OS X El Capitan: Set permissions for items on your Mac
Permission settings determine who can view and alter files on the computer.
Assign permissions to users and groups
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Select a disk, folder, or file, then choose File > Get Info.
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If the information in Sharing & Permissions isn’t visible, click the disclosure triangle.
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If necessary, click the lock icon
to unlock it, then enter an administrator name and password. -
Click a user or group in the Name column, then choose a privilege setting from the pop-up menu.
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Read & Write: Allows a user to open the item and change it.
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Read Only: Allows a user to open the item, but not change its contents.
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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.
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No Access: Blocks all access to the item.
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Apply permissions to all items in a folder or a disk
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Select a folder or a disk, then choose File > Get Info.
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Click the lock icon
to unlock it, then enter an administrator name and password. -
Click the Action pop-up menu
, then choose “Apply to enclosed items.”
Change an item’s owner
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Select the item, then choose File > Get Info.
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Click the lock icon
to unlock it, then enter an administrator name and password. -
If the new owner’s name isn’t listed in the Name column in the Sharing & Permissions section, click the Add button
to add the new owner. -
Select the new owner in the Name column, click the Action pop-up menu
, then choose “Make __ the owner.”
Add or remove a user or group in the Name column
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Select an item, then choose File > Get Info.
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If you don’t own the item, click the lock icon
to unlock it, then enter an administrator name and password. -
In the Sharing & Permissions section, do one of the following:
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Add a user or group: Click the Add button
below the list, select a user or group, then click Select. -
Remove a user or group: Select the user or group, then click the Remove button
below the list.
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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.
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Make sure the Info window remains open after making your changes.
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Click the Action pop-up menu
, then choose “Revert changes.”