Where to use " sudo mount -uw / " to make HD read/write

Question

Where to use " sudo mount -uw / " to make HD read/write

Where and how to use " sudo mount -uw / " to make HD read/write in Catalina?

I asked a tech how to do this and was given. " sudo mount -uw / " ... Problem is

I do not know where to enter the code to make the HD read/write. All I know is Terminal..

My goal is to be able to edit some of the plists and other files in Catalina for security reasons.

I would like to know how to use the command to unlock a "read only' (external). as well as the

HD in Catalina,,,,,, my current drive.

What I tried was disabling SIP and then going to Terminal > sudo mount -uw / > enter > typed in password > and then tried to edit a file from the usr/share/vim folder. No luck! I am needing to do this and I ask for the proper procedure. Same question applies to the data folder in Catalina as well.

Thank you

Mac mini, macOS 10.15

Posted on Nov 7, 2019 2:20 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Dungondude

Level 1

34 points

Nov 21, 2019 8:57 PM in response to eugenejazzy22

Last time I checked you definitely can. BUT YOU SHOULDNT.

That being said. Just disable SIP and try that same command again. That worked fine for me a few weeks ago.

Again. You really shouldn't do this. The stuff protected in that area is not meant to be changed, but seeing as I stumbled across the question, figured I would answer it.

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Answer 2

dot.com

Level 4

2,449 points

Nov 7, 2019 1:46 PM in response to eugenejazzy22

Catalina forces the operating system boot volume to be read-only. You can't change it - it's very integral to how Catalina works that the system is read-only -- no if's and's or but's.

But, only a portion of the files/folders in the boot volume are on this special read-only partition. Where exactly are the plist files you wish to change located?

By the way, the special "mount -uw /" command is something that could be done in single-user mode, but that is no longer valid for Catalina.

There are some tricks you can do to add other file systems as mount points in the read-only file system -- for example see the discussion at https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250832097 that talks about how to use these synthetic links.

Good luck...

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Answer 3

LD150

Level 10

89,715 points

Nov 7, 2019 1:25 PM in response to eugenejazzy22

The Macintosh HD is read only - permanently - for your protection. New with Catalina. No terminal commands will let you in.

The Macintosh HD Data is read write according to normal user permissions or with sudo. As in pre-catalina environment.

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Where to use " sudo mount -uw / " to make HD read/write

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