Level 1

25 points

Administartor priveliges for Zoom

While setting Zoom to provide a virtual background I encountered an error message saying I need to install Zoom's "Smart Virtual Background package" with Admin privileges.

I checked the Zoom app info panel's Sharing & Permissions section and it shows "system" (with a one-head icon), "wheel" and "everyone." System is shown with a "Read & Write" Privilege. I've also checked Users & Groups and confirmed I am still listed as Admin.

How can I obtain "system" to "administrator" so I can set its Privilege?

If this isn't the way to fix my failure to install the Zoom package, what will?

Mac mini, macOS 11.1

Posted on Jan 29, 2021 2:20 PM

Top-ranking reply

Old Toad

Level 10

215,864 points

Posted on Feb 25, 2021 9:25 AM

DHuitema wrote:

Hi Old Toad,

Nope.

FYI, the problem does not occur on a separate, new User Account.

Thanks for asking!

Dick

That tells us there's something in your account that is the culprit. Therefore download and run Etrecheck. Etrecheck is a diagnostic tool that was developed by one of the most respected users here in the ASC and recommended by Apple Support to provide a snapshot of the system and help identify the more obvious culprits that can adversely affect a Mac's performance.

IMPORTANT:

Before running Etrecheck assign Full Disk Access to Etrecheck in the Etrecheck's Privacy preference pane so that it can get additional information from the Console and log files for the report:

Also click and read the About info to further permit full disk access.

Copy the report

and use the Additional Text button to include the report in your reply.

Then we can examine the report and see if we can determine what might be causing the problem.

View in context

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33 replies

DHuitema Author

Level 1

25 points

Feb 24, 2021 6:21 AM in response to DHuitema

Barney-15E,

Zoom has asked if Zoom has access to Files and Folders in Security & Privacy preferences. It doesn't but I don't see how to change that.

Zoom is greyed out on the Files and Folders list and the + sign below it is also grey (below).

How can I allow Zoom access to Files and Folders?

Thanks!

Dick

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,372 points

Feb 24, 2021 6:31 AM in response to DHuitema

You have enabled "Files and Folders" by giving it Full Disk Access.

The only way an app gets into the Files and Folders is if the App asks your permission for access to areas. You cannot add them to Files and Folders.

It is grayed out because it has effective "Files and Folders" permission via Full Disk Access.

DHuitema Author

Level 1

25 points

Feb 24, 2021 7:08 AM in response to Barney-15E

Barney-15E

Thanks for that explanation! I'll tell Zoom support that its app does have access.

(Zoom is pretty mistified by this and claims its "engineers" will create a fix in its next update. I have doubts about that since they've never seen anything in my Mac except screen displays.)

Best...

Dick

DHuitema Author

Level 1

25 points

Feb 26, 2021 7:07 AM in response to Old Toad

Old Toad!

Thanks for suggesting this! Even Apple Support didn't during an hour and a half session.

I've been using Macs for many years (since one replaced my Apple II), so there are lots of old, unneeded stuff on this one, as you'll see in the Report, attached. I have not attempted to delete anything, but Apple did ask me to remove the 32-bit apps I still had when I talked to Support several weeks ago. That didn't fix the problem.

Many thanks for looking into this!

Dick

EtreCheck Report

DHuitema Author

Level 1

25 points

Feb 26, 2021 10:04 AM in response to Old Toad

Thanks again, Old Toad,

I'll try to reboot often, as you suggest.

Unfortunately it didn't help.

Also, Zoom doesn't offer an "install for all users" option in its download dialog.

That has led me to observe that the infamous download is not listed on the Downloads list in the Test User's Finder, even though the background feature works there, so the "Smart Virtual Backgrounds package" which I downloaded successfully several weeks ago must be there somewhere.

If I could find it, maybe I could copy it and paste it in the corresponding spot while using my regular User Account. Do you have any suggestions for locating it? I've tried Searching "This Mac" for several versions of the package name, to no avail.

Best...

