How to Repair Disk Permissions on macOS

Step by step

1. 1 min

   Launch Disk Utility

   Open Finder, navigate to the Applications folder, then open the Utilities folder. Double-click Disk Utility to initiate the interface for disk management.

   Note: You can also launch this via Spotlight using Command + Space.
2. 30 sec

   Select the System Volume

   In the Disk Utility sidebar, locate your primary internal drive, typically named Macintosh HD. Select the volume containing your system files to enable the First Aid function.

3. 3 min

   Run First Aid

   Click the First Aid button in the top toolbar. Select Run in the confirmation dialog to verify the integrity of the file system and repair permission discrepancies.

   Note: Your Mac may become unresponsive during this process; allow it to complete without interruption.
4. 1 min

   Reset Home Directory Permissions

   If system issues persist, restart your Mac into Recovery Mode. Open Terminal from the Utilities menu and type resetpassword, then press Enter to launch the Reset Password utility.

   Note: This tool includes an option to reset ACLs and permissions for your home directory.
5. 30 sec

   Apply Changes and Reboot

   Within the Reset Password utility, select your user account and choose the option to reset Home Directory Permissions and ACLs. Once finished, quit the utility and restart your Mac via the Apple menu.

   Note: Verify that your files are accessible before continuing with daily tasks.