Disk Utility 12.x: Repair disk permissions

This article has been archived and is no longer updated by Apple.
Repair disk permissions using Disk Utility

If you see a message that your permissions are set improperly, you may be able to correct the disk’s permissions.

  1. Choose Apple menu > Software Update to make sure you have the latest version of Mac OS X.

    Software updates sometimes change a file’s permissions to improve security, so updating your software can solve some permissions problems.

  2. Open Disk Utility, in the Utilities folder in Launchpad.
  3. Select the disk you want to check.

    You can verify or repair permissions only on a disk with Mac OS X v10.7 Lion installed.

  4. Click First Aid.
  5. Do one of the following:

    • Click Verify Disk Permissions to test permissions.

    • Click Repair Disk Permissions to test and repair permissions.

Disk Utility repairs the permissions for files installed by the Mac OS X Installer, Software Update, or an Apple software installer. It doesn’t repair permissions for your documents, your home folder, or third-party applications.

Last Modified: Sep 3, 2015
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