When I drag folders to the trash, they begin to start deleting and then a message comes up saying ("The operation can’t be completed because you don’t have permission to access some of the items.") and then the deleting boms out. I have changed the read and write programs but still nothing, it is also all set to my account. Any ideas on how to rectify this.
Thanks
MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 11.4
Ok thanks. It seems difficulties involving Permissions have plagued macOS since its inception, and repairing them has been a moving target for about as long. What you describe is not supposed to happen any more.
Over the course of troubleshooting many Macs over many years I managed to do things with Permissions that Apple insisted were impossible to do. Having done them anyway, they proved impossible to fix. The solution in that case was to restore a Time Machine backup.
Assuming that is not an option for you, the only suggestion I am comfortable with is to reinstall macOS: How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support. Reinstalling macOS is nondestructive and will leave your User Account information intact, but it goes without saying you should create a backup before proceeding.
If you are adventurous though, in the past Apple provided instructions to repair Home folder permissions by using the Terminal command diskutil followed by a modifier verb. However, I am very reluctant (meaning, I won't) provide instructions for its use on this site. Not only did Apple withdraw that document, that particular Terminal command is not documented even in diskutil's manpages. Using it has the very real potential to make things worse, and as I learned, perhaps impossible to fix.
So for now, try reinstalling macOS. If that doesn't fix what's wrong, I suggest contacting Apple and having them walk you through it. Start here: Get Support
For reference please read Change permissions for files, folders, or disks on Mac - Apple Support. You might try selecting your Home folder, making sure you are its owner, and then using "Apply to enclosed items."
Make sure you have a backup first: Back up your Mac with Time Machine - Apple Support.
Are you using (or have used) any cloud syncing services or have File Sharing enabled as these things can cause issues with file/folder permissions. Even if you have disabled these items, the permissions issues can remain. Otherwise you should have full permissions for anything stored in your home user folder and the Apple article @John Galt linked for file permissions should solve your problem.
If any of the files/folders were once located on the root of the drive, then the recent changes to macOS 10.15+ to lock the root folder to read-only will prevent you from modifying anything stored on the root of the drive, although those items should have been moved to a "Relocated Items" folder within the "/Users/Shared Folder".
About the read-only system volume in macOS Catalina - Apple Support
Does this happen with all folders, or just certain ones?
Where did those folders originate? Did you create them, or...?
It happens to all my folders, ones that I’ve created and ones that have been there as a result of having the laptop.
permission in folders
