Catalina file sharing permissions

Question

Level 1

14 points

Catalina file sharing permissions

Hi all,

I can't find this specific question being asked here, so here it is...

When trying to access the contents of my iMac Documents folder from my MBPro, both running 10.15.1, I get the pop-up message:

"The folder “Documents” can’t be opened because you don’t have permission to see its contents."

I can see all folders on the iMac disk, but don't see the content of the Applications, Desktop, Documents or Downloads folders. For the others I can. Access was working fine before upgrading to Catalina. I have read various responses to similar questions, but don't see an answer.

Initially there was a downward pointing arrow in the lower right hand corner of the folder icon. Looking at the Info window for both computers (images attached). I did notice that the Shared Folder checkbox was unchecked for the Documents folder on the iMac, so I checked it. After unlocking to confirm the Permissions change, I restarted the iMac. The little arrow had disappeared from the folder icon, but the contents still doesn't show for that Folder.

A variation to the above was doing the same for the Desktop folder, and this resulted in an entry in the Sharing & Permissions pane saying 'Fetching' with the privilege stating 'Custom'. It's been fetching now for around 3 minutes.

Any suggestions or fixes to restore access will be gratefully received.

MacBook Pro with Touch Bar

Posted on Nov 30, 2019 6:06 PM

Reply

Answer 1

MoonJ.

Community Specialist

Dec 3, 2019 4:51 PM in response to GeoBrett

Good afternoon GeoBrett,

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities!

I understand you are having issues accessing multiple folders including Desktop and Documents, since updating to macOS Catalina. It sounds like you may have uploaded these folders to iCloud. Take a look at the resources below to reverse that action if this is not what you intended to do.

Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive

If you do not have this option selected in iCloud Drive options for System Preferences > iCloud, please reply to this thread with any additional information that you can about your issue, and I'll do my best to help you!

Take care.

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Answer 2

chuck_3rd

Community Specialist

Dec 3, 2019 7:05 PM in response to GeoBrett

Hi GeoBrett,

Thanks for providing this additional information. The resource below provides some information for resolving permissions issues.

Resolve issues caused by changing the permissions of items in your home folder

How to connect with File Sharing on your Mac

Take care.

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Answer 3

GeoBrett Author

Level 1

14 points

Dec 3, 2019 5:23 PM in response to MoonJ.

Thank for your reply MoonJ.

I'm just trying to access files on the iMac over the local WIFI network. Had no problems whatsoever before Catalina.

As I indicated, it's a Permissions issue, but I can't find a solution anywhere. The folders I can't see into are the four I indicated in my initial question. It's strange that I can see the contents of the other folders, just not those four. I don't want to upload the contents of those folders to the Cloud as I don't need access to every bit of info, and then not often. This is not to mention the slow download speeds we still (unfortunately) experience here.

Any suggestions for trouble shooting permissions? I may have missed the obvious...

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Answer 4

GeoBrett Author

Level 1

14 points

Dec 9, 2019 7:41 PM in response to chuck_3rd

Alex_h1,

It's likely my incompetence / lack of knowledge has made things worse...

Before following your advice I rechecked that sharing was 'on' for both the folders on the iMac and MBPro.

I then reset permissions as per the support article. The completed progress bar indicated that the reset was successful.

I now only see a folder icon with no created or modified dates. Previously I could see the contents of the other 'non-critical' folders (see my December 4 post), but now I can't even see the files in those folders. I can't connect to the iMac from the MBPro even though I can see it in 'Locations' in Finder.

I've attached screenshots from the iMac (dark mode images) and the MBPro in case that helps.

Any other suggestions?

B.

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Answer 5

GeoBrett Author

Level 1

14 points

Dec 4, 2019 4:54 PM in response to chuck_3rd

Thanks Alex_h1.

I will work through the links and see if that helps. I'll report back.

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Catalina file sharing permissions

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