Error "this file cannot be opened because you do not have permission to view it"

Hi bby1,

Thank you for using the Apple Support Communities! To change permissions for files and folders, you'll want to follow the steps below that can help:

Change permissions for files, folders, or disks on Mac

Permission settings determine who can view and alter files on the computer. You change permission settings at the bottom of the Info window for a file, folder, or disk in the Finder. For example, you can change permission settings for a folder so that other users who log in to your Mac, or connect to it for file sharing, can view but not change files in a folder.

Assign permissions to users and groups

1. On your Mac, select a disk, folder, or file, then choose File > Get Info.

2. If the information in Sharing & Permissions isn’t visible, click the arrow . (You may also need to scroll down.)

3. Select a user or group in the Name column, click the pop-up menu, then choose a privilege setting.

* Read & Write: Allows a user to open the item and change it.

* Read only: Allows a user to open the item, but not change its contents.

* Write only (Drop Box): Makes a folder into a drop box. Users can copy items to the drop box, but can’t open it. Only the owner of the drop box can open it.

* No Access: Blocks all access to the item.

You can undo any changes to privilege settings for a user or group in the Sharing & Permissions section since opening the Info window. Before closing the Info window, click the Action pop-up menu  at the bottom of the window, then choose “Revert changes.”

Apply permissions to all items in a folder or a disk

1. On your Mac, select a folder or disk, then choose File > Get Info.

2. If the information in Sharing & Permissions isn’t visible, click the arrow  next to Sharing & Permissions. (You may also need to scroll down.)

3. Click the Action pop-up menu  at the bottom of the window, then choose “Apply to enclosed items.”

Change an item’s owner

1. On your Mac, select the item, then choose File > Get Info.

2. If the information in Sharing & Permissions isn’t visible, click the arrow  next to Sharing & Permissions. (You may also need to scroll down.)

3. If the new owner’s name isn’t listed in the Name column in the Sharing & Permissions section, click the Add button  to add the new owner.

4. Select the new owner in the Name column, click the Action pop-up menu  at the bottom of the window, then choose “Make __ the owner.” 

You can undo any changes to an item’s owner in the Sharing & Permissions section since opening the Info window. Before closing the Info window, click the Action pop-up menu  at the bottom of the window, then choose “Revert changes.”

Add or remove a user or group in the Name column

1. On your Mac, select an item, then choose File > Get Info.

2. If the information in Sharing & Permissions isn’t visible, click the arrow  next to Sharing & Permissions. (You may also need to scroll down.)

3. In the Sharing & Permissions section, do any of the following:

* Add a user or group: Click the Add button  below the list, select a user or group, then click Select.

* Remove a user or group: Select the user or group, then click the Remove button  below the list.

You can undo adding or removing a user or group in the Sharing & Permissions section since opening the Info window. Before closing the Info window, click the Action pop-up menu  at the bottom of the window, then choose “Revert changes.”

Hope this helps!

Have a great day.

select that folder and choose Get Info off the Finder File menu. What are the permissions?

Here is an EXAMPLE:

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I have the same setup and I am the person designated "Read and Write" - still tells me I don't have Permission. So I gave everyone Read & Write - tells me I don't have permission. So i saved everything, rebooted, loaded the document I'm trying to save from the the same file folder, tried to save that now renamed document in that same fold - no Permissions. Something is broken. Anyone have the same?

There are many ways to go wrong, including having multiple Documents folders on different sections of the drive.

YOU look up the one you intended.

The computer looks up the one you specified. literally.

Cannot save to downloads as I do not have permission