How to Reset Mac Permissions in Terminal: A Step-by-Step Guide

Understanding Mac Permissions

Mac permissions control access to files and folders on your system. Sometimes, these permissions can become corrupted or misconfigured, leading to various issues. Resetting permissions can often resolve these problems.

Why Reset Permissions?

Resetting permissions can help fix:

Applications not launching properly
Files or folders becoming inaccessible
System performance issues
Unexpected behavior in macOS

Preparing to Reset Permissions

Before proceeding, ensure you:

Have administrator access to your Mac
Back up important data
Close all open applications

Resetting Permissions via Terminal

Follow these steps to reset permissions using the Terminal:

Restart your Mac and boot into Recovery Mode
Open Terminal from the Utilities menu
Type “resetpassword” (without quotes) and press Enter
In the Reset Password utility, select your Mac’s hard drive
Choose the user account experiencing issues
Click the “Reset” button under “Reset Home Directory Permissions and ACLs”

This process will reset the selected user account’s permissions without changing the password.

Additional Terminal Commands for Permission Management

For more granular control, you can use these Terminal commands:

To view permissions: ls -l [filepath]
To change permissions: chmod [permissions] [filepath]
To change ownership: chown [user:group] [filepath]

When to Seek Professional Help

If resetting permissions doesn’t resolve your issues, or if you’re uncomfortable using Terminal commands, consider:

Consulting Apple Support
Visiting an Apple Store or Authorized Service Provider
Seeking help from a certified Mac technician