Dick

jiair

Level 1

4 points

Mar 19, 2021 2:52 PM in response to Old Toad

Hi DIck, I have the same problem, I cannot get Virtual background in Zoom to work and it is asking for my Mac Admin before it fails to download the VB package. So did booting into the Recovery module help?

DHuitema Author

Level 1

25 points

Mar 21, 2021 7:07 AM in response to Old Toad

Old Toad,

I see you've addressed this to Jimmy, but FWIW, for me: Nope.

In an attempt to solve this Zoom problem, Apple Support staff did walk me through deletions of old (32-bit) apps which I had never bothered to do, but that's it. I've been using Macs since the Apple II, so I had a lot of old stuff still lurking.

Thanks for trying, yet again!

Dick

Old Toad

Level 10

215,864 points

Mar 21, 2021 9:10 AM in response to jiair

First there is no reason to ever install or run any 3rd party "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up", anti-virus, VPN or security apps on your Mac. This user tip describes what you need to know and do in order to protect your Mac: Effective defenses against malware and other threats - Apple Community

That being said uninstall CleanMyMac and NordVPN according to the developers' instructions. You can check to see if you've removed all of the supporting files by downloading and running Find Any File to search for any files with the application's name and the developer's name in the file name. For the mentioned software you'd do the following search(es):

1 - Name contains cleanmymac

2 - Name contains macpaw

3 - Name contains nordvpn

Any files that are found can be dragged from the search results window to the Desktop or Trash bin in the Dock for deletion.

FAF can search areas that Spotlight can't like invisible folders, system folders and packages.

DHuitema Author

Level 1

25 points

Feb 15, 2021 5:50 PM in response to Barney-15E

No.

I've unlocked those padlocks several times during this episode. I just did so on the Users & Groups pane.

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,372 points

Feb 24, 2021 10:41 AM in response to DHuitema

If they are “mystified,” how is it they have a fix?

DHuitema Author

Level 1

25 points

Feb 24, 2021 2:33 PM in response to Old Toad

Barney-15E,

Exactly!

Old Toad,

Thanks for the suggestion, but:

Been there, done that.... too. It made no difference... several times.

Dick

Old Toad

Level 10

215,864 points

Feb 24, 2021 2:38 PM in response to DHuitema

Have you installed or run any "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up" or anti-virus apps on your Mac?

DHuitema Author

Level 1

25 points

Feb 25, 2021 7:45 AM in response to Old Toad

Hi Old Toad,

Nope.

FYI, the problem does not occur on a separate, new User Account.

Thanks for asking!

Dick

jiair

Level 1

4 points

Mar 21, 2021 8:15 AM in response to Old Toad

Yes, I did. I'm still running Cleanmymac from time to time and I used to have NordVPN but I,m not using it anymore althought it's still in the computer.

Jimmy

DHuitema Author

Level 1

25 points

Feb 15, 2021 2:59 PM in response to Barney-15E

Thanks for your reply, Barney-15E!

I'm downloading from the Zoom website, Zoom.us, using the Zoom "Desktop Client."

The error message is simple, "Download failed."

Screenshots are attached. The second one shows a progress bar that behaved normally, but then the dialog shown popped up with the User Name field pre-filled. As soon as I entered my Mac's password and clicked OK, the dialog vanished, leaving the third screen ("Download failed"). [I then used the Try again button with the same experience.]

This might be useful: To make matters worse, when I tried to log into the Client to get the exact error message, Zoom said my credentials were wrong, but they were not. I followed Zoom's directions and set up a new account using the same ID and password as my original account which is a paid account. The new account is labeled "Basic" which is Zoom lingo for "free." So now I have to go fight that battle. But notice that the experience I had today with this new Zoom account is the same experience I've had all along: "Download failed."

Also, as a refresher (not sure how much you've seen), Safe Mode made no difference, I have no Startup Items, but using a fresh new User Account found the download and Virtual Backgrounds worked fine. I guess that could be a work-around, but I'd like to get things working normally if possible.

Cheers!!

Dick

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Administartor priveliges for Zoom