Info window remains open after making your changes.
- Choose “Revert changes” from the Action pop-up menu (looks like a gear).
Set permissions of shared folders
- In the Finder, select the shared folder, then choose File > Get Info.
- Use the Sharing & Permissions section to assign permissions to users and groups.
You can also select an unshared folder. Choose File > Get Info, then make the folder shared by selecting “Shared folder” in the General section of the Info window.
Last Modified: May 8, 2014