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User profile for user: SacCeeMac
SacCeeMac Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Monterey update problem

Since updating to OS 12.2.1, I can no longer open my Downloads folder because I no longer '... have permission to sees its contents." I've run disk utility, tried to add permissions by using Get Info on the Downloads (no Sharing & Permissions listed), checked Get Info on the entire hard drive (Sharing & Permissions already showed me as admin with Read & Write permissions), created a new user (me) as admin (only newly downloaded items appeared in the Downloads folder), and finally reinstalled Monterey entirely. I can access new downloads as a new admin, but I hate the idea of moving all my files over and I can't use my PW app. I'm just not happy switching back and forth between admin accounts.


So, please: how can I fix the permissions for my Downloads folder?

MacBook Pro (2020 and later)

Posted on Feb 20, 2022 10:55 PM

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User profile for user: lllaass
lllaass
User level: Level 10
210,459 points

Posted on Feb 21, 2022 1:13 AM

In Finder go to your user and get the Downloads folder icon to appear in the right pant. Right click on it and select Get Info. At the bottom of that window are permissions. Click on it and padlock would appear in lower right. Click on that to make changes and enter you admin password. Then select your user in left side and read and write in right side. At bottom click on the circle with three dots and ⌵ and select apply to enclosed items.

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User profile for user: lllaass
lllaass
User level: Level 10
210,459 points

Feb 21, 2022 1:13 AM in response to SacCeeMac

In Finder go to your user and get the Downloads folder icon to appear in the right pant. Right click on it and select Get Info. At the bottom of that window are permissions. Click on it and padlock would appear in lower right. Click on that to make changes and enter you admin password. Then select your user in left side and read and write in right side. At bottom click on the circle with three dots and ⌵ and select apply to enclosed items.

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User profile for user: SacCeeMac
SacCeeMac Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Feb 21, 2022 12:07 PM in response to lllaass

When I searched for Downloads within my hard drive, rather than just using the folder itself on my desktop where I parked it for ease of use, this technique worked. FINALLY! The folder permissions had been set to 'custom' and I've no idea what that entailed, but I changed it to Read & Write. Possibly I had tried to Get Info on what might've been an alias folder which obviously failed. Thanks for reminding me to check further!!

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User profile for user: SacCeeMac
SacCeeMac Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Feb 21, 2022 12:09 PM in response to max1demian

Thanks for your suggestion. As a last ditch effort, I tried the second suggestion given. I was probably wrestling with an alias Downloads folder and not the real deal. Searching the hard drive, rather than relying on the folder sitting on my desktop, allowed me to find the Sharing & Permissions bit under Get Info. I changed the permissions from Custom to Read & Write and BINGO! Thanks again for your help!!

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Monterey update problem

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