How to turn off Authenticate (Permissions) in Finder "Documents" folder

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Level 1

9 points

How to turn off Authenticate (Permissions) in Finder "Documents" folder

I've been trying to do some file maintenance (moving, cut, paste, new folders, etc.) in my Documents folder and every time I move a file I have to "Authenticate" and type in my password.

I get it that the file folders are locked and that for some reason my computer doesn't recognize that it's me, the user, doing the moving.

How do I reset or turn off the whole permissions/authenticate process for the entire Document folder all at once. It's really cumbersome to have to keep typing in the password each time.

New 24" iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Dec 21, 2009 3:28 AM

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Answer 1

V.K.

Level 9

56,192 points

Dec 21, 2009 6:34 AM in response to AKARUPERT

AKARUPERT wrote:
I've been trying to do some file maintenance (moving, cut, paste, new folders, etc.) in my Documents folder and every time I move a file I have to "Authenticate" and type in my password.

I get it that the file folders are locked and that for some reason my computer doesn't recognize that it's me, the user, doing the moving.

How do I reset or turn off the whole permissions/authenticate process for the entire Document folder all at once. It's really cumbersome to have to keep typing in the password each time.

did you by chance try to tinker permissions on this folder, perhaps, by using "apply to enclosed items" button? that would account for what you are seeing. in any case, run the following terminal (copy and paste, please)


sudo chown -R `id -un`:`id -gn` ~
chmod -RN ~/Documents/*

you'll have to enter your admin password (which you won't see). that's normal.
this will make you the owner of everything in your home directory as you should be and get rid of any hidden ACLs that may be messing up your Documents folder.

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Answer 2

AKARUPERT Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 24, 2009 4:52 AM in response to V.K.

Thanks for this information.

I'm afraid I don't know how to "run the terminal". I know you want me to place the code you have written somewhere and execute it but I'm not sure how.

Could you please explain?

Also, for the previous posts: I did run repair permissions on the Disk Utility (didn't help) and as far as I know I did not do the "apply to enclosed items" button - I almost did but opted to go to this Forum instead.

Let me know please how to execute the code you've recommended on a Mac and thanks again.

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Answer 3

V.K.

Level 9

56,192 points

Dec 25, 2009 8:22 AM in response to AKARUPERT

AKARUPERT wrote:
Thanks for this information.

I'm afraid I don't know how to "run the terminal". I know you want me to place the code you have written somewhere and execute it but I'm not sure how.

Could you please explain?

Terminal. app is located in Hard drive->Applications->Utilities. double-click on it. this will open a terminal window. paste the first command I gave you into that window and press enter. it will ask for your admin password (and give you a warning about improper use of sudo. enter your password. then enter the second command. see if that helps.

Also, for the previous posts: I did run repair permissions on the Disk Utility (didn't help) and as far as I know I did not do the "apply to enclosed items" button - I almost did but opted to go to this Forum instead.

Let me know please how to execute the code you've recommended on a Mac and thanks again.

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Answer 4

Feb 15, 2010 11:39 AM in response to K T

I have a related but different problem with the Documents Folder. I upgraded to a 27 in iMAC last month and made the mistake of migrating some files from my Time Machine. After installing Office for Mac 2008, the Set Up Assistant would not let me go pass the "continue" key. Microsoft told me to remove the MS User Data folder from the Documents Folder. When I double click the folder, it tells me I do not have permission top open the folder but I am logged in as the Admin. Any ideas?

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Answer 5

Meherally

Level 4

1,129 points

Feb 19, 2010 4:51 AM in response to AKARUPERT

Hi AKAR,

Try this. Select your document folder. Hit cmd-I to get he getinfo window. Click the lock to open the lock. Select the permissions 'read&write' for 'me'. Keep it selected and click on the 'gear' drop down. Select 'apply to enclosed items..'

Hope that helps. Do post back here if it works or does not work so someone else can resolve it further.

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Answer 6

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,252 points

Feb 19, 2010 4:59 AM in response to Meherally

Meherally, That will create all kinds of havoc on the contents of the folder.
You should never use 'apply to enclosed items' on any system created folder in Leopard or Snow Leopard (maybe Tiger too). They have hidden ACLs on them that will get propagated with Finder's apply to enclosed command. You don't want to do that.

That's why V.K. provided the commands he did. They clear the improperly set ACLs and restore the correct ones, along with correcting the file permissions.

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Answer 7

K T

Level 7

23,889 points

Dec 21, 2009 3:46 AM in response to AKARUPERT

Is the 'Documents' folder in the default location that was established when the OS was installed?

Have you attempted to repair permissions using 'Disk Utility'?

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Answer 8

Meherally

Level 4

1,129 points

Feb 19, 2010 5:03 AM in response to Barney-15E

Hi Barney,

Thanks for the correction. I have used this before but will now be careful. Guess was lucky nothing bad happened. Thanks. Will be careful going forward.

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Answer 9

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,252 points

Feb 19, 2010 5:18 PM in response to Meherally

It will work fine with folders you create yourself, but most system folders and the default folders in your home directory have ACLs.

